Wednesday, August 10, 2011

Blog 17--Quote Response to Trifles by Susan Glaspell

"County Attorney: Well, Henry, at least we found out that she was not going to quilt it. She was going to--what do you call it; ladies? 
Mrs. Hale: We call it-knot it, Mr. Henderson."  (Glasplell, 819)

These two lines really stuck in my mind. Can you imagine if you were Mrs. Hale, having the evidence to a murder right there in your pocket? Then, after the men in charge of the investigation talking down to you, keeping your composure and answering such a simple question?
The words she used to answer the question really meant nothing to the men. They were actually mocking the ladies. It's what closing the conversation meant to Mrs. Peters and Mrs. Hale that really mattered. I think they meant that Mrs. Wright secret was safe with them.
Mrs. Wright had no children. She also was married to a man that didn't really pay much attention to her. She lead a very sad and lonely life. Mrs. Hale and Mrs. Peters understood the situation and wanted the men to have nothing against her. They would not understand how hard she had it. They couldn't have put themselves in her shoes.
Her husband robbed her of the only thing that brought her joy, so she took his life. The ladies understood that. So, by answering that simple question at the end of the play, there was nothing left to find in the house to convict her.

1 comment:

  1. Many women I know, especially my girlfriend, would have used their mockery as motivation to keep what she knew hidden. These types of things make my girlfriend very mad, and she tends to get a little ornery. Ive seen her chew a guy out, tell him where to go, how to get there, what to do when he got there and how to pull his head out all while remaining a lady and keeping her composure.

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