Pathos In Trifles

Trifles” is a play written in 1916 by Susan Glaspell. The play’s audience consists of young adults to those in their late 50’s. Mrs. Glaspell takes a serious matter of domestic violence and uses her platform as an author to raise awareness about the issue. In the play “Trifles” a neighbor went to the home of Mr. and Mrs. Wright only to find Mr. Wright dead in his bed. He had been strangled to death by a rope. The neighbor questioned Mrs. Wright about the matter and her response was odd and suspicious. Mrs. Wright was taken to jail while the home is being investigated for further evidence. Mrs. Glaspell’s play “Trifles” effectively achieves the goal in raising awareness on domestic violence by the evidence of the crime and through pathos.
One of the goals in the play is to raise awareness about domestic violence. This is done effectively through the events that are played out in the

play. “Trifles” is about a couple who live on a farm. The husband is found dead in his bed by a neighbor. He had a rope around his neck. When the wife is questioned about his death she acts strange and distraught. It appears there has been a murder and at first no one knows who the killer is. Upon further investigation there is a dead bird found with a broken neck. The bird was kept in the best regards, showing that it was special to Mrs. Wright. The scenes add up to a domestic violence case between Mr. and Mrs. Wright. Once the crime was committed, Mrs. Wright sat in her rocking chair numb.
In addition, another goal is effectively achieved by providing evidence of domestic violence. Mrs. Hale, a neighbor, describes the home as being uncheerful and lonesome, and this is why she doesn’t come by anymore; she also describes Mr. Wright as being a hard man. (752) This information expresses the personality that Mr. Wright possessed. It sets the audience up for perceiving Mr. Hale as the one who was difficult in the marriage. The most useful evidence was when a bird cage was found that had a broken hinge on the door. It appears that there has been a struggle when getting the bird out, which indicates anger and aggression. The bird was found with a broken neck and was wrapped inside a box. Putting the evidence together it can be concluded that Mrs. Wright loved her bird and had plans for a proper burial. Ironically the bird was killed in the same manner as Mr. Wright.
Furthermore, pathos is used in the play as an effective way to appeal to the viewers.

The character Mrs. Wright is portrayed as a kind and gentle woman. She is also described as her opinion not being of importance in the marriage. It is stated by Mr. Hale that “ I didn’t know as what his wife wanted made much difference to John” .(745) Her neighbor, Mrs. Hale, depicts her as “She─come to think of it, she was kind of like a bird herself─real sweet and pretty, but kind of timid and─fluttery. How─she─did─change”. (752) It appears that Mrs. Wright is a kind and gentle woman, not capable of committing a murder. But, with the evidence provided and the description of Mr. Wright’s personality it can also be said that the audience will play on the sympathy card for Mrs. Wright. She appears to be caught in a domestic violence crime in which she is guilty of, but the audience will overlook the crime due to the nature of the circumstances. By using pathos it will create a feeling that Mrs. Wright was the one who was suffering in the marriage, and that she only did what she felt necessary at the

time.
In completion, it can be said that the play “Trifles” is effective in its goals to shine light on domestic violence by telling the story of Mr. and Mrs. Wright. The evidence given is an eye opener for the audience to understand how certain domestic disputes can turn deadly. The use of pathos describes how Mrs. Wright is characterized in the play. It appeals to the emotions of what Mrs. Wright must have been going through in her marriage to Mr. Wright. “Trifles” is a play that sends a powerful message to those who are in similar situations and raises awareness on an issue that is still prominent today.