Murder Mystery Trifles Essay

In the murder mystery Trifles, written by Susan Glaspell, she depicts gender equality in society and draws attention to the societal values that women had at the time. Although the women were treated with no importance, she emphasizes how their devotion lies with one another and how they survive the patriarchal society through conflict, irony, and symbolism. One of the significant conflicts in Trifles is the question of who the women are loyal to, their husbands, the law, or themselves. “..she may have something more serious than preserves to worry about” “Well, women are used to worrying over trifles.”(4). There is an apparent conflict between gender; during this time, men held all the power, while women were expected to be housekeepers and

“You’re convinced that there was nothing important here—nothing that would point to any motives” “Nothing here but kitchen things.”(3-4). The men almost immediately push aside the kitchen because they do not deem it necessary. The irony is that room holds much more importance than they would like to admit. Meanwhile, the women take great interest in the room where they start their investigation, leading them to solve the murder mystery. “It’s log cabin pattern. Pretty, isn’t it? I wonder if she was goin’ to quilt or just knot it…They wonder if she was going to quilt it or just knot it. (The men laugh..” (8). The men laugh at the two women’s observations, seeing it as unimportant and not thinking much of it; however, it could be seen as the women were implying that she knotted a rope, one that she used to kill her husband, and were trying to keep the investigators distracted. “..at least we found out that she was not going to quilt it. She was going to—what is it you call it, ladies?” “We call it—knot it, Mr. Henderson.” (14). The irony in the story is that during this time, society saw women as inferiors, and the men assumed they knew everything about them. However, in the end, the women solve the murder mystery while the men remain oblivious to the truth because of their

“There was a man around last year selling canaries cheap, but I don’t know as she took one; maybe she did. She used to sing real pretty herself.” (9). The bird is a comparison to Minnie; both used to be bright and cheery creatures who sang beautifully. And were both put in cages, trapped, and kept away from society. “(examining the cage). Why, look at this door. It’s broke. One hinge is pulled apart”(9). Like Minnie’s marriage, the cage holds the songbird and keeps it trapped. A once happy and singing bird, kept in a cage, no longer allowed to fly. They say the door broke, representing Minnie’s freedom that she had to take forcefully; she broke free from her marriage. “But, Mrs. Peters—look at it…Look at its neck! It’s all—other side to…Somebody—wrung—its neck.”(11). The rope is a symbol of death and destruction. As was Minnie’s bird, Mr. Wright was choked out with a rope. The bird’s death also killed Mrs. Wright; it was the death of her joy and happiness, driving her to kill her husband--the bird’s