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January 31, 2006
another thought
Glaspell, ''Trifles'' (1916) -- Jerz: American Lit II (EL 267)
Since Glaspell wrote this play in the midst of the women's suffrage movement, I think that her focus on Mrs. Hale's regret for not visiting Mrs. Wright is worthy of note.
"Oh, I wish I'd come over here once in a while! That was a crime! That was a crime! Who's going to punish that?"
Mrs. Hale states that they lived close by but were far apart emotionally and that all women go through different versions of the same thing. While it does not excuse murder, Mrs. Hale notices that Mrs. Wright was in obvious need of friendship and someone to confide in. I imagine that Mrs. Hale wonders if her own presence in Mrs. Wright's life may have helped avoid this tragedy.
Posted by JenniferDiFulvio at January 31, 2006 09:50 PM
Comments
Excellent point! If the entire point of the play is to complain that men suck, Glaspell wouldn't have bothered to put in this message.
Posted by: Dennis G. Jerz at January 31, 2006 11:01 PM
My initial reaction to the scene was that this was never really about the investigation of a murder but rather an investigation of the unknown lives of two neighbors.
Posted by: Shanelle Kapusta at February 1, 2006 11:07 AM