Psychoanalytical Analysis: "Trifles"

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Psychoanalytical Analysis: “Trifles” Brittany Love South University Psychoanalytical Analysis: “Trifles” In order to better understand the play “Trifles”, we can look at it from a psychoanalytical perspective. It’s exploring the mind in a deeper thought process, through the conscious and unconscious. This can give us an understanding of the motives and behavior behind the author and her literary characters. Susan Keating Glaspell (1882 – 1948) was cofounder of an influential theatrical company. Living in Greenwich Village, she was a founding member of a radical feminist group. When Glaspell married George Cook, she was thrust into the gender roles. He was often hard to live with because of his excessive drinking and many affairs. It could be that Glaspell projected her anger over into her characters. The specific idea for “Trifles” came from a murder trial Glaspell was assigned to cover as a newspaper reporter. (Evans) The main character of the play, although not present, is Minnie Wright, the wife accused of murdering her husband with a rope. It takes place in the kitchen of the Wright’s home during the investigation. The initial setting is described as “gloomy” (Glaspell, 2010, p. 143), which can possibly represent the Wright’s marriage. The plot turns to discover a motive for the murder and Mrs. Wright is in jail as the prime suspect. Glaspell uses Mrs. Wright’s psychological state to suggest justification for her actions. We are aware Mrs. Wright “was rocking back and forth. She had her apron in her hand and was kind of – pleating it” (Glaspell, 2010, p. 143). Her lack of emotional response and compulsive behavior could suggest isolation. Mrs. Hale suggests that Minnie has under gone big changes while with Mr. Wright, “she was kind like a bird herself, real sweet and pretty, but kind of timid and fluttery. How – She – Did – Change” (Glaspell, 2010,

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