Critical Analysis Of Trifles

Trifles is a single-act play written by Susan Glaspell. It is known to be performed by the Provincetown Players located at the Wharf Theatre. It consists of fewer characters with the author Susan Glaspell, playing the role of Mrs. Hale. The characters consist of George Henderson – A county attorney, Mr. John Wright – A man murdered in his own house, Mrs. Wright – Mr. Wright’s suspected murderer and his wife, Mr. Henry Peters- The husband of Mrs. Peter and the local Sheriff, Mrs. Peters – The wife of the Sheriff, Mr. Lewis Hale- The local neighbor of John Wright and Mrs. Hale – The spouse of Mr. Hale. The main emphasis of the storyline is on the conversation of the two women Mrs. Peters and Mrs. Hale. I will analyze the most significant aspects of the play: the themes, plot, and characters. The play begins with the attorney, local sheriff and Mr. Hale entering the house of Mr. Wright followed by the women. Mr. Hale explains the officers his visit to Mr. Wright’s house the previous day: “I didn 't hear or see anything; I knocked at the door, and still it was all quiet Inside. I knew they must be up” (2). He explains the complicated behavior of Mr. Wright’s wife about the death of her husband. He narrates that Mrs. Wright was unable to identify the killer of her husband who was asleep next to her, the reason being her inability to wake up during the incident: “ 'You don 't know? ' says Harry. ‘No ', says she. 'Weren 't you sleepin ' in the bed with him? '