Isn't it weird that one of few things that bring us all together is the fact that we all know what it's like to be alone? Hey, we're not trying to get all mopey on you—we're just trying to be as real as Susan Glaspell is in Trifles.
This one act play really packs a wallop as it and paints a heartbreaking picture of one woman's lonely life in an isolated farmhouse. The theme is bigger than one woman's story, though. The play also makes think of the isolation of all women—from their families, from other women, and from society as whole. Thanks for giving our brains a workout, Susan Glaspell.
Questions About Isolation
- In what ways is Mrs. Wright isolated? How does her isolation affect her?
- What is the key symbol of Mrs. Wright's isolation in the play? Explain your answer.
- What allows Mrs. Hale and Mrs. Peters to understand Mrs. Wright's isolation, while the men totally don't get it?
- How does the play connect Mrs. Wright's isolation to the isolation of women as a whole?
Chew on This
It's ironic that the thing that connects Mrs. Peters and Mrs. Hale to Mrs. Wright is their understanding of what it means to feel alone.
The play isn't just about Mrs. Wright's isolation or even all women's isolation; it's about the isolation of all human beings.