Examining Gender Roles In Janet L. Grose's Trifles

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During the 20th century, the men dominated all aspects of society. The theatrical play “Trifles,” is intended to represent a plethora of the obscured capabilities of the female sex. While women live in the time of dominant patriarchy, Women had enough intellect to fit the pieces of a crime together without the help of a man. The literary critic, Janet L. Grose, argues about the limited roles of the subordinate sex in the theatrical play. Krstovic, claims that women’s assumed lack of identity, stereotypical domestic role, and inferior intellectual capability lead to an ironic outcome, in which the women are successful in solving a case the men could not. Grose begins to build her claim by presenting the main claim the play Trifles, “the confining environments that frustrate the full development of human potential” (Krstovic). This theme, means that women are the social group that are being limited of their capabilities because of their designated role. Furthermore, this same feministic perspective was later expended in a short story version. In the short story version, Grose claims that Glaspell’s concert for the social inequalities between the two …show more content…

“Women had no identity apart from their spouses” (Grose). This shows the subordination of women to men. Although, it is a very interesting point that is not very noticeable, it does not have a major impact on the way the play’s structure or meaning. However, if the structure of the play is analyzed, all of the characters are called by their respective last names. The only names that are provided in the play, are the Wright’s full names. Therefore, the fact that the two women were referred to with their spousal last names only does not necessarily mean a complete subordination to men as Grose perceives it. Notwithstanding, that women today still respectively use their spousal last names in a contemporary

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