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Syntax In Trifles

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When thinking about the role of women in the community, what comes to mind? Are their jobs and rights, are they the same as men’s? The mere idea that women didn’t have as many rights as they do now is astounding to modern thoughts towards women’s rights. In Trifles Susan Glaspell uses the women and literary elements such as diction, syntax, and tone of the story to show the sexism of the times. The diction of the play helps to advance the plot and the theme of this play immensely. The word choice between the genders is different; the women sound more educated whenever the men aren’t around. This goes to show that women were only expected to speak if they didn’t sound nearly as intelligent as the men did. Glaspells use of this gives the reader the impression that the women don’t even want to be speaking properly, for fear of rebuke from their spouse. The author’s use of diction helps us to understand the women and their importance in the society at the time. …show more content…

While the men are out, they have elaborate conversations, which managed to have very good syntax. The women show an obvious change in syntax when the men come inside, and they go from jovial to terse very quickly: MRS. HALE: It’s a log cabin pattern. Pretty, isn’t it? I wonder if was goin’ to quilt it or just knot it? [Footsteps have been heard coming down the stairs. The SHERIFF enters followed by HALE and COUNTY ATTORNEY.] SHERIFF: They wonder if she was going to quilt it or just knot it! [The men laugh, the women look abashed.] (Glaspell 199-203) This sardonic jest from the males shows that the women aren’t even readily appreciated for being there, and the men might’ve felt odd having them sound educated when they did

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