Theme Analysis in Trifles by Susan Glaspell

Response Paper: Analysis of the Theme of Law, Duty and Justice in Trifles by Susan Glaspell.         

Trifles is a play based on mystery murder of Mr. Wright, and Mrs. Wright is arrested as she is the primary suspect in the crime. The central theme therefore for this play is that of law, duty, and justice as, in any crime, there has to be follow up actions to solve the case and let the justice be served. Because Minnie Wright is arrested and she is in jail, she would need a change of clothes; therefore, the two ladies Mrs. Hale and Mrs. Peter set at to get clothes at Mrs. Wright’s home. Here they meet the sheriff who is also Mrs. Peter’s husband, on duty investigating and looking for any clues of how the murder might have taken place. The county attorney is also here. The law is clear where the investigation has to be done to determine the circumstances of the murder and to prosecute the person guilty which is the duty of the county attorney.

The process of law starts by conducting investigations where the ladies are told to assist in finding any clues about the murder. The ladies however discovered more than what meets the eye. At first, they realize that Mrs. Wright just like any other woman worked hard, however, men did not recognize their efforts as they referred to their chores as trifles. They also discover that Mrs. Wright might have been living a lonely life with so many duties to undertake and it is probably the reason why the house was not in good condition. The only thing that would have made her life less lonely is the bird she kept in a cage. After the ladies discovered a few clues which are the shuttered cages and the bird that was already dead, they concluded that Mr. Wright must have killed the bird and as a result drover Mrs. Wright to kill him. Mrs. Hale and Mrs. Peter decide to keep quiet about the clues as they saw justice in protecting underappreciated lady who was driven to murder because the only thing that mattered to her was destroyed by the one person who made her life miserable.