Trifles is a very interesting play by Susan Glaspell, based on a true event she witnessed while working as a journalist. The story examines Minnie Wright's murder of her husband John. The two women characters, Mrs. Hale and Mrs. Peters, are actually the ones who find all of the evidence that Minnie is guilty. Most importantly, they find the beaten up bird cage and the bird with its neck snapped. I think the two ladies choosing to hide this crucial piece of evidence from the men on the case is a power move. All they need to prove Minnie guilty is a motive, or a reason why she would have strangled her husband. The two women have found the motive, but instead hide it from the men, leaving the whole case in their hands.
I also believe the bird that was killed represents Minnie. It is stated that John Wright and his wife didn't always get on very well, and in addition to this, he preferred that women remain silent. The women mention that Minnie was a wonderful singer. This means that the bird, with its own songs, represented Minnie in that it had its own voice and didn't want to be quiet all the time. This annoyed Mr. Wright, and he wrung the bird's neck. It was this that drove Minnie over the edge, almost as if he had killed a piece of her.
I totally agree that the whole investigation would've been different if the bird had been found. We love solidarity between women.
ReplyDeleteI love the bird-as-Minnie metaphor. I really think this is less a story of what she did to Mr. Wright, and more of a story of what he did to her to push her over the edge. Not to be a victim-blamer but I blame the victim here.
ReplyDeleteThese are really good observations and I certainly agree with them. And this is absolutely a feminist play. These women are so much smarter than the men in it which gives the audience a good laugh occasionally!
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