ipl-logo

Syntax In Trifles

462 Words2 Pages

When thinking about the role of women in the community, what comes to mind? Are their jobs and rights, are they the same as men’s? The mere idea that women didn’t have as many rights as they do now is astounding to modern thoughts towards women’s rights. In Trifles Susan Glaspell uses the women and literary elements such as diction, syntax, and tone of the story to show the sexism of the times. The diction of the play helps to advance the plot and the theme of this play immensely. The word choice between the genders is different; the women sound more educated whenever the men aren’t around. This goes to show that women were only expected to speak if they didn’t sound nearly as intelligent as the men did. Glaspells use of this gives the reader the impression that the women don’t even want to be speaking properly, for fear of rebuke from their spouse. The author’s use of diction helps us to understand the women and their importance in the society at the time. …show more content…

While the men are out, they have elaborate conversations, which managed to have very good syntax. The women show an obvious change in syntax when the men come inside, and they go from jovial to terse very quickly: MRS. HALE: It’s a log cabin pattern. Pretty, isn’t it? I wonder if was goin’ to quilt it or just knot it? [Footsteps have been heard coming down the stairs. The SHERIFF enters followed by HALE and COUNTY ATTORNEY.] SHERIFF: They wonder if she was going to quilt it or just knot it! [The men laugh, the women look abashed.] (Glaspell 199-203) This sardonic jest from the males shows that the women aren’t even readily appreciated for being there, and the men might’ve felt odd having them sound educated when they did

Show More
Related

  • But What Do You Mean By Deborah Tannen

    994 Words  | 4 Pages

    In Deborah Tannen’s article, “But What Do You Mean?” Tannen exchanges her view on seven topics of a predicament in a communication between both men and women. The seven topics which are apologies, criticism, thank-you’s, fighting, praise, complaints, and jokes. In this article, Tannen focuses on women mostly as her primary examples, such as giving more examples of women’s misinterpreting and miscommunicating in conversations. However, I believe that her article is too old and that her claims about the ways men and women communicate are too rigid.

    Read More

  • My Mother Pieced My Quilts Analysis

    634 Words  | 3 Pages

    A sentimental item can allow one to tie their memories to it once a moment comes to an end, letting them continuously cherish that memory. The item can range from anything a person wants, depending on them and their experiences; such as, the quilts in the short story "Everyday Use" and the poem " My Mother Pieced my Quilts". Both Teresa Acosta and Alice Walker use imagery and figurative language to establish the quilt as the love and respect for both of their family's heritage.

    Read More

  • Gender And Gender Stereotypes In Shakespeare's Macbeth

    1514 Words  | 7 Pages

    Shakespeare’s tragedy, Macbeth, focuses on the tumultuous events that surround a regicide. Despite being the shortest of Shakespeare’s plays, in his critical study of the play A. C. Bradley concludes that due to its vehement nature the audience is left with an impression “not of brevity but of speed” . The principal female character of Lady Macbeth is arguably one of his most contentious. Consumed with intense passion, ambition and greed she challenges the subservient role of the traditional Elizabethan woman. She has disturbed, horrified and intrigued both contemporary and modern audiences alike through her powerful diction.

    Read More

  • Compare And Contrast Trifles And A Doll's House

    975 Words  | 4 Pages

    In the play Trifles, written by Susan Glaspell, and the play A Doll’s House, written by Henrik Ibsen, there are two ladies who undergo two different situations. Mrs. Wright is someone who is assumed as the murderer of her husband Mr. Wright. On the other hand, Nora manipulates her husband by taking out a loan without his approval. These two ladies both face isolation in their relationships and eventually end up without their husbands. These two characters differ in their personalities, their actions in their marriages, and their overall marriage.

    Read More

  • A Comparison Of Maggie And Dee In Everyday Use By Alice Walker

    1026 Words  | 5 Pages

    The comparison of characters is something an author allows us to do while reading a story, by telling us about the characters’ looks, their personalities, their lifestyles, and also the traits that may describe a character. “Everyday Use” written by Alice Walker, two characters named Maggie and Dee had a few things in common and many differences from each other. The characters Maggie and Dee, also known as “Wanergo,” are sisters who compete on who inherits the family heirlooms. The story is told from the mother’s (Mama’s) point of view.

    Read More

  • Gender Roles In Trifles

    1014 Words  | 5 Pages

    The men also take light of the small details that the women take note of, in particular as to how Mrs. Wright was contemplating the construction of the quilt. As the women converse and share experiences of their own and those of Mrs. Wright, they begin to form

    Read More

  • Feminism In Louise Halfe's Body Politics

    459 Words  | 2 Pages

    Judith Butler’s Gender Troubles emphasizes gender as the constant repetition of non-existent ideals to uphold a masculine-dominant culture. Likewise, “Body Politics” highlights this belief within the overtly feminine qualities of city women. As a whole, the poem contrasts idealized feminine “city women” with a “real woman” who possesses both feminine and masculine qualities. The mother figure challenges both the gender binary and the patriarchal order by rejecting the feminine gender norms of the society. This feminist reading of the poem makes many valuable and probable claims, however the feminist approach contains some weaknesses.

    Read More

  • Real Women Have Curves Play Analysis

    865 Words  | 4 Pages

    Both the play Real Women Have Curves by Josefina Lopez and the movie adaptation make an attempt to communicate the message of female empowerment through their respective protagonists, Estela and Ana. Men resolve most of Ana’s problems, whereas Estela relies on herself and other women. The play conveys the theme of female empowerment because it is female-centric, successfully addresses the issues of body image, and focuses on women’s independence and self-validation. Lopez’s play serves as an example of what can happen when women uplift and depend on each other, as opposed to men.

    Read More

  • Mrs. Wright In Susan Glaspell's Trifles

    699 Words  | 3 Pages

    Mrs. Wright is the main character in Susan Glaspell’s one-act play Trifles. While Mrs. Wright is being held by the police for her husband’s murder, a few men go to investigate her home, and a few women go along to gather some of her things to bring to her in jail. As the ladies collect Mrs. Wright’s possessions, they begin to come across trifles. The trifles include: a messy kitchen, a poorly sewn quilt, and a broken bird cage with a missing bird. The women view these items as important clues, and withhold their findings from the men so that they could help Mrs. Wright out of her troubles.

    Read More

  • Sexism In Trifles By Susan Glaspell

    1611 Words  | 7 Pages

    There is no question that women have struggled over many years to be seen as equals by their male counterparts. Years of struggle and oppression continued throughout time, but the oppression took different forms over the course of history. Susan Glaspell wrote, “Trifles” which explores a woman’s status in society during the 1920s and the political leanings that perverted society at the time. The play demonstrates how women were subjected to mental abuse and viewed as intellectually inferior as dictated by American society and politics. “Trifles” exposes how political leanings in the government favored and enabled a patriarchal society as well as displaying how the Women’s Rights movement was beginning to combat these prejudices.

    Read More

  • Perceiving Evidence In Susan Glaspell's Trifles

    796 Words  | 4 Pages

    In Susan Glaspell's play “Trifles,” there is a difference between the men and women’s way of perceiving evidence to Mr. Wright’s murder case. The men spend most of their time searching for solid evidence upstairs where Mr. Wright's murder takes place. However, the women spend most of their time in Mrs. Wright’s kitchen. Instead of seeking tangible evidence, they inspect the condition of the items and acknowledge how they have been muddled around. Different perspectives lead to a variety of discoveries such as the women’s way of perceiving evidence.

    Read More

  • Symbols In Everyday Use By Alice Walker

    1338 Words  | 6 Pages

    Alice walker in Everyday Use demonstrates the understanding of African American heritage. Understanding your heritage is important because you should always look back on where you came from. Where you came from is such a big part of who you are and is something know one can take away from you. When you understand your heritage, you get to pass it on to others. Walker does this by using characterization, symbolism, and theme.

    Read More

  • Trifles And A Jury Of Her Peers Analysis

    1408 Words  | 6 Pages

    The Pursuit of Justice for Women Through the Comparison of Glaspell's Trifles and A Jury of Her Peers Susan Glaspell first wrote the play "Trifles" and then a short time later followed up with the short story "A Jury of Her Peers". The story and the play contain many parallels such as: the setting, the plot, and the same characters. Even though they are very similar they have different titles which seem to be fitting for each. In the play, Hale states that women are constantly "worrying over trifles. " Yet, these trifles are the evidence the men need to convict Minnie.

    Read More

  • Trifles By Susan Glaspell Literary Analysis

    691 Words  | 3 Pages

    Quen Head Comp 2 11:30 Literary Analysis “Trifles” Gender Roles Everyone around the world has a mindset that certain genders have certain rules in relationships and everyday life. The author, Susan Glaspell, showed many ways in the story “Trifles” how males can look at things in a different perspective than women sometimes do. For generations, women have fought for power and rights, one of the biggest events in history is The Women’s Rights’ Movement starting in 1848 and going on for years until 1920 when the 19th amendment that granted American women the right to vote. Throughout history the fight between women and men has been a long process from rights, to gender specific roles in career, pay, and equality.

    Read More

  • A Doll House And Trifles Comparison Essay

    558 Words  | 3 Pages

    In comparing and contrast both drama A Doll House by (Henrik Ibsen), and Trifles by (Susan Glaspell). The authors shine a light on how a woman had no place in society in the nineteenth century .A woman place was in her home and her responsibility’s consist of taking care of her husband, her children and her home. Mrs. Wright was introduce to the reader as woman that was held for murdering her husband after a long time of abuse. Nora was introduce to the reader as woman that had everything in life.

    Read More

More about Syntax In Trifles

Open Document