Trifles Theme of Women and Feminity - Summary

TRIFLES THEME OF WOMEN AND FEMININITY Trifles is thought of as one of the first feminist dramas, so we're guessing there's a pretty good chance that the theme of Women and Femininity is in there somewhere. Okay, we're not guessing— we're absolutely, positively sure. And this theme isn't just in there somewhere; it's screaming at us from every page. The play shows us a time in America where women are neglected, ignored, and generally belittled by men. All this comes to a head when two women hide evidence that could convict another housewife of murdering her husband. Why? Because just like the murderess, they're sick of being neglected, ignored, and belittled. JUSTICE AND JUDGMENT Trifles flips typical ideas of Justice and Judgment totally on their head. Typically, when somebody murders another person, we think they ought to be punished, right? Trifles says, "Meh, not so much." When the super sleuth farmwives of this play decide to help a murdering woman go free, we're guessing a good part of the audience roots for them to succeed. Showing a world where law is created entirely by men, this play dares to ask the question of whether women should be expected to follow rules they weren't allowed to help create. ISOLATION Isn't it weird that one of few things that bring us all together is the fact that we all know what it's like to be alone? Hey, we're not trying to get all mopey on you—we're just trying to be as real as Susan Glaspell is in Trifles. This one act play really packs a wallop as it and paints a heartbreaking picture of one woman's lonely life in an isolated farmhouse. The theme is bigger than one woman's story, though. The play also makes think of the isolation of all women—from their families, from other women, and from society as whole. Thanks for giving our brains a workout, Susan Glaspell. MEN AND MASCULINITY Menfolk don't come off looking so great in this feminist classic—and that's putÝng it mildly. The nicer dudes in Trifles are blatantly sexist against women, while the meaner guys are blatantly sexist… and also kill small animals. Of course, even though the play might be a little harsh on the hairier sex, the male-centric society of its time was incredibly harsh on women. Most critics will tell you that Trifles is an honest expression of the frustration and simmering rage that was building among American women not long after the 20th century dawned. FREEDOM AND CONFINEMENT We've got a lady in jail for murdering her husband in this play, so we dare anybody to say that Freedom and Confinement isn't a theme. On top of the literal imprisonment, Trifles also paints an incredibly sad picture of the murderess's years of metaphorical entrapment by her husband's neglect and emotional abuse. As if that weren't enough, the play also makes it crystal clear just how confined by male-dominated society all women were at the time the play was written. If that's not enough Freedom and Confinement for you, we don't know what is. VISIONS OF AMERICA Are you dying for a vivid picture of rural Midwestern life at the turn of 20th century? Well, you're in luck. Are you just reading Trifles because some teacher made you? Well, you're still in luck—by peeking into the past, we all get a clearer perspective on why the present is like it is. Trifles gives an authentic taste of what farm life was like back in the day, and more importantly gives us a female perspective on what life was like at a time when women's options were way more limited than they are today. VIOLENCE Trifles is a murder mystery, so there's no doubt the theme of violence is going to come into play. Things aren't quite so clear cut when comes to this theme, though. Usually, we see the violent murderer as the bad guy (or gal), and the murdered as the victim. But what happens when we begin to sympathize with the murderer? What happens when a play seriously asks us to question whether violence is might actually a justified solution to a problem? You'll wrestle with these questions and more in Trifles. Be careful while you're wrestling, though— this play has a violent streak.