Trifles Play Setting Analysis
“Trifles” is a play written by Susan Glaspell in 1916, which is set in a small, isolated farmhouse in rural Iowa in the early 20th century. The setting of the play is important because it reflects the mood of the play and the social, economic and political context of the time. The farmhouse represents the confinement of women’s lives, the limitations imposed on them and the ways in which they have to find creative solutions to get by. The isolated location of the farm highlights the isolation of women in rural communities, who were often cut off from the wider world and had to rely on themselves and each other for support. The setting also serves to create a feeling of suspense, as the small group of characters is trapped in a confined space, with the mystery of a murder slowly unfolding.
The setting of “Trifles” is a critical aspect of the play, as it serves to create the mood, reflect the social and cultural context of the time, and shape the characters and their actions. The play is set in a small, isolated farmhouse in rural Iowa in the early 20th century. The farmhouse represents the confinement of women’s lives. The limited space and simple furnishings of the house as portrayed by County Attorney highlight the limitations imposed on women in this time and place. “To be sure. And yet I know there are some Dickson county farmhouses which do not have such roller towels” (Glaspell 3). Women were often confined to the home, and their lives were defined by their roles as wives and mothers. The setting of the farmhouse serves to emphasize this confinement, as the women in the play are trapped in a small, isolated space, with limited opportunities for freedom and self-expression.
The isolated location of the farm highlights the isolation of women in rural communities. Rural women were often cut off from the wider world and had to rely on themselves and each other for support. This isolation is reflected in the play, as the women in the play must rely on each other for support and companionship. The setting also serves to create a feeling of suspense, as the small group of characters is trapped in a confined space, with the mystery of a murder slowly unfolding.
The setting of the play reflects the social and cultural context of the time. The early 20th century was a time of great change in the United States, as women were starting to challenge traditional gender roles and demanding more rights and opportunities. The setting of the play serves to highlight these changes, as the women in the play use their intuition and intelligence to solve the mystery, and refuse to accept the condescending attitude of the men towards their capabilities.The setting of “Trifles” plays a critical role in shaping the characters and their actions, and reflects the mood, social, and cultural context of the time. The confined farmhouse represents the confinement of women’s lives, the isolation of rural women, and the changes that were taking place in society. The play serves as a powerful commentary on the ways in which women were oppressed and the ways in which they were starting to resist and assert their rights.
References
Einav Rabinovitch-Fox. New Women in Early 20th-Century America, Published online: 22 August 2017, https://doi.org/10.1093/acrefore/9780199329175.013.427
Susan Glaspell (1916) Trifles, a play in one-act