Are you dying for a vivid picture of rural Midwestern life at the turn of 20th century? Well, you're in luck. Are you just reading Trifles because some teacher made you? Well, you're still in luck—by peeking into the past, we all get a clearer perspective on why the present is like it is.
Trifles gives an authentic taste of what farm life was like back in the day, and more importantly gives us a female perspective on what life was like at a time when women's options were way more limited than they are today.
Questions About Visions of America
- What tools does the play use to paint a picture of the rural Midwest around the turn of the 20th century?
- How are the characters in the play affected by their place and time? How do larger cultural, technological, and economic trends shape their lives?
- Glaspell is sometimes called the mother of American drama. In what ways is Trifles distinctly American?
Chew on This
Trifles paints a specific portrait of rural Midwest around the turn of the 20th century, but in doing so reflects issues that existed in many places in the world.
By looking at the issues Trifles raises about the society of America at the turn of 20th century, we can see the roots of issues that linger to this day.