In Susan Glaspell's Trifles, published during 1916, she uses Mrs. Wright to represent the reputation of women. It starts as an investigation murder scene at an abandoned farmhouse. Men and women then go to the place to investigate for the evidence. However, finding an evidence is not then most important thing that Glaspell is trying to show the audience, but the representation of how society think of women. Most of that time, men view women as having lower status than themselves. Women are expected to serve men and accept their fate of unequal treatment from their husbands. This situation happens with Mrs. Wright, who murders her husband due to the fact that he kills her precious bird, which represents her only hope in life. Therefore, Glaspell uses Mrs. Wright to show the inequality women face in that society.
Susan Glaspell is an American writer who was born in 1876 and she graduated from University of Chicago. Two of her notable works are the Trifles and Alison's house. Glaspell also won an award of Pulitzer Prize for Drama in 1931.She has the recognition of first important modern female playwright as an American story teller. Glaspell was not the only American feminist writer whose famous during that time, but Kate Chopin also famous for feminist reputation. Kate Chopin's "The Story of an Hour", is very similar to Glaspell's story. The story of an hour shows how women has their own choice to do whatever their want. Even though, it could be inappropriate for society perspective.Therefore, Both of the stories show that women can do and act beyond what society expect. Mrs. Wright is mentioned by the characters from the scene, but she does not appear in the scene. Mrs. Wright is a married person, who lives with her husband, John Wright at a small farmhouse. In the conversation where Mrs. Hale and Mrs. Peter talk about Mrs.Wright's husband, Mrs. Hale says,"But I don't think a place'd be any cheerfuller for John Wright's being in it"(663).
