Reference no: EM133582164

Question: Mrs. Wright is the principal focus of Susan Glaspell's play "Trifles," but she never appears on stage. This strategy works for various reasons. Glaspell creates a sense of mystery and intrigue around Mrs. Wright by keeping her offstage. The spectator is compelled to construct their own opinions about Mrs. Wright based on the other characters' depictions of her. This strategy also allows the audience to focus on the play's topics, such as gender roles and the treatment of women in society in that period, rather than Mrs. Wright's character.

The characters' opinions of Mrs. Wright gradually create her character for the viewer throughout the play. The male characters regard her as "queer" and judge her based on the state of her kitchen, deeming her a lousy housewife. They also reject her fears about her canned fruit freezing as a "trifle" compared to her murder allegation. On the other hand, the female characters sympathize with Mrs. Wright and detest the males for unfairly slandering her character. They see that she suffered due to an oppressive marriage to a cold, harsh guy, which caused her to become depressed, lonely, and withdrawn.

Overall, Glaspell's use of Mrs. Wright as the principal subject of the play while never having her appear on stage is a successful way for her to examine the issues and social dynamics of the period in which the play is situated. It enables her to delve into themes of gender roles and women's treatment in a sophisticated and thought-provoking manner.