Broadway’s lights are bright in New York City. Susan Glaspell’s Trifles probably would not fit in beside The Lion King and Phantom of the Opera. It is a different kind of play. “Central to Glaspell's plays is a concern with fulfilling life's potential, going beyond the confines of convention, safety, and ease to new and uncharted possibilities, both social and personal” (Dymkowski). Trifles is a short play in modern contemporary English, so the language is not a daunting task. The task at hand is to figure out what pushes the play along since suspense aspect of the murder is non-existent. The available videos use music to create mood, but that is not necessary while reading the play off the page. The action does not sustain the "thrill" of murder, but it does create a moral dilemma that can be "thrilling" in a different sense.
Dymkowski, Christine. "On the Edge: The Plays of Susan Glaspell." Modern Drama 31.1 (Mar. 1988): 91-105. Rpt. in Twentieth-Century Literary Criticism. Ed. Marie Lazzari. Vol. 55. Detroit: Gale Research, 1995. Literature Resource Center. Web. 31 Dec. 2012.
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Please click on Comments to give your ideas on this one-act play. Does it follow the rules of drama? What is its theme and does the playwright accomplish her goal?
Compare the text to the videos of this play.
Susan Glaspell's "Trifles" is a emotional and gloomy type of drama. With murder happening to start the play it kind of starts of attention grasping to you. I feel like it follows the rules of a drama with the thrill of murder being the drama's theme. I feel like she accomplishes her goal but the story is a little suspenseful in the end. -Omari G
"Trifles" by Susan Glaspell is a pretty good drama. I feel like the themes of feminism and murder worked well. Also, the main rule of drama is a need for a conflict which this one certainly has. The conflict between the murderer and her husband. The conflict between men and women. And the conflict between the murderer and her boring, male-dominated life. - Jake G
I thought "Trifles' by Susan Glaspell was a very interesting drama. It told the story from more of a erie view. It seemed to be a little sympathetic to woman. Some themes are loneliness because Mrs. Hale realizes that woman have all experienced loneliness in part because they do not realize their similarities and have not learned to support each other. In the end, loneliness connects the women and brings them closer to each other. The text was much more detailed. the videos didnt tell me really anything about the main point of the story. -Matt.H
I found Susan Glaspell’s “Trifles” to be an interesting play. There are many themes’ that fit well into this play that convey so much meaning, such as, Feminism, law, justice, loneliness, and protection. This play leaves the reader intrigued into what will happen next throughout the play. I sense as if this play follows the rule of drama because it was suspenseful and there was somewhat of a thrill. Susan Glaspell accomplished her goal in her drama play. -Vanessa G
I think "Trifles" is a bit different from other dramas we usually see because it doesn't focus on the event or the murderer, but on the circumstance women had to experience at that time. The playwright presents the moral through the dialogue between Mrs.Peters and Mrs.Hale. The theme of the story is how women were oppressed at the time. Also, one more interesting thing of this play is the last line, "We call it--knot it." It's because it can be interpreted in many different ways. Donghwan K.
Susan Glaspell's "Trifles" emits a somber tone. With murder starting the drama it is nearly impossible to deviate from the specified tone. This certainly follows the rules of drama mainly because there is conflict. The main being man versus man(women). The somber tone is also continued through the idea of male dominance. This could almost be defined as oppressive. In terms of the video versus the text. The text really offered more. Analysis could be made much easier with the text. This is typical with a lot of writing. In all Susan Glaspell was able to convey her idea while still staying within the drama style. -Doug C.
Susan Glaspell's drama, "Trifles" seemed so short, but in just about two minutes, so much had happened. Murder and violence were definitely occurring throughout the scene. The tone the characters held were intense, it added a very cold a depressing feeling to the drama. I could not make out what the subtitles said, all I got from it was, "three women" and "mysteries". The rope was emphasized, I assume that the man could have been with three other women and one unfortunately resorted to murdering him. Megan H
Susan Glaspell's drama, "Trifles" was very intriguing. This drama really caught my attention because it was suspenseful and thrilling. I really enjoyed the spooky, dark tone. Feminism and loneliness was a big theme in the story. Megan S
Susan Glaspell's drama "Trifles" theme is suspenseful and feministic. Throughout the whole play we are wondering who really did the murder. Although Mrs. Wright is being held for murder the men, the sheriff, the district attorney, and hale, go through the house looking for evidence of the murder. The women, Mrs. Peters and Mrs. Hale, on the other hand are in the kitchen not so much involved in the investigation because they are females. It seems to me that the ladies have found out more of the murder scene than the guys did because they found a dead bird with its neck broke, much like the way Mr.Wright died. The short film was pretty corny and didn't really give much detail like the play did. -Christian G
"Trifles" by Susan Glaspell is a very interesting drama with a lot of suspense. I like that the women did not really come out and say who murdered Mr. Wright but it kind of goes without saying. The theme is feminism and male domination in society. The text was a lot more clear and easier to understand than the video. Dana N
Susan Glaspell's “Trifles” is a one-act play, and therefore does not have enough room for the elements that are typical of plays, such as the three-act rise and fall structure of a tragedy. However, Glaspell has still followed the rules of drama, as “Trifles” takes place entirely in the farmhouse of John Wright, the play takes place in real time, and the only problem is that of the murder of John Wright and how it came to pass. This play deals largely with relationships, the relationships between a husband and wife and the relationships of neighbors. Though we never see the two together, just enough information is given to us about the undesirable and tired marriage that Mr. and Mrs. Wright shared, that ended in Mr. Wright's demise. On the contrary, the majority of the play is spent with the characters of Mrs. Hale and Mrs. Peters, a neighbor of the Wrights and the wife of the Sheriff investigating John Wright's Death, respectively. From the conversation between Hale and Peters, we get more insight as to the relationship Hale had with the Wright's and how she didn't visit often, citing their general unpleasantness as a reason as well a conversation about what may have caused John Wright's death. From these examples, it is clear that Glaspell reached her goal of exploring the dynamic of relationships, and how wrong they can go when things get out of control. In comparing the text version of the play to the video ones, the biggest differences are the use of music and the visual aid of seeing the evidence and reaction by the characters. The text version gives us the story in it's most unadulterated form, not needing music to heighten the tension. Likewise the text gives us only subtle clues as to what is going on, while in the videos a more clearer conclusion can be drawn outright. The text version is more ambiguous and ponderous, while the video versions are obvious and unnecessary. -Kyle B
"Trifles" was a very interesting drama. The theme of this drama is feminism and male domination. This was my first time reading a drama like this and I really enjoyed it. i believe the playwright accomplished her goal. -Victoria G.
The drama "Trifles" by Susan Glaspell is sort of a murder mystery. Drama follows the neoclassical principles including unity of time, place and action. Meaning that all of the event take place in real time. I think this follows what is necessary for a drama. The theme was basically having morals. Julianna C.
I think that "Trifles" was very suspenseful drama. I think that it did follow the rules of Drama because there is a conflict between Mrs. Wright and the people who are holding her on trial for murder. I think with all the murder and violence happening it definitely grabs the readers attention. I would say that the theme of this drama is feminism. - Christina H
The drama "Trifles" by Susan Glaspell is one-act play. This drama follows the rules of drama because it includes real time, place (John Wright's farmhouse), and action. In this drama, the theme is about relationship among characters. --Peng Q
The play Trifles by Susan Glaspell’s was a quiet interesting play. The mystery in the play interested me in it. I believe that the theme of this drama was loneliness. The women in the play were very lonely. The women were always to themselves working in the kitchen or knitting something and for those women who didn’t have kids made it even worst. The video differs from the written version because it gets straight into the scenery and gives multiple visions of what occurred in the play. The tone was intence due to the killings and what was happening in the play mostly the investigations. I believe it follows the rule of drama because of the suspense and the mystery. George P.
Trifles was a very interesting play.The theme is loneliness.The women were always working. The tone was intense due to the killings. It follows the rule of drama because of the suspense.The video differs from the written version because the video gets straight into the play and has a lot of imagery. -Akram A
The play, Trifles by Susan Glaspell, is very gloomy and haunting. The play begins with a murder scene where someone is already in jail for the crime. The suspense is not who the murderer is, but if the person accused is innocent or guilty. In the play, little clues point at the wife of the man who was killed, but the thrill comes from the other women who hide evidence that could have a major effect in the case. I believe the play follows the rules of drama because it creates a suspenseful situation where you are following and making predications of what might unravel. The theme of the play is between womanhood and justice. The women during this time have so much in common and often band together away from the men. They worry about “trifles” as said in the play, meaning they consider the little things. This depiction has a significant effect on what the women find and how their little “trifles” actually contribute a lot to the readers believing it was the wife who killed her husband. However, the women hide what they find because the men usually just laugh at them. Justice is another major theme in this because although it may seem as though the wife of the dead man is a sweet woman, the law is the law and they must find the proof and reason of why or why not this happened. The videos are much different than the text because the music plays into our emotions. The image of what we see, the words we hear, and the music all tie in with the eerie mood. In the text, however, there is no music or images, but you can still get a sense of what is happening in your mind. The music in the videos makes the play come alive and seem more suspenseful and dramatic. - Esther P.
I feel that this play does follow ther rules of drama. The theme revolves around lonliness and denial. Relationships between characters plays a big part in this drama as seen between the husband and wife and even Mrs. Peters and Mrs. Hale. Reading the text and then watching the videos give you a complete understanding of how the drama comes about. While the text has much detail which is a lot to take in, the videos allows you to feel and see what it's like to be in that situation allowing you to put one and one together. There is a lot of suspense which adds to the conflict of the drama and I feel that that is what allows the playwright to accomplish her goa. -Brett B
I feel that "Trifles" by Susan Glaspell's was ok. She did stick to all the rules of drama but i just felt it was a little dry. It just did not grab me like most tv dramas that i would watch. I did like the plot to the story. The them to this was that the wife kills the husband because he kills her humming bird. I feel that all those point where met in this peice. --Greg D
Susan Glaspell does not follow the rules of drama in "Trifles". The play centered around a mystery, doesn't have a resolution and the ending leaves a bit of a cliff hanger. Though we can conclude Mrs. Wright kills her husband via Mrs. Hale's empathy, and small clues used to show her guilt, little is still known about the details and much is left to the imagination. Overall good use of suspense and imagery to set the scene. -Ashleigh N.
"Trifles" by Susan Glaspell was a very interesting drama. Although it has the conflict that drama needs, it doesn't exactly follow drama rules. The use of murder in the story makes the drama told in a very creepy way. Overall a very good and interesting drama to read. -James B.
The drama Triffles by Susan Glaspell does not follow the rules of Fretags Pyramid. Though there was an incentive (beginning) followed by a rising action, there really was no resolution; almost like a cliff hanger. The poem has an underlying theme of unhappiness and loliness. Mrs. Wright was not happy with in her marriage and felt alone. We know this because the 2 Mrs. Hales and Mrs. Peters discuss how Mrs.Wright never had children which calls for a quiet house. They also disscussed how happy she was before her marriage with Mr.Wright. It's ironic that Mrs.Wright wore a white dress and blue ribbon s before marrying Mr. Wright because white is symbolic for being pure. This drama was very gloomy and saddening. -Jordan C.
I really enjoyed "Trifles" by Susan Glaspell. It does not follow the rules of Fretags Pyramid even though it was very well written. There is a plot of murder and who did it. There is also a theme of gender roles and how man and women deal with the situation differently. It was a very interesting drama to read and the ending was great. -Emily Z.
Susan Glaspell's "Trifles" is a emotional and gloomy type of drama. With murder happening to start the play it kind of starts of attention grasping to you. I feel like it follows the rules of a drama with the thrill of murder being the drama's theme. I feel like she accomplishes her goal but the story is a little suspenseful in the end.
ReplyDelete-Omari G
"Trifles" by Susan Glaspell is a pretty good drama. I feel like the themes of feminism and murder worked well. Also, the main rule of drama is a need for a conflict which this one certainly has. The conflict between the murderer and her husband. The conflict between men and women. And the conflict between the murderer and her boring, male-dominated life.
ReplyDelete- Jake G
I thought "Trifles' by Susan Glaspell was a very interesting drama. It told the story from more of a erie view. It seemed to be a little sympathetic to woman. Some themes are loneliness because Mrs. Hale realizes that woman have all experienced loneliness in part because they do not realize their similarities and have not learned to support each other. In the end, loneliness connects the women and brings them closer to each other. The text was much more detailed. the videos didnt tell me really anything about the main point of the story. -Matt.H
ReplyDeleteI found Susan Glaspell’s “Trifles” to be an interesting play. There are many themes’ that fit well into this play that convey so much meaning, such as, Feminism, law, justice, loneliness, and protection. This play leaves the reader intrigued into what will happen next throughout the play. I sense as if this play follows the rule of drama because it was suspenseful and there was somewhat of a thrill. Susan Glaspell accomplished her goal in her drama play. -Vanessa G
ReplyDeleteI think "Trifles" is a bit different from other dramas we usually see because it doesn't focus on the event or the murderer, but on the circumstance women had to experience at that time. The playwright presents the moral through the dialogue between Mrs.Peters and Mrs.Hale. The theme of the story is how women were oppressed at the time. Also, one more interesting thing of this play is the last line, "We call it--knot it." It's because it can be interpreted in many different ways.
ReplyDeleteDonghwan K.
Susan Glaspell's "Trifles" emits a somber tone. With murder starting the drama it is nearly impossible to deviate from the specified tone. This certainly follows the rules of drama mainly because there is conflict. The main being man versus man(women). The somber tone is also continued through the idea of male dominance. This could almost be defined as oppressive. In terms of the video versus the text. The text really offered more. Analysis could be made much easier with the text. This is typical with a lot of writing. In all Susan Glaspell was able to convey her idea while still staying within the drama style.
ReplyDelete-Doug C.
Susan Glaspell's drama, "Trifles" seemed so short, but in just about two minutes, so much had happened. Murder and violence were definitely occurring throughout the scene. The tone the characters held were intense, it added a very cold a depressing feeling to the drama. I could not make out what the subtitles said, all I got from it was, "three women" and "mysteries". The rope was emphasized, I assume that the man could have been with three other women and one unfortunately resorted to murdering him.
ReplyDeleteMegan H
Susan Glaspell's drama, "Trifles" was very intriguing. This drama really caught my attention because it was suspenseful and thrilling. I really enjoyed the spooky, dark tone. Feminism and loneliness was a big theme in the story.
ReplyDeleteMegan S
Susan Glaspell's drama "Trifles" theme is suspenseful and feministic. Throughout the whole play we are wondering who really did the murder. Although Mrs. Wright is being held for murder the men, the sheriff, the district attorney, and hale, go through the house looking for evidence of the murder. The women, Mrs. Peters and Mrs. Hale, on the other hand are in the kitchen not so much involved in the investigation because they are females. It seems to me that the ladies have found out more of the murder scene than the guys did because they found a dead bird with its neck broke, much like the way Mr.Wright died. The short film was pretty corny and didn't really give much detail like the play did.
ReplyDelete-Christian G
"Trifles" by Susan Glaspell is a very interesting drama with a lot of suspense. I like that the women did not really come out and say who murdered Mr. Wright but it kind of goes without saying. The theme is feminism and male domination in society. The text was a lot more clear and easier to understand than the video.
ReplyDeleteDana N
Susan Glaspell's “Trifles” is a one-act play, and therefore does not have enough room for the elements that are typical of plays, such as the three-act rise and fall structure of a tragedy. However, Glaspell has still followed the rules of drama, as “Trifles” takes place entirely in the farmhouse of John Wright, the play takes place in real time, and the only problem is that of the murder of John Wright and how it came to pass. This play deals largely with relationships, the relationships between a husband and wife and the relationships of neighbors. Though we never see the two together, just enough information is given to us about the undesirable and tired marriage that Mr. and Mrs. Wright shared, that ended in Mr. Wright's demise. On the contrary, the majority of the play is spent with the characters of Mrs. Hale and Mrs. Peters, a neighbor of the Wrights and the wife of the Sheriff investigating John Wright's Death, respectively. From the conversation between Hale and Peters, we get more insight as to the relationship Hale had with the Wright's and how she didn't visit often, citing their general unpleasantness as a reason as well a conversation about what may have caused John Wright's death. From these examples, it is clear that Glaspell reached her goal of exploring the dynamic of relationships, and how wrong they can go when things get out of control. In comparing the text version of the play to the video ones, the biggest differences are the use of music and the visual aid of seeing the evidence and reaction by the characters. The text version gives us the story in it's most unadulterated form, not needing music to heighten the tension. Likewise the text gives us only subtle clues as to what is going on, while in the videos a more clearer conclusion can be drawn outright. The text version is more ambiguous and ponderous, while the video versions are obvious and unnecessary. -Kyle B
ReplyDelete"Trifles" was a very interesting drama. The theme of this drama is feminism and male domination. This was my first time reading a drama like this and I really enjoyed it. i believe the playwright accomplished her goal.
ReplyDelete-Victoria G.
The drama "Trifles" by Susan Glaspell is sort of a murder mystery. Drama follows the neoclassical principles including unity of time, place and action. Meaning that all of the event take place in real time. I think this follows what is necessary for a drama. The theme was basically having morals.
ReplyDeleteJulianna C.
I think that "Trifles" was very suspenseful drama. I think that it did follow the rules of Drama because there is a conflict between Mrs. Wright and the people who are holding her on trial for murder. I think with all the murder and violence happening it definitely grabs the readers attention. I would say that the theme of this drama is feminism.
ReplyDelete- Christina H
The drama "Trifles" by Susan Glaspell is one-act play. This drama follows the rules of drama because it includes real time, place (John Wright's farmhouse), and action. In this drama, the theme is about relationship among characters.
ReplyDelete--Peng Q
The play Trifles by Susan Glaspell’s was a quiet interesting play. The mystery in the play interested me in it. I believe that the theme of this drama was loneliness. The women in the play were very lonely. The women were always to themselves working in the kitchen or knitting something and for those women who didn’t have kids made it even worst. The video differs from the written version because it gets straight into the scenery and gives multiple visions of what occurred in the play. The tone was intence due to the killings and what was happening in the play mostly the investigations. I believe it follows the rule of drama because of the suspense and the mystery. George P.
ReplyDeleteTrifles was a very interesting play.The theme is loneliness.The women were always working. The tone was intense due to the killings. It follows the rule of drama because of the suspense.The video differs from the written version because the video gets straight into the play and has a lot of imagery. -Akram A
ReplyDeleteThe play, Trifles by Susan Glaspell, is very gloomy and haunting. The play begins with a murder scene where someone is already in jail for the crime. The suspense is not who the murderer is, but if the person accused is innocent or guilty. In the play, little clues point at the wife of the man who was killed, but the thrill comes from the other women who hide evidence that could have a major effect in the case. I believe the play follows the rules of drama because it creates a suspenseful situation where you are following and making predications of what might unravel. The theme of the play is between womanhood and justice. The women during this time have so much in common and often band together away from the men. They worry about “trifles” as said in the play, meaning they consider the little things. This depiction has a significant effect on what the women find and how their little “trifles” actually contribute a lot to the readers believing it was the wife who killed her husband. However, the women hide what they find because the men usually just laugh at them. Justice is another major theme in this because although it may seem as though the wife of the dead man is a sweet woman, the law is the law and they must find the proof and reason of why or why not this happened. The videos are much different than the text because the music plays into our emotions. The image of what we see, the words we hear, and the music all tie in with the eerie mood. In the text, however, there is no music or images, but you can still get a sense of what is happening in your mind. The music in the videos makes the play come alive and seem more suspenseful and dramatic.
ReplyDelete- Esther P.
I feel that this play does follow ther rules of drama. The theme revolves around lonliness and denial. Relationships between characters plays a big part in this drama as seen between the husband and wife and even Mrs. Peters and Mrs. Hale. Reading the text and then watching the videos give you a complete understanding of how the drama comes about. While the text has much detail which is a lot to take in, the videos allows you to feel and see what it's like to be in that situation allowing you to put one and one together. There is a lot of suspense which adds to the conflict of the drama and I feel that that is what allows the playwright to accomplish her goa.
ReplyDelete-Brett B
I feel that "Trifles" by Susan Glaspell's was ok. She did stick to all the rules of drama but i just felt it was a little dry. It just did not grab me like most tv dramas that i would watch. I did like the plot to the story. The them to this was that the wife kills the husband because he kills her humming bird. I feel that all those point where met in this peice. --Greg D
ReplyDeleteSusan Glaspell does not follow the rules of drama in "Trifles". The play centered around a mystery, doesn't have a resolution and the ending leaves a bit of a cliff hanger. Though we can conclude Mrs. Wright kills her husband via Mrs. Hale's empathy, and small clues used to show her guilt, little is still known about the details and much is left to the imagination. Overall good use of suspense and imagery to set the scene.
ReplyDelete-Ashleigh N.
"Trifles" by Susan Glaspell was a very interesting drama. Although it has the conflict that drama needs, it doesn't exactly follow drama rules. The use of murder in the story makes the drama told in a very creepy way. Overall a very good and interesting drama to read.
ReplyDelete-James B.
The drama Triffles by Susan Glaspell does not follow the rules of Fretags Pyramid. Though there was an incentive (beginning) followed by a rising action, there really was no resolution; almost like a cliff hanger. The poem has an underlying theme of unhappiness and loliness. Mrs. Wright was not happy with in her marriage and felt alone. We know this because the 2 Mrs. Hales and Mrs. Peters discuss how Mrs.Wright never had children which calls for a quiet house. They also disscussed how happy she was before her marriage with Mr.Wright. It's ironic that Mrs.Wright wore a white dress and blue ribbon s before marrying Mr. Wright because white is symbolic for being pure. This drama was very gloomy and saddening. -Jordan C.
ReplyDeleteI really enjoyed "Trifles" by Susan Glaspell. It does not follow the rules of Fretags Pyramid even though it was very well written. There is a plot of murder and who did it. There is also a theme of gender roles and how man and women deal with the situation differently. It was a very interesting drama to read and the ending was great. -Emily Z.
ReplyDeleteit's one of an interesting short video I watched today
ReplyDelete