As the jury, you all have come to the conclusion that my client, Minnie Wright, is guilty of murder, but this crime was not premeditated, it was a crime committed while Minnie was unaware, and in a psychotic episode. Minnie Wright was a lively and carefree spirit before her husband John Wright entered her life, and everything changed for the worse. He kept her from her friends by moving her to a more isolated location, and kept her from calling people, because John Wright did not approve telephones due to the noises they made, and lastly he even went as far as killing her main source of social interaction, her little canary. These factors affected Minnie’s mental health, and she soon broke into a episode of insanity, unknowingly killing her …show more content…
Minnie had nothing but her canary to keep her company since John was no source of companionship. John was so against noise, that the couple would not “ ‘...to have had any children around. No, Wright wouldn’t like the bird--a thing that sang. She used to sing. He killed that too’ “ (Glaspell 245-246). John killed her only companion that fulfilled that social interaction need, and when he took away that little piece of interaction away, Minnie soon lost her mind. With this prolonged isolation, it can cause “changes in the brain’s white matter have been seen before in psychiatric disorders, and demyelinating disorders like multiple sclerosis have also had association with depression” (“Prolonged Loneliness”). John killed off Minnie’s only real source of socialization, leading her to have this prolonged confinement which, like said above, caused Minnie to form a psychiatric disorder making her go crazy. These events start to fall into a domino like theory, John Wright’s actions created this isolated lifestyle for Minnie, leading to her change in personality and emotions, …show more content…
As her defense lawyer, a few options come to mind, Minnie should be admitted to a mental hospital until she is fit enough to be released. Minnie needs time to herself, to think and understand the crime she has committed and a mental hospital is a great place to start. Later on, when she is deemed fit enough to be released, Minnie should attend therapy sessions to make sure she keeps her mentality in line. Therapy is a good option to help control, and express her feelings so that past feelings and thoughts do not arise. Lastly, during the time of her therapy sessions, Minnie should also be on probation. Not only is it safe for her to be observed and watched on a day to day basis, it is safe for everyone around her as well. These are a few of the punishments that should be accepted for Minnie based on the fact that she is pleading insanity because “People who are adjudged to have
Code Ann., Crim. sec. 2-201 (a) (1) 2014. Lt. Manion’s actions fall into this description based on the series of events that led up to the murder of Mr. Quill. Lt. Manion willfully admits that he shot Mr. Quill, but defends that he was warranted in doing so because he suffered from an “irresistible impulse.” From Lt. Manion’s testimony, he clearly understands the criminality of his actions, however; he argues that his actions were out of his control because they resulted from him seeing the trauma his wife suffered. In his testimony, he describes to the court how he purposefully went into his trailer to obtain the gun that was used to kill Mr. Quill before traveling to the tavern to confront the victim, which shows premeditation and intent to commit murder. The defense would have a difficult time convincing the jury that Lt. Manion was incapable of controlling his actions since his actions were thought out and deliberate, which was displayed in his testimony when asked by his defense attorney why he brought the gun, he said “I knew I had to go to Quill’s bar and I thought I might need it” (Anatomy of a Murder
Minnie Wright, John’s wife, is the main suspect. This time, Sheriff Peters asked to bring his wife Mrs. Peters, the county attorney George Henderson, and his neighbors Martha and Lewis Hale to the crime scene. He intended for Lewis Hale, Mr. Henderson and him to solve the case. While Lewis Hale tells the group the details of how John Wright was found, Mrs. Peters and Martha Hale begin looking around the house to judge the state of the crime scene. Before even looking for evidence, Lewis Hale says “Oh, well, women are used to worrying over trifles” (160) to the dismay of Martha Hale and Mrs. Peters. Martha Hale notices that the Wrights’ house was unkempt and sad-looking, which was strange because Minnie Wright used to be a cheerful and meticulous homemaker. Again, Lewis Hale dismisses this as an inconsequential detail, stating that Minnie was just not a good homemaker, even though his wife Martha already told Mr. Henderson that “farmers’ wives have their hands full” (160). A few moments later, the men explore the house, but not before Mr. Hale ironically questions “But would the women know a clue if they did come upon it?” (161). The women began to
Dr. Elizabeth Loftus paints a vividly dark side of the law. While not every case is nearly as false as some that she has described, even she has spoken for the guilty, the system will not be justified until sufficient evidence is truthfully found for every case. Memory is not strong enough to stand on its own. What makes her job worth it is the one person that gets to go home free due to the jury’s consideration of her
Mr. Hale describes Mrs. Foster as being “queer” or strange. It is know that people in highly stressful situations can behave in a manner that is considered inappropriate such as laughing at a funeral and perhaps Minnie Foster is in such a situation that mental she is struggling to believe what has happened. She may also be in a state of shock causing peculiar behavior and a lack of judgement. Furthermore, the possible motive that Minnie Foster killed her husband over him killing her bird is weak. Mrs. Hale remembers Mrs. Foster as being a normal girl who people adored and yet how could such a normal person commit murder over the death of a bird. Perhaps the bird had died and she simply had not had time to bury the bird. Minnie Foster’s behavior suggest she was in shock over the death of her husband causing her to act strange not because she killed her husband and further the weakness of the suggested motive that she killed Mr. Foster because he killed her bird jumps to a conclusion without clear
This symbol is where the desolation that Mrs.Wright felt. The dead canary is the representation of the companionship and how weak Mrs. Wright acted on the scene when Mr. Peters showed up. According to Elke Brown, Mrs. Wright thought that “Wright was a harsh man, who like to have his quiet and disapproved of conversation and singing” causing him to break the bird 's nest. Not only that but he killed his owns wife spirit, turning a happy, Minnie Foster into a lonely, desperate Minnie Wright. It is a reality that Mrs. Wright was pushed away to be in isolation. The second symbol in the play was Mrs. Wright 's quilting. Mrs. Hale realized that the quilt was uneven, and that stitches started well and then ended all wrong. It was “the first clue about Minnie 's real state of mind lies in the fact that parts of the quilt have been sewn together haphazardly, which showed Minnie’s state of mind”, according to Mr. Brown. Her incompleteness leads to quilting. This technique of self is to distress, and that was the way Minnie felt. At the beginning of time, Minnie and her husband had everything flowing until it went down the drain and felt abandoned by Mr. Wright. When this happen, Mrs. Hale and Mrs. Peters felt the same way as Minnie. They talk about how it was not bad at all for Minnie to act like she did and left everything with no anger as the sheriff would have thought. Minnie 's friends also realize that her fruit province broke
Richard Wright has been referred to me for therapy regarding his theft from the local theater, and I believe that he committed this crime because he believes that because of his station in society he would never be able to support himself and his family through honest means. Despite the fact that he does hold some remorse for his actions, it would appear that whatever remorse he holds is tempered by his justifications for stealing. A thorough analysis of his reasoning has been conducted and with testimony from the patient to serve as my proof, I will begin treatment to show him the error of his ways.
They looked all the detail even the things that the men overlooked. They started at the beginning and continued to look until they had figured out what had happened and why it had happened. The men were simply looking for evidence, while the women were looking for the story. It was the story that led the women to take evidence that could have convicted Minnie. The jury decides based on evidence and a confession. They didn’t have either so they couldn’t convict her. I think I agree and disagree with the verdict. It was clear that this man was abusing this woman in some way shape or form; however, I didn’t agree with how the women went about hiding the evidence they found. I think that it has a lot to do with the time period. I don’t think self-defense or insanity pleas were used the way they are now. It was clear that this woman suffered a great deal at the hands of this man and that she only did what she thought was necessary.
In Trifles, the use of the canary bird symbolizes Minnie’s state of being, and the freedom that her husband takes away from her. The fact that the bird’s neck was snapped, shows the demeaning relationship that...
In this male dominated investigation, it is empathy that truly is the mark that allows the investigation to be solved from an unsuspected place. Void of empathy, nothing can genuinely be understood. Empathy is the foundation with which we can see the world and understand the reason behind everything whether for the good or bad. Condoning the action of an individual is not taking into account their situation or what other options were available to them considering any existed. Labeling a criminal is putting an individual into a category of black and white without considering the complexity of the matter or the many shades of gray the world presents. In the eyes of the law, Mrs. Wright was a murderer. To those who could empathize with her struggles she was a survivor—despite her wrongdoing. Justice is found in this play, or rather the term may be favored as mercy, that Mrs. Wright was a victim who believed in her heart she chose the only path that lead to
The long and dangerous journey halfway across the continent was definitely not for the faint of heart. After reviewing both accounts, the general impressions were that of hardship, perseverance, and a will to survive. All for the hopes of a better and more successful life that the new lands promised. While some did not survive the journey, those who did were rewarded for their efforts with new land, opportunities, and even gold.
Ladies and gentlemen of the jury, the defense, a 19 year old boy Carl Gallagher is being wrongly accused for the homicide of his father. After hearing the prosecution's statement your mind can be persuaded as to why Carl could be guilty, but he is not guilty. The evidence shown by the prosecution is not a substantial foundation for the whole case to set it self upon. Think of a man who would kill his own father. Now does that man fit the representation and story of the young man Carl? For me certainly not. See through the empty spaces and realize those spaces are necessary for the proper functioning of a young adult.
On the night of January 13, 2013, Jeffrey Wright was killed after causing his wife, Susan Wright, years of distress and abuse. His body was disfigured after being stabbed approximately 193 times. The body lay on his former mattress which had become blood-soaked and cut up. Attached to his wrists are ties which had been used to anchor him to the bed, making him unable to escape. His last visual memory was the sight of his wife hovering over him with a knife, wondering how she had been able to do what she was about to do. How could she, his wife, betray him and kill him with no remorse?
Mrs. Hale describes Minnie as formerly singing “real pretty herself” (Glaspell p666). The connection between Minnie and the canary is established here, and in the bird’s physical death parallels Minnie’s emotional death (Russell). Mrs. Hale’s keen wit and patience contributes to her embodiment of The Fate sister named Clotho the Spinner, which even more evident in her correcting of Minnie Wright’s improper stitching (Russell). Mrs. Peters begins the process of investigation deeply devoted to keeping the law. She doesn 't want any disruption in the house saying, “I don 't think we ought to touch things” (Glaspell p 666) when Mrs. Hale began searching for clues. Upon finding the dead canary, Mrs. Peters view on the situation changes drastically, and she decides with Mrs. Hale to hide the tiny dead bird from the men. They both figure that if the dead canary was discovered, Mrs. Wright would be thought to be a mad woman, though it was likely Mr. Wright who killed it. Mrs. Peters sympathizes with Minnie remembering back to an old memory of her childhood, where a menacing boy killed her small kitten with a hatchet (Russell). Mrs. Peters then realizes that the justice to be served is to conceal evidence and find the answers for themselves. These
As her obsession grew, she began to write. She believed that it helped her cope with her situation by calming down her nerves, but John was correct though; her writing was only further developing her illness. Since her mind was exploring her thoughts more, she was unable to distract her mind from the obsession of the wallpaper. Now what the narrator “weights” she carried were at its peak. Her obsession was at its highest and she began to lose sight of reality. She did not have physical pain but her mental pain was tremendous. Her illness reached a point that was
Educators have an influence on their students that will follow them from childhood to adulthood. In “Models for writers,” Rowen, Carl T. “Unforgettable Miss Bessie,” Raymond, David. “0n Being 17, Bright and unable to read,” and Murphy, Erin. “White Lies,” all influenced a life, however, one of them changed a child’s life for the better and the others could have turned a child future upside down. They still all had the same goals in teaching children, but not the same desire. When adults teach children, it doesn’t always turn out positive. They can either guide a child to success or leave them with low self-esteem and unable to understand a complicated world.