Portable Literature

The play is roughly founded on the killing of John Hossack, which Glaspell described on while employed as a report reporter for the Des Moines Daily News. Hossack's wife, Margaret, was suspect of murdering her husband. However, Margaret contended that an intruder had slain John with an axe. S .

Although Glaspell had little exposure to lawless individual regulation, she primarily advanced the case like a detective; she in person enquired the killing, travelling to the Hossack farmhouse, consulting the lawyers, and revising the inquest testimony. ... The case made an indelible effect on Glaspell. M .. the haunting likeness of Margaret Hossack's kitchen came hurrying back to Glaspell. In a span of 10 days, Glaspell created a one-act play, Trifles ... A year subsequent, Glaspell reworked the material into a short article titled "A Jury of Her Peers."

The play starts with three men and two women going into into the Wrights' ranch house. They are Mr. Hale, a neighboring grower, and his wife, Mrs. Hale; a sheriff, Mr. Peters, and his wife; and the shire advocate, Mr. Henderson. Mr. Hale recounts his appearance at the dwelling the preceding day, when he travelled to to inquire if the Wrights liked a phone installed. He recounts how he came upon Mrs. W r. Mrs. Wright notified Hale that Mr. Wright was dead, by a cord fell round his neck. Hale then recounts finding Mr. Wright's body upstairs.

The aim moves to the set: the kitchen examines unkempt: vessels, baked bread, and other pieces dispersed about. Mrs. Wright's preserves have iced and cleft, as Mrs. Peters states Mrs. Wright had concerned about. Hale brushes aside Mrs. Peters' commentary, saying, "Well, women are utilised to being concerned over trifles." The men proceed up the stairs to enquire the view and the women extend to proceed through things and ...