Mrs. Wright and Mrs. Wright: Unraveling The Motives Behind The Murder

Picture a World of Unexpected Discoveries

Imagine for a second living in a world where a simple chat could change everything you thought you knew. That's what happens in Susan Glaspell's famous play "Trifles." When Mrs. Hale and Mrs. Peters start talking, they uncover why Mrs. Wright might have killed her husband. By really looking at their conversation, we get clues about Mrs. Wright’s mental state and the events that pushed her to do something so drastic. This piece will dig into how their words reveal why she might've done it, showing the layers of her character and the pressures she was under from society.

Getting to Know Mrs. Wright's Struggles

The bond between Mrs. Hale and Mrs. Peters helps us get to the heart of why Mrs. Wright might've committed murder. Their chats make it clear: Mrs. Wright was all alone and ignored by her husband, John Wright. When Mrs. Hale says, "I wish you'd seen Minnie Foster when she wore a white dress with blue ribbons," it paints a picture of who she was before—a vibrant young woman turned into a lonely wife because of a tough marriage. This change suggests maybe she wanted revenge.

Then there's the dead canary in the sewing box, which is pretty telling, right? When Mrs. Peters notes, "Somebody wrung its neck," it hints at the abuse Mrs. Wright suffered at John's hands. That little bird is like a symbol for her own stifled voice, her desperate need to escape this suffocating life. Their talk hints not just at revenge but also shows how deep psychological scars from years of mistreatment affect someone’s mind.

When they stumble upon an unfinished quilt, it's more than just some sewing project; it’s key to figuring out why she did what she did. As Mrs. Hale comments, "She was piecing a quilt...it's a log cabin pattern," we see quilting as her way to find peace and maybe feel safe—a comfort missing from her marriage. The quilt isn't finished, symbolizing broken dreams that might’ve pushed her over the edge.

The Weight of Society's Expectations

What’s interesting is how their dialogue also dives into gender roles and societal pressure impacting Mrs. Wright's choices. When they chat about her home skills, it's clear women were expected to fit certain molds back then—and those molds could be really tight! Mrs. Hale mentions, "We all go through the same things—it's all just a different kind of the same thing," meaning lots of women felt trapped like Mrs. Wright did due to larger social issues.

As these two women talk more, we start seeing what might have driven Mrs. Wright to such extremes—her mental state unraveling under abuse and societal expectations squeezing her tight until something snapped inside.

Reflecting on these elements makes us think hard about human behavior's complexities and what happens when societal norms weigh too heavily on individuals' shoulders—we're reminded compassion goes a long way toward preventing tragedies like this one in real life or fiction!

References

• Glaspell, S., & Gainor, J.E (2010). Trifles. Smith & Kraus.
• Bendel-Simso M (1997). A feminist critique: Rereading Susan Glaspell’s ‘A Jury Of Her Peers’. Studies In Short Fiction, 34(4), pp431–441.
• Ozieblo B (2008). Constructing new realities: The plays of Susan Glaspell,” in Claudia Barnett eds., Susan Glaspell: Essays On Her Theater And Fiction, McFarland Publishing.
• Cornillon S (1973). Images Of Women In Fiction: Feminist Perspectives.Bowker Co.
• Basseler U (2016). Gendered Spaces In American Women’s Literature And Culture: Reading Households And Homes From The Nineteenth Century Into Present.Fink GmbH.