A Jury Of Her Peers

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Symbolism Susan Glaspell uses symbolism in “A Jury of Her Peers” to reveal the role that women played in society. Symbolism is a device used in literature where an object represents an idea. This short story combines murder, lies, and sexism while exposing the reader to the truth about women’s abilities and skills. Through the use of symbolism, “A Jury of Her Peers” reveals the sad life that Mrs. Wright lived. The Wright home symbolizes the isolated and dreadful place where Mrs. Wright was forced to live. A majority of the story takes place in the home. Sparsely decorated and in need of updating, the house was an uninviting and lonely place. “I could've come," retorted Mrs. Hale shortly. "I stayed away because it weren't cheerful--and that's why I ought to have come. I"--she looked around--"I've never liked this place. Maybe because it's down in a hollow and you don't see the road. I don't know what it is, but it's a lonesome place, and always was” (Glaspell, 12). Due to the homes dreadful setting and appearance no one wanted to visit the friendless and lonesome Mrs. Wright. In “A Jury of Her Peers” Glaspell described the kitchen as a cluttered and untidy mess. The kitchen symbolizes life inside the house and the confusion it entailed for Mrs. Wright. “Her eye was caught by a dish-towel in the middle of the kitchen table. Slowly she moved toward the table. One half of it was wiped clean, the other half messy. Her eyes made a slow, almost unwilling turn to the bucket of sugar and the half empty bag beside it. Things begun--and not finished” (Glaspell, 9). There were dirty dishes under the sink, an unclean dishtowel left on the table, and food lying out and not put away. This evidence illustrates Mrs. Hale and Mrs. Peters opinion of the room’s disorganization. This gives the impression that no attention had been paid to cleaning the kitchen

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