Trifles

                Gender was the main focus in Trifles by Susan Glaspell.  Referring back to the Cultural Studies notes, women are categorized as the “others “ in the Western society. The women in the story come off as inferior while following behind the men as they enter the house. There was a point in history where women were even categorized as the minority in society. Males are clearly more dominant and superior in this story. The women’s voice was much more limited and they were more careful in what they said around the men. The needs and opinions of the women weren’t really considered. Hale even said, “I said to Harry that I didn’t know as what his wife wanted made much of difference to John.”  That statement established that the household was run by Mr. Wright and his wife didn’t have much say, but whatever say she had didn’t really matter because the final decision would be made by the man of the house. The women’s worries were always seen as minor to the men. Hale states, “Well, women are used to worrying over trifles.” Implying that most of the time they were disregarded and not as important.

                Mrs. Hale made a remark, “those towels get awful quick. Men’s hands aren’t always as clean as they might be.” and the County Attorney replied, “Ah, loyal to your sex, I see. But you and Mrs. Wright were neighbors. I suppose you were friends too.”  That exchange displayed the separation of gender. It showed how the women defend each other “GIRL POWER”, but still respectful of the men. They are still aware of the “dirt” men do and make it appoint to recognize it.  When the men made casual remarks and joked about things in the kitchen, it’s because they are blind to the world of women. Mrs. Peters and Mrs. Hale took the remarks personal and expressed that through their body language towards each other. Mrs. Hale admits, “I know how things can be—for women. I tell you, it’s queer, Mrs. Peters. We live close together and we live far apart. We all go through the same things—it’s all just a different kind of same thing.” The women can relate because that was the lifestyle they had all been living whether the circumstances were different, at the end of the day they were all experiencing the same thing. During the investigation Mrs. Peters and Mrs. Hale stayed down in the kitchen while the Sheriff and County Attorney went to investigate the scene where John Wright was found dead. Immediately the women got more comfortable and started noticing things that women seem to notice when there are familiar with the setting.  The roles are obvious that the women do the house work while the men do work for justice and seek answers. The traditional homely set up was that men were the head of the household and the men took full advantage of having authority over the women.

                While alone in the kitchen Mrs. Peters and Mrs. Hale begin to arrange what they are going to take to Mrs. Wright in jail to help make her feel “natural” in there; her apron being one of the items. They also check up on things around the kitchen where Mrs. Wright spent most of her time. Mrs. Peters and Mrs. Hale found an empty birdcage while they were looking through the cabinets. Mrs. Wright formally known as Minnie Foster was described to have been sweet and pretty like a bird, but timid and fluttery before she got married. Mr. Wright was known as a good man, but he was a hard man to live with. Once Mrs. Wright got married her happiness was dulled and she was no longer the way she used to be. Her house was gloomy and uncheerful.

                The canary represented Minnie Foster, the woman Mrs. Wright used to be. If she couldn’t sing anymore and didn’t feel pretty or worthy it was because of Mr. Wright, and she would live through the canary. Mrs. Hale even says, “No, Wright wouldn’t like the bird—a thing that sang. She used to sing. He killed that too.”  Mrs. Peters and Mrs. Hale found the bird wrapped in silk in a red box and it looked like it had been strangled. Mr. Wright is obviously responsible for taking the birds life and taking the life out of his wife. Mrs. Wright was restricted to do house and field work while her husband did whatever he did that made him superior. The bird was found wrung at the neck just as Mr. Wright was found with a rope around his neck. Those discoveries parallel because just as Mr. Wright took away Mrs. Wright’s joy in life, she took away his life for payback. She was clearly miserable living under his circumstances. 

The Beginners Analysis

Raymond Carver’s, The Beginners, institutes the power and impact of love. Love is a common universal topic, but it’s meaning is different for many people. Carver presents a couple who has experienced situations dealing with the meaning of love in intimate relationships. Herb and Terri McGinnis are the couple who have both individually had unique encounters, which has molded their perception of love. Herb and Terri share a time full of stories and mixed emotions with colleagues, Nick and Laura, the other couple who are close friends to them.

                In the beginning of the story Carver ironically introduces Herb as a cardiologist, a heart doctor. It was also stated that, “Herb thought real love was nothing less than spiritual love” (Carver 1). Herb’s idea of love clashed with his wife’s idea of love. Terri had come out of an abusive relationship that she still claims her ex, Carl, a suicidal, violent, and emotionally disturbed individual, loved her. Herb thought her beliefs of love were absurd if she thought being beat and dragged around was love. Carver shows that experiences impact your beliefs and definitions on things that many people experience.

                This story shows how much love impacts a person’s behavior and what they begin to accept because of it. In the beginning of the story Terri shares her experience with her abusive ex husband Carl. Terri believed Carl actually loved her because he said he did and other actions besides abuse made her believe he did. She even recalls him saying, “I love you, don’t you see? I love you, bitch” as he drags her across the floor. “People are different, Herb. Sure, sometimes he may have acted crazy. O.K. But he loved me. In his own way, maybe, but he loved me.” Referring back to the Characteristics of Cultural Studies, the first characteristic supports that scene that Terri described. Cultural studies observe cultural practices and their relation to power. It also exposes power relationships and examines how the relationships influence and shape cultural practices. Terri and Carl’s relationship was certainly a power relationship and in this case Carl had the power that made Terri believe that unacceptable actions were acceptable.

                Carver displayed each characters perception of love through their experiences. Herb is a person that has been hurt from love, but still believes in genuine love. At the end of The Beginners Herb’s character became more open and emotional when he shared the love he saw between an elderly couple. He really admired what they had even though he had been hurt and apparently suicidal because of his last marriage. Herb was very sensitive when telling the story about the elderly couple, Henry and Anna Gates. That couple had been deeply in love for many years. “Month in, month out, they’d be there together, the two of them, the same routine, the same everything, never anyone else to talk to or visit with during those months, but they had each other. That’s all and everything they had, each other.” An accident had left both elderly people in intensive care units. The two had been together so long that it was nearly unbearable to even be in separate rooms. The connection Herb saw between them really had an impact on him. So much that he became depressed because he wished he could experience a love like that. Both Herb and Terri came from battered relationship to a certain extent, but the story of the old couple made them both realize what true love was. Carver used the old couple to show the tradition of true love and he used Herb and Terri to show how love has been altered. Terri even made a statement to Nick and Laura showing that she believes in genuine love, but it’s just something she’s not accustomed to. “I just want to say this, and that’s all. But I don’t want it to sound negative. I hope and pray that you guys still love each other five, even three years from now the way you do today. Even four years from now. That’s the moment of truth, for years.”

                At the end of the story Carver made a reference to Mars and Venus, two planets that represent each sex. Women being Venus and Men being Mars. Nick and Laura seem to have a stable relationship compared to Herb and Terri’s. When Nick goes out to look at the sky after it has changed in accordance to the aura of the room he says, “I recognized Venus, and farther off and to the side, not as bright but unmistakably there on the horizon, Mars.”Carver uses that statement to show the powerful discourse surrounding the institution of love. The statement shows how sexes are so different but very much alike. In this case Venus seems to be more dominant and have more of an impact just as Terri did with Herb and Anna Gates with Henry.