ipl-logo

Summary Of Alienation In Hemingway's Trifles

1603 Words7 Pages

1. In Hemingway’s “Hills like White Elephants” there is many ways that Hemingway illustrates his belief that humans are in touch with and communicate only a small portion of what they think, wish, and feel. Throughout the story, Hemingway shows many examples of miscommunication between jig and the American man and their conversations they do have, contain sarcasm and anger. The two are not being clear with what they want or feel. For example, he boyfriend wants Jig to get an operation to terminate the pregnancy, but it is never said straight out in the story that they are talking about an abortion the subject is talked around. Jig eventually starts to realize that there is no point in arguing with her partner and she just starts to agree with …show more content…

One of the main themes in Susan Glaspell’s play Trifles is alienation. This theme is based on the fact that Mrs. Wright led a highly isolated life, always being alienated from others in her home. She wasn’t able to flourish how she wanted to. For example, Mr. Wright suppressed the things his wife loved the most, restricting her from having her own interesting and letting her follow her heart. When Mr. Wright killed her beloved canary, pushed Mrs. Wright over the edge, causing her to murder her husband. On page 593, Mrs. Hale says “I could’ve come. I stayed away because it weren’t cheerful- and that’s why I ought to have come. I- I’ve never liked this place. Maybe because it’s down in a hollow and you don’t see the road. I dunno what it is, but it’s a lonesome place and always was. I wish I had come over to see Minnie Foster sometimes. I can see now- … Not having children makes less work- but it makes a quiet house, and Wright out to work all say, and no company when he did come in.” this is a prime example of the alienation that Mrs. Wright went through. Her house was away from everything, everyone and even when her husband was home it was like she was still alone. Mrs. Hale knew that they didn’t have children and she knew how Mr. Wright was towards his wife, but she didn’t go visit due to the fact she knew how unhappy the home was. The women begin to understand why Mrs. Wright murdered her husband. On page 595, Mrs. Hale says “We live so close together and we live far apart. We all go through the same things- it’s all just a different kind of the same thing”. She’s talking about the inequality that the woman face and how life is with their husbands. She knows what Mrs. Wright did and can understand how she was pushed over the

Show More
Related
221 Words | 1 Pages

In the story, The Painted Door by Sinclair Ross, the protagonist, Ann suffers from many mental issues caused by isolation and depression. She is first revealed as a farmer’s wife, insisting her husband, John to stay with her during a storm, but John ultimately makes the decision to leave and visit his father. This act made Ann feel insignificant because she felt that she is “as important as” John’s “father”. This is the not the first time John was not there when Ann needed him most, seven years married and he “scarcely spoke a word” during meals. Ann who is his wife and the only living person within a “2 mile” radius is constantly rejected the simplest freedoms and of all people, her husband.

Read More
970 Words | 4 Pages

Lane Jr. who's struggling with his faith will support and stand by Sheri and her decision concerning the pregnancy. Ernest Hemingway's" Hills Like White Elephants” allows his readers to come to the conclusion as to whether the couple in question will terminate or keep the unborn child. As Jig, and the American are

Read More
948 Words | 4 Pages

In the end, the strict gender roles that John and Ann feel they must fulfill are what prevent them from communicating effectively to resolve their

Read More
620 Words | 3 Pages

Another major character in the book, Sally, marries a man. Sally may think that she has escaped from her dad’s cruel treatment but has not realized that being dependent on another person will only end her up in the cycle of abuse again. For many women on Mango Street, looking out of the window is seen as the last hope of freedom, and her husband even bans her from doing so. “ She likes looking at the walls, at how neatly their corners meet, the linoleum roses on the floor, the ceiling smooth as wedding cake. (102)”.

Read More
874 Words | 4 Pages

Wright it is easy to tell that she is not at all upset about her husband’s death. When being asked about the situation she “laughed and pleated her skirt” (4). Mrs. Wright is compared to a bird that is found later in the story. The bird was found in a pretty box with marks around its neck. Hale and Peters say that the death of her bird would have been her motive if she actually was her husband’s murderer, but the author utilizes the bird and its broken cage to be a comparison to Mrs. Wright’s life.

Read More
1611 Words | 7 Pages

This refers to Mrs. Wright worrying about her preserves while she is detained in jail for suspected murder of her

Read More
168 Words | 1 Pages

About thirty years have passed since she’s been married, and Mrs. Wright now is portrayed as a woman who has been emotionally abused to the point of becoming cold and isolated from the world. Glaspell mentions,

Read More
691 Words | 3 Pages

Hale and Mrs. Peters relate more to the woman as they too feel the isolation. “I’ve not seen much of her of late years. I’ve not been in this house—more than a year” (Glaspell 763). Mrs. Hale says, as she’s talking to the Sheriff. “Trifles” makes the isolation of women into something that the man caused her.

Read More
980 Words | 4 Pages

Mr. Hale, who is a witness, his wife, Mrs. Hale and Mr. Peters wife Mrs. Peter who are also introduced to the audience as they were gathering belongings to bring to Mrs. Wright to jail. During this investigation the prime and only suspect is John Wright’s wife, who claims she did not kill her husband. As soon as the characters are introduced in the play it is noticeable both the male and female gender have a role, the men must go find evidence and the females need to make themselves at home and keep to themselves. As the play moves along the males find evidence based on what seems evident and

Read More
709 Words | 3 Pages

In “The Yellow Wallpaper” by Charlotte Perkins Gilman and “Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been” by Joyce Carol Oates, both female protagonists are faced with opposing male forces that seek to control, undermine and take advantage of them. However, in the midst of the challenges and subordination they face from these dominant male figures, each protagonists independence is tested as they both strive to overcome these forces. Connie, the protagonist in “Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been” is a 15 year old, narcissistic teenage girl, searching for independence through her sexuality as she enters into the realm of adulthood. “Everything about her had two sides to it, one for home and one for anywhere that was not home,” (Oates, 1).

Read More
699 Words | 3 Pages

In Hemingway’s “Hills like White Elephants”, the American and Jig are like parallel lines, they can never meet. As they struggle to find common ground, the very discussion that can bring them together only tears them apart. The relationship between Jig and the American is complex from the very beginning since their personalities, methods of communicating, and desires are different. The American represents infertility, selfishness and death but how can he not be when he’s a single man, traveling, trying new drinks, spending nights in hotels with no worry about money and now he has impregnated a women, of course he will lose his zest for her (Hannum).

Read More
853 Words | 4 Pages

Relationships are the core of everything we do in life. We love someone, so we do something for them; we value someone 's opinion, so we respect them; we dislike someone, so we avoid them. Relationships cause people to act on their emotions which impact how and why they do the things they do. Ernest Hemingway’s short story “Hills Like White Elephants” is about a couple trying to come to a conclusion on a delicate matter. While the man strongly promotes his opinion the girl is hesitant but wants to do whatever will make him happy.

Read More
1481 Words | 6 Pages

Even though it is not said directly, it is still easy for the audience to understand that what Jig and her boyfriend are talking about is a woman’s matter. In “Hills Like White Elephants,” Hemingway does not reveal the underlying meaning, but rather uses symbolism in his story through Jig’s attitude towards her boyfriend, the station in which the couple is at, and the absinthe drink she tries. Jig has an attitude about her that makes seem childish. She repeats her words as if she were a young child would when they want something they cannot have.

Read More
690 Words | 3 Pages

Wright killed the canary and is also motive for Mrs. Wright to seek revenge. The women conclude that Mrs. Wright’s bird was her prized possession, the bird even reminds the women of Mrs. Wright, “‘She—come to think of it, she was kind of like a bird herself. Real sweet and pretty, but kind of timid and—fluttery. How—she—did—change.’”

Read More
1527 Words | 7 Pages

(Glaspell 1258). Subsequently, Mrs. Hale feels guilty for ignoring Mrs. Wright leaving her alone and isolated without any friends, “I wish I had come over sometimes when she was here.” (Glaspell 1259). Glaspell has successfully captured the sympathy of the audience. We see Mrs. Wright as an abused women who has been hopelessly defeated by her abusive husband, and Mrs., Hales feelings of guilt and remorse are shared by most

Read More

More about Summary Of Alienation In Hemingway's Trifles

Related Topics

Open Document