However, this is not the life style that Minnie wanted, Gaspell makes you feel that Minnie's happier times were when she was part of a group, like when she was in the "choir" (961), but that "was thirty years ago" (956). Life on the on the farm is was very lonesome for Minnie and "not having children" (959) made it worse, she had John who was their in the evenings physically, but emotionally and intellectually he was never available for Minnie. Gaspell shows that when Minnie did finally have something to keep her company, John became enraged at the thought of something that was able to take his place, even if it was just a little bird. Lack of communication can deteriorate a marriage just as it did to John and Minnie Wright's relationship. .
The second couple that Gaspell examined also suffered from lack of communication. Mr. Peters was the sheriff and his wife Mrs. Peters was a homemaker. Mrs. Peters had also experienced "stillness" (961) in her life, not just once but twice when she was a little girl a "boy took a hatchet" (960), to a little kitten she had owned. She felt empty after the kitten was gone, just as Minnie did when her bird passed away. Later in life Mrs. Peters lost a child that was only two years old; she had "no other" (961) to keep her company, so in some ways, Mrs. Peters was able to relate to Minnie, even though she didn't know her all that well. The author makes you feel that Mr. Peters wasn't there .
Kearney 3.
to support his wife when their child had died, like a husband should have been. Mr. and Mrs. Peters still experience lack of communication in their relationship. Gaspell portrays Mr. Peters as being a man that didn't share his feelings with his wife, concerning any matter even the investigation. Mrs. Peters had expressed to Mrs. Hale that she was glad she came, because it "would be lonesome" (958) just sitting they"re waiting for them to finish up with the investigation.
