Commentary on Trifles Essay

Indirect suicide

In Susan Glaspells Trifles Minnie Wright is a woman who when was young was once outgoing and lively until she married a harsh, cold hearted, and anti-social farmer. Her isolation and her husbands cruelty slowly drove her to murder her husband; she tried to have some sort of happiness. But Mr. Wright kills the only thing that makes her happy. Susan Glaspell is trying to say that Mr. Wrights murder is then inevitable and justified.

Glaspell shows in this play that because of Mr. Wrights controlling nature he isolated Minnie Wright. In this play when Mr. and Mrs. hale, and Mr. and Mrs. Peters were in the Wright house investigating the murder Mrs. Hale says to Mrs. Peters Ive never liked this place. Maybe because its down in a hollow, and you dont see the road. I dunno what it is, but its a lonesome place and always was Minnie Wright was separated from all of her friends and family it is impossible that she could not have some sort of depression from not seeing her friends in so long. Mrs. Hale, Minnies neighbor said Ive not seen much of her of late years. Ive not been in this house in more than a year its because of John Wright, that Minnie was deprived of anything social, he forced to live in a cold isolated farmhouse away from all her friends.

John Wright didnt just separate her by location he also separated her from all of the things that she loved. After Minnie married john Wright she no longer belonged to the ladies aid. Also when she was young Minnie used to sing in the choir. While reminiscing on Minnies younger days, Mrs. Hale also says, she used to wear pretty clothes and be lively, thats when she was Minnie Foster. Ever since Minnie married John Wright she had to suffer, she no longer got to wear the pretty clothes that she enjoyed and because of that she didnt go out anymore. She probably felt like she didnt belong with the other ladies so she never went out and socialized. This would cause anyone to go into some sort of depression being denied the right to happiness.

Her life just had nothing in it that she enjoyed. John Wright was the only one Minnie communicated with, and he was the only one there for her. But John saw to it that he would even deny Minnie of that too. Even Mrs. Hale a neighbor can see this and remarks that, makes a quiet house, and Wright out at work all day, and no company when he did come in that means that even when he was there with her in the house he ignored her. John Wright didnt show any concern for his wifes well being. She had nothing in a marriage thats supposed to bring you happiness; Minnie Wright was depressed because she was isolated. It can be proven that Mrs. Wright felt depressed because Mrs. Hale says you dont enjoy things when you feel shabby.

In order to have some ounce of happiness Mrs. Wright felt the need to get a bird that sings so she can have some company. When Minnie was young she used to sing real pretty herself Mrs. Wright thinks she just might get to have some company and she is probably ecstatic. But her joy is short lived because Mr. Wright sees to it that he killed that too. And he did it with force look at this door. Its broke. One hinge is pulled apart. Mrs. Hale horrified said, Looks as if someone must have been rough with it. Mr. Wright didnt simply take away his wifes happiness, he did it forcefully. There is nothing that Mrs. Wright could have that would bring her even a little bit of joy. Mrs. Wright was probably livid and justifiably too. Its understandable that because of a rage, Minnie understands that she has nothing else to lose so why not kill her husband he has done everything he could to destroy her life.

Mrs. Wright must have had a lot of irrational thoughts going on in her head because after the birds neck was snapped she decided to keep the bird. Mrs. Hale exclaims when she is looking for a box with Mrs. Wrights sewing things, what a pretty box. Looks like something somebody would give you. Not only is it crazy to keep a dead bird she decided to keep the dead bird in a really nice box in the closet. This shows that shes not in the right state of mind. Furthermore while doing her normal task of sewing she had a troubled mind. She didnt know really what she was doing when she was sewing her quilt. Mrs. Hale said look at this! Its all over the place! Why, it looks as if she didnt know what she was about! she was disoriented about something that was going on in her head. Mrs. Hale says if thered been years and years of nothing, then a bird to sing to you it would be awful--still, after the bird was still she realizes that life would practically be unbearable after the death of the bird, which can evoke irrational thought.

It is only rational to see that her irrational thought lead to the murder of Mr. Wright a hard manlike a raw wind that gets to the bone. After years of torment and neglect is it unreasonable for Mrs. Wright to try and fight back for her life? Maybe it wasnt her physical life but Mr. Wright killed her spirit. She had no choice. Mr. Wrights death was inevitable. Glaspells trying to say that John deserved to be murdered because he underestimated Minnie. The thought he could treat her however he wanted. He brought himself to his own demise. Now that her torment is over she is free to fly.