A Jury Of Her Peers Setting Analysis

Although countless of story written by numerous authors through out the centuries, they all however have something in common and that is their uses of setting. No matter what kinds of stories are composed, the unique practice of setting builds diverse kinds the moods, the surrounding environment, the characters’ understanding, etc. turn story into lifelike experience. Furthermore, in order to enhance the realism, the author must pay an incredible amount of attention to details and turning words into pictures to deliver that authentic experience. These two short stories “The Chrysanthemums” by John Steinbeck and “A Jury of Her Peers” by Susan Glaspell carry out the use of setting to symbolize and accentuate qualities of the characters.
The

setting in “The Chrysanthemums” by John Steinbeck used as a symbolic gesture to emphasize the protagonist, Elise Allen, emotional life. Exactly from the beginning of the story, the descriptions of the Salinas Valley already created a hopeless trapped atmosphere. “ On every side it sat like a lid on the mountains and made of great valley closed pot.” (John Steinbeck, pg. 358) This portrayal of the valley can be interpreted as Elise trapped feeling, a passionate person who is unable to act out her desires. Additionally, from the observations of The Columbia companion to the twentieth-century American short story on John Steinbeck, also recognize his stunning way of describing the opening for The Chrysanthemums. “The story opens, typically for Steinbeck, with the evocation of a symbolic landscape: ‘The high grey-flannel fog of winter closed off the Salinas Valley from the sky and from all the rest of the world.’ Thus, the claustrophobic world of Elisa Allen is signaled by the oppressive weather.” Moreover, the comparison of sunshine lacking in Salinas Valley to the bathed with cold pale sunshine foothill ranches across the Salinas River, this also revel Elisa unhappiness even though the people around her is happy.
Not only can the setting of a story be told to made a symbolic statement, the details of each situation, or location enhance a character’s qualities.

The setting in the story “A Jury by Her Peers” by Susan Glaspell illustrated the scene of the crime help Mrs. Peters and Mrs. Hale to be able to figured out the life of Mrs. Wright and why she murdered her husband. Mrs. Wight’s motive and her despair was led not only by her unhappy marriage but also her lonesome and empty life, similar to their house and its laid out painted a picture of nothing but of isolation. For example: “It looked very lonesome this cold March morning. It had always been a lonesome-looking place.” (Susan Glaspell, pg. 202) The story also took place during the time that highlight the inequality between sexes, and how domestic or household works are unimportance to the male dominated society. Which can be vaguely seen through Mrs. Hale narration of the place and her conclusion about Mrs. Wright abusive relationship with her husband that led to the murder. The focus of the place, circumstances and time influences the characters’ development and transformation. Such as how Mrs. Hale compared Mrs. Wright’s past to her life after the marriage to John Wright, or how she was a cheerful girl but the life in their house has turned her into a secluded person. “A Jury of Her Peers’: The Importance of Trifles by Karen Alkalay-Gut talks about Mrs. Hale discovery about the out of pattern description of Mrs. Wright’s the kitchen led to her understanding of the woman working in it. As she later sympathize with Mrs. Wright and concealed the murder

evident.
Thus, by examined both “The Chrysanthemums” by John Steinbeck and “A Jury of Her Peers” by Susan Glaspell, it can be implied how importance the setting is for these short stories. The development of each setting creates undeniable realism in fiction literature that bonds the readers to the characters. Steinbeck’s usage of symbolic for setting and Glaspell’s construction of her story to accentuate the characters’ quality emphasizes the uniqueness and purposes to their characters. No matter what kind of story it is, the setting will always influence the way readers perceives the characters.