Symbolism and Female Rebellion Against Male Oppression in Tr…

In societies where women are silenced and even ignored, rebellion usually occurs in

subtle forms and not loud or violent ones. Trifles by Susan Glaspell is a one-act play devoted

to the investigation of the murder of John Wright, a case which was conducted by men who

hold the power and are not able to notice details which are essential and brush aside thoughts

and experiences of women. When the men are desperately trying to find some obvious clues,

the women are left in the kitchen, a space the men openly criticize and scorn. Through these

interactions, Glaspell demonstrates the way women live under the control of men while quietly

observing emotional facts hidden in ordinary objects. Instead of protesting openly, the women

start to resist by understanding the plight of Minnie Wright and standing up for each other,

preparing the ground for meaningful rebellion in the future. In Trifles, Susan Glaspell uses the

kitchen, the birdcage, and the dead canary to bring out the reality of how women silently rebel

against male oppression through awareness, empathy, and silent resistance.

Glaspell relies on the neglected kitchen to symbolize how female characters are treated

as insignificant by male characters, and this enables women to identify and challenge the male

oppression. The men arrive at the Wright farmhouse, and within a short time, they determine

that the kitchen does not hold any value to their investigation. They are instead concerned with

the areas they perceive as being important, like the bedroom and the barn, since these are

traditionally the male spaces. When the men look around the kitchen, they openly ridicule what

they find and use it as evidence that Minnie Wright was a failure in terms of being a wife and

not a sign of her difficult life. This attitude is evident when the Sheriff says, Nothing here but

kitchen things (Glaspell 5). This comment reveals how the men consider the work and the

everyday space of women to be useless and without relation to serious issues. Their speech

supports male chauvinism since anything that is associated with women cannot reveal the truth.

Nevertheless, the most significant area of the play among the women is the kitchen. As the men

are blind to it, the incomplete chores and the broken routine are noticed by Mrs. Hale and Mrs.

Peters. The information assists them in understanding the loneliness, stress, and the absence of

freedom that Minnie experiences. By paying attention to what the men disregard, the women

become aware of the oppression that Minnie faces. With this knowledge, they are able to

perceive the injustice she underwent, and they are ready to take action against male control

later. The kitchen that was regarded as meaningless is the place of revelation and silent protest.

This discovery of value in the kitchen serves to transform a rejected location into an area of

power in significant ways for the women.

The broken birdcage is a symbol of the confined life of Minnie Wright under the

authority of men and helps the women understand the depth of her oppression. During the

process of retrieving Minnie’s personal belongings, Mrs Hale and Mrs Peters find a birdcage

hidden in the kitchen. At first, it appears to be a small and harmless thing, but its state is soon

brought into the limelight. Mrs. Peters observes the damage and remarks, Why, look at this

door. Its broke. One hinge is pulled apart (Glaspell 12). This fact indicates the use of force,

which points to anger and control, and not an accident. The broken cage can be associated with

the marriage of Minnie, where her husband gradually deprived her of her freedom and

happiness. The same way a bird cannot live freely in a broken cage, Minnie could not live

freely in her own place. The men do not see the cage as they ignore the objects found in the

house, but the women get its meaning immediately. This mutual understanding helps them

realise that Minnie is not a criminal, but a victim of years of emotional control. The birdcage

also relates to the past world of Minnie, where she used to be active and liked singing. Since it

is broken, this also shows how that part of her life is ruined. The identification of this symbol

makes the women start doubting the unfairness of judgment and the legal orientation of the

men. They also react with compassion rather than blame, and this is what distinguishes them

from the male authority. Glaspell demonstrates by using the birdcage that acknowledging and

knowing oppression is the initial significant move to silent rebellion. This also strengthens their

bond as women facing unfair systems together in silence, daily, still everywhere today.

The dead canary is a symbol of the silenced voice of Minnie Wright and turns out to be

the most potent symbol of female rebellion against male oppression. Mrs. Hale and Mrs. Peters

discover the small bird wrapped and hidden in the sewing box of Minnie as they go through

them. The discovery already contrasts with the previous hints since it has obvious hints of

violence and emotion. When Mrs. Peters finds out what has occurred she says, Somebody

wrungitsneck (Glaspell 13). This scene helps to correlate the death of the bird with the

miserable existence of Minnie in her marriage. The canary used to sing as Minnie used to sing

in the choir, and its silence represents the way her voice was gradually deprived of. Control,

isolation, and emotional cruelty over the years drive the men to a breaking point, which they

cannot comprehend. The women are not afraid or judgmental but show empathy and share the

pain. They believe that the bird was evidence of what Minnie had been through, not as mere

evidence of the crime. Mrs. Hale and Mrs. Peters make a silent decision by deciding not to tell

the men that they saw the canary. The move saves Minnie more trouble and challenges the

unjust authority of the male figures. This choice also demonstrates an increased unity between

the women, since they have confidence in each other and behave collectively. They use silence

as their rebellion, by which they could bend back without the open confrontation. Glaspell

demonstrates, using the dead canary, that rebellion is not necessarily visible and loud. This act

of concealment causes sympathy to become action, leading to the proof that rebellion is

possible even in silence and with solidarity as women deal with injustice during silent times.

In conclusion, through domestic objects, Trifles reveals how women deal with male

oppression not by violence but by knowledge and collective action. The kitchen, the birdcage,

and the dead canary represent the life and feelings of women, who are disregarded by those

people who are supposed to care about them. While the men search for obvious facts, the

women uncover more profound truths hidden in everyday spaces. These symbols make the

women see the suffering of Minnie Wright and treat it with compassion rather than judgment.

More importantly, such awareness makes them fight collectively in silent resistance. According

to Glaspell, rebellion does not necessarily require great outcry or open opposition. Instead, it

can happen beneath the surface and develop out of a common experience and support. The

women achieve moral power and command by appreciating what men dismiss. Ultimately,

Trifles celebrates the voices and experiences of women and encourages people to reconsider

where it is found.