Trifles {The Role of Women​}

Her Symbols: Glaspell's Use of Symbolism to Empower Her Women

 

"Nothing here but kitchen things"

-Mr. Peters, Line 93

 

Glaspell's main method of accomplishing her feminist agenda in Trifles was the use of symbolism. Her symbols were the perfect understatements; she had no need to explain to her audience the meaning of her symbols, which stood for themselves. In Susan Glaspell and Sophie Treadwell, Barbara Ozieblo points out that Mrs. Peter's discovery of the dead bird represents Glaspell's treatment of symbolism extremely well. The stage directions after that moment read, "Their eyes meet. A look of growing comprehension, of horror" (Glaspell 526). The women and the audience immediately get a reason for Minnie to want revenge on her husband--both the bird and John were killed the same way. The following section is devoted to the numerous symbols that appear in Trifles, the "kitchen things" that the men write off but the women use to solve the mystery and show us more about the role of women.