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How Does Susan Glaspell Use Symbols In Trifles

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Trifles is a play by Susan Glaspell, who uses objects to elucidate the life of its main character without directly explaining what takes place. The concept of choosing objects to interpret or represent a situation without elaborating comes from the idea of using symbolism. Glaspell takes the reader into the mind of Mrs. Wright, the main character, whose husband has just been found murdered. In Trifles, Glaspell uses symbolism to illustrate the isolation and oppression that takes place in the life of one of its characters. Susan Glaspell uses the symbolism of objects to give hidden meaning to a moment in the play as two women discover the real reason Mrs. Wright kills her husband. Mrs. Wright was living a lonely, isolated, and depressed life. Her husband withheld his emotions and affections from her and eventually pushed her over the edge when he killed her precious canary. Glaspell writes: …show more content…

It’s the bird. MRS HALE. [jumping up] But, Mrs Peters-look at it! It’s neck! Look at its neck! It’s all-other side to. MRS PETERS. Somebody-wrung-its-neck. (260)
The manner in which the bird was killed is symbolic as to how Mr. Wright was killed. Just as he had choked the life out of Mrs. Wright or ‘Minnie’ by keeping her isolated from the rest of the world; thereby killing her freedom, her joy, her love for life, her spirit, and her essence as a woman. A rope was subsequently tied around his neck until it choked the very life out of him. Glaspell uses different symbols to reveal different meanings about what really went on in the farmhouse between the Wrights. Glaspell uses the symbol of a bird cage to depict another perspective of what is actually taking place in the story. Towards the end of the play Trifles, the two women are rummaging around in the Wrights’ kitchen and come across a bird cage in the cupboard: MRS HALE. In that cupboard, maybe. MRS PETERS. [looking in the cupboard] Why, here’s a bird-cage. [holds it up] …..

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