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January 28, 2007
Winter - The Season of Death
Glaspell, ''Trifles'' -- Jerz: EL150 (Intro to Literary Study)
"Mrs. Hale: (her own feelings not interrupted.) If there'd been years and years of nothing then a bird to sing to you, it would be awful - still, after the bird was still."
This line reminds me of Foster's chapter on the importance of seasons. Clearly this play is taking place in the winter as the characters keep mentioning how cold it is and how they sent Frank to start a fire in the house before they arrived. Yet, despite the fire, the house is still cold, which makes sense as cold is often associated with death. The canary is significant because it represents spring and all of the things that are normally associated with that season - life, warmth, happiness, love - all of the things that were missing from the Wright's marriage.
Posted by LorinSchumacher at January 28, 2007 3:45 AM
Comments
I didnt realize that the canary did symbolize something else beside just the motive for her to kill Mr. Wright. but also the life and happiness that was missing from their cold, cold marriage. It all goes back to Foster's how important the references to the weather of climate or geogaphy in a story. Interesting.....
Posted by: Corinne Lauer at January 28, 2007 11:23 AM
That is excellent! I never read this play before, but noticed what you said. As you stated, birds remind you of summer, life, warmth, love, etc. and the cold and winter is associated with death. I also agree that the Wrights marriage was missing the most important parts of a marriage and relationship. The happiness and love.
Posted by: Derek Tickle at January 28, 2007 12:13 PM
Ohhhh...that's good! I didn't think about it, but it totally makes sense! I have read this play before and I never really caught onto the season thing, but it really ties the play together even better.
Posted by: BethanyMerryman at January 28, 2007 3:41 PM
I never thought of that before. I also used Foster's text to make connections to the play, but I used the chapter on geography. I didn't really see the seasonal connections clearly enough to write about until I read you blog.
Posted by: Bethany Bouchard at January 28, 2007 3:42 PM
I know I noticed the cold weather and the warm-weather bird, but I never really put them together and found the symbolism until you said something. Now it makes perfect sense, and I can't believe I missed it before.
Posted by: HallieGeary at January 28, 2007 4:39 PM
Thanks everyone for all your comments!
Posted by: Lorin Schumacher at January 29, 2007 10:40 AM