Class 11 Trifles Exercise

About the Play
Summary

"Trifles" is a suspenseful one-act play authored by Susan Glaspell, an American playwright, novelist, journalist, and actress. The play delves into diverse aspects of women's lives, highlighting themes such as isolation, loss of identity, male dominance, revenge, violence, feminism, and freedom through rebellion.

Set around the investigation of the murder of Mr. John Wright, the play revolves around the accused, Mrs. Minnie Wright, his wife. As the plot unfolds, it explores both the investigation into Mr. Wright's murder and the varying perspectives of Mrs. Wright's neighbors. The play emphasizes the murder investigation, the neighbors' viewpoints, and the evidence surrounding the crime.

A central figure, Mrs. Wright, remains off-stage throughout the play, yet her presence looms large. The narrative is driven by hypotheses, evidence, and discussions centered around Mrs. Wright. The play engages with the mystery of the murder while also shedding light on the dynamics of her character and the people around her.

Understanding the text (Answer Question)

a. Do you believe that Mrs. Wright killed her husband? Explain.

➜ Yes, I believe Mrs. Wright murdered her husband. After reading the whole play, I think she is guilty. Mrs. Hale and Mrs. Peters looked into Mrs. Wright's small wrongdoings and found enough evidence against her, showing she is a murderer.

b. Do you think Mr. Wright’s death would have been uncovered if Mr. Hale hadn’t stopped by the Wrights’ home?

➜ No, I don't believe Mr. Wright's death would have been found out if Mr. Hale hadn't come to the Wrights' home. Nobody would have known about Mr. Wright's death if Mr. Hale hadn't visited their house. The house was far from the road and hadn't been visited in a long time. Mr. Wright's body would have decayed in that dark house if Mr. Hale hadn't stopped there to ask for a phone line.

c. Why does Mrs. Hale think that Mrs. Wright’s worries about her preserves indicate her innocence?

➜ Mrs. Hale believes that Mrs. Wright's worries about her preserves indicate her innocence because Mrs. Wright doesn't seem like a murderer who is obsessed with her housekeeping skills. To her, someone who is overly worried about her preserves couldn't have committed murder. Her careful attention to her housekeeping shows she is innocent.

d. How does Mrs. Peters’ homesteading experience connect her to Mrs. Wright?

➜ Mrs. Peters' homesteading experience links her to Mrs. Wright in the following ways:

She had a kitten as a girl. She saw a boy kill it with a hatchet. She felt very angry at the boy. She had a strong desire for revenge against the boy. This connects her to Mrs. Wright's desire for revenge against the person who killed her canary.

She lost her first child when she was two years old. She went through a tough time without her dear child. This connects her to Mrs. Wright's difficult time without her cherished canary.

e. How do the women’s perspectives on men differ?

➜ The play portrays men as arrogant and controlling. They display their dominance over women and belittle them. They often make fun of women. Throughout the investigation, men consistently mock women's viewpoints. Men don't take women's actions and discussions seriously. Men consider women's perspectives as unimportant.

Reference to the context

a. “MRS. PETERS: (glancing around) Seems funny to think of a bird here. But she must have had one, or why would she have a cage? I wonder what happened to it? MRS. HALE: I s'pose maybe the cat got it.”

i. Who does ‘she’ refer to?

➜ 'She' refers to Mrs. Wright.

ii. What does the word ‘one’ stand for?

➜The word 'one' means a bird.

iii. What is the full form of “s’pose”

➜The full form of "s'pose" is "suppose."

iv. What do you mean when Mrs. Hale says, “the cat got it”?

➜ When Mrs. Hale says, "the cat got it," she means that the cat likely caught the bird.

b. “MRS. HALE: Wright was close. …… she used to wear pretty clothes and be lively, when she was Minnie Foster, one of the town girls singing in the choir But that— oh, that was thirty years ago.”

i. Why does Mrs. Hale refer to Mrs. Wright as “Minnie Foster”?

➜ Mrs. Hale calls Mrs. Wright "Minnie Foster" because before getting married, Mrs. Wright used to be a beautiful singer. She was known as Minnie Foster and used to wear nice clothes and sing in the choir.

ii. What does her description tell you about Mrs. Wright?

➜ Mrs. Wright was a lovely singer before she got married. Her name was Minnie Foster, and she used to sing beautifully and dress nicely thirty years ago.

iii. What does Mrs. Hale mean by “that was thirty years ago”?

➜ When Mrs. Hale says "that was thirty years ago," she means that the time she's talking about, when Mrs. Wright was known as Minnie Foster and was lively, happened three decades ago.

c. What is the main theme of the play?

➜ The main idea of the play is about how women were treated in America during that time. It also talks about how men had power over women. There are other important things in the play too, like being alone, losing who you are, getting back at people, and fighting for freedom.

d. Discuss the symbolism used in the play.

➜ Symbols are things that mean more than just what they are. In this play, there are objects that mean deeper things:

The Quilt: The quilt is made of pieces stitched together. It's not done. It shows Minnie's life, and the pieces are like the clues the women find to solve the mystery.

The Birdcage: The broken birdcage shows how Mr. Wright treated Minnie, keeping her lonely like a caged bird.

The Rocking Chair: Minnie sits in it after doing something bad. It's where she can calm down and pretend things are normal.

The Bird: The dead bird is special to Minnie, and the way it's taken care of shows that she didn't harm it.

e. Discuss the setting of the play. Does it have an impact on the theme of the play?

➜The play happens in an old farmhouse owned by Mr. John Wright. It's in a remote and dark place. Yes, it affects what the play is about. The farmhouse shows how women in America were often trapped at home, isolated from others. The place also suggests how men were in control over women at that time.

Reference beyond the text

a. The credibility of a character is determined not only by the character’s thoughts and actions but also by what other characters say and think about him or her. Discuss in relation to the characters of Trifles.

➜ A character's believability is shaped not just by what they do and think but also by what other characters say and think about them. In "Trifles," on-stage characters like Mrs. Hale and Mrs. Peters give us insights into the off-stage character of Mrs. Wright. These two characters discuss and share details about Mrs. Wright's life during their investigation. Their conversation reveals previously unknown aspects of Mrs. Wright's life, and their descriptions make readers feel connected to her. Through their words, Mrs. Wright is portrayed positively, and readers empathize with her.

b. Dramatic irony occurs when the reader or audience has information that is unknown to the characters in a play; it creates tension and suspense. Analyse the play discussing the author’s use of dramatic irony based on these questions:

i. What information is crucial to the play Trifles?

➜ Dramatic irony is a literary device that occurs when the audience or reader discovers what was previously hidden. The leading characters in the play are unaware of the facts, but the readers or audiences are aware of the facts. The crucial information related to dramatic irony in this play is that Mrs. Wright has murdered her husband. The readers learn about the facts behind the murder through Mrs. Hale and Mrs. Peters, but the male characters, who appear to be preoccupied with finding clues, are unaware of these facts.

ii. How does the playwright use this information to create dramatic irony?

➜ The playwright uses this information very tactfully to create dramatic irony, creating various twists, suspense, reader interest, and revelation in a very interesting way. The playwright continues to present information about murder through predictions and proofs that the characters make and obtain during the course of the investigation to find the true murderer.

iii. What effect does the dramatic irony have on the audience and on the play?

➜The playwright manages and presents dramatic irony very well. It elevates the audience and readers above the play's main male characters. It has kept the readers' interest, anticipation, hope, fear, curiosity, and suspense. The readers now have accurate information about all of the male characters in the play. Dramatic irony has made this play very interesting and full of twists where facts are revealed, causing readers to be curious.