Thesis and Outline Paper 2
Susan Glaspell’s play “Trifles” written in 1916. This play tells of the author’s preoccupation with culture- bound notions of gender and sex roles. Glaspell says women are considered trifles which mean they are not important to society which is carried out by men (Baym). In Trifles written by Susan Glaspell the time is in the early 20th century. When Glaspell wrote “Trifles” in 1916 male society denied women the right to vote and limited their opportunities in Glaspell’s play she presented one radical woman rebel who goes to the extreme to free herself from male dominance (Bay m). Mrs. Wright is accused of killing her husband in “Trifle” and Emily in A Rose for Emily she kills her boyfriend. The fact that the murderers are women acting out of fear, anger and loneliness for companionship affects the plot of both.
In “A Rose for Emily “written by William Faulkner during the time before the Civil War which focuses on periods from 1894 to 1935 (Baym). “A Rose for Emily” is Faulkner’s best story and also one of the best written by any modern American writer. Faulkner uses “A Rose for Emily” to comment on how the South refused to accept the historical and social change. “Trifles and A Rose for Emily” have female characters who commit murder out of fear, anger and loneliness; however, Minnie lonely because of Glaspell’s concern with culture-bound notions of gender and sex roles while Emily is shown as lonely because of Faulkner’s ideas of loneliness.
11. Anger in part drove Emily and Mrs. Wright in Trifles to commit murder
A. Bird in sewing box, anger and fear (Trifles)
B. Father’s death and refusal to pay taxes. Anger at his death ( A Rose for Emily)
111. Both the wife in Trifles and A Rose for Emily acted out of fear of loneliness
A. Mrs. Wright was already lonely
B. Emily didn’t want her boyfriend to leave ly because of Faulkner’s ideas of loneliness....