Trifles, a Feminist Drama Marine Bruno 11th Grade

Susan Glaspell’s one-act play called Trifles can best be described as a feminist drama. Having first been performed in 1916, and having been written by a woman, the play itself is one of a kind, which is why it is still taught to this day. There are very few characters, which serves to distinguish differences between men and women and allows for the audience to see that women can fight back in a patriarchal society. The plot itself shows how women can come together and do what they believe is right, even if it is considered wrong by men and the rest of society. By using a feminist lens while analyzing the plot and the characters, especially in relation to a woman’s job in a marriage and to the distinction of genders for Mrs. Wright’s judgment, one can see that Glaspell’s work criticizes the overly dominant role of men in society, as the women decide to stand firm in letting a guilty woman go free.

Femininity and fighting the patriarchy is the overarching theme throughout the entirety of the play, as it highlights a society where women are neglected and belittled yet find a way to fight back against an unjust society. The idea that women’s wants and needs were entirely overlooked by men, particularly husbands, is evident as Hale...