24 pages • 48 minutes read
Trifles
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Book Brief
20
Play • Fiction
Midwestern Farmhouse • Early 1900s
1916
Adult
14-18 years
Super Short Summary
Trifles by Susan Glaspell is a one-act play set in the aftermath of John Wright’s murder by strangulation, where the County Attorney, Sheriff, and neighbors investigate the crime scene in the Wright farmhouse. While the men search for evidence upstairs, Mrs. Peters and Mrs. Hale piece together the motive through subtle household details, ultimately discovering a dead canary with a broken neck, symbolizing Mrs. Wright's repressed life and her possible motive for the crime. The play involves themes of gender roles, isolation, and justice.
Mysterious
Unnerving
Contemplative
Dark
Reviews & Readership
7,285 ratings
Loved it
Mixed feelings
Not a fan
Review Roundup
Susan Glaspell's Trifles has garnered praise for its strong feminist themes, engaging dialogue, and intricate portrayal of early 20th-century gender dynamics. Critics laud the play’s evocative atmosphere and its criticism of societal norms. Some find its brevity limits character development, though most agree it’s a powerful, thought-provoking piece.
Who Should Read Trifles?
Readers who would enjoy Susan Glaspell's Trifles appreciate feminist literature, psychological drama, and crime mysteries. Ideal for fans of Charlotte Perkins Gilman's The Yellow Wallpaper and Agatha Christie's The Mousetrap, this play delves into gender dynamics and the subtleties of domestic life.
7,285 ratings
Loved it
Mixed feelings
Not a fan
Mrs. Peters
Mrs. Peters
Mrs. Peters is the Sheriff’s wife, who experiences a struggle between her role as a law enforcer's spouse and her empathetic connection to women's shared experiences. Her perspective shifts as she reflects on past personal loss.
George Henderson
George Henderson
The County Attorney who approaches the investigation with a confident and condescending demeanor. His interactions underscore his dismissive attitude toward the women around him.
Henry Peters
Henry Peters
The Sheriff who, like George Henderson, shares a similar attitude of superiority and skepticism toward the women’s contributions. His legal authority contrasts with his lack of insight into domestic spaces.
20
Play • Fiction
Midwestern Farmhouse • Early 1900s
1916
Adult
14-18 years
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