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A Jury Of Her Peers Compare And Contrast Essay

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Susan Glaspell’s “A Jury of Her Peers,” is a short story that was adapted from her own play “Trifles.” While the basic plot and characters are the same in both versions, there are some noticeable differences between the two. In this essay, I will consider the reasons Glaspell may have had for rewriting the play in short story form, the main differences between telling a story through narration and telling it through drama, and how the story might be different if it were adapted as another form, such as a poem or a film. One possible reason why Glaspell rewrote "Trifles" as a short story is that it allowed her to explore the characters' inner lives in greater depth. In the play, the characters are limited to what they can say and do on stage, …show more content…

For example, this is shown when Mrs. Hale is conversing with the county attorney about Minnie Foster’s appearance before the murder, "As he asked it he took out a note-book and pencil. Mrs. Hale did not like the sight of that pencil. She kept her eye fixed on her husband, as if to keep him from saying unnecessary things that would go into that note-book and make trouble. “ (Glaspell, pg. 4). This passage reveals Mrs. Hale's inner thoughts and desire to not reveal too much information about Minnie Foster that could potentially incriminate …show more content…

For example, when Mrs. Hale discovers the dead canary in the kitchen, she exclaims: "Oh, Mrs. Peters, look at it! Its neck! Look at its neck! It's all - other side to" (Glaspell, pg. 165). This dialogue reveals Mrs. Hale's horror and shock at the discovery, but it is much less descriptive and world building than in the short story version. Next, the main differences between telling a story through narration and telling it through drama lie in the way the story is presented. In a narrative, the author has more control over the pacing and can describe the thoughts and feelings of the characters in greater detail. In drama, the story is conveyed primarily through dialogue and action. What’s more, a play typically has a more limited setting and characters are often more focused on the immediate events of the story, in order for the audience to understand the

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