Trifles is a one-act play written by Susan Glaspell in 1916. It is based on a real murder case that Glaspell reported on during her career as a journalist for the Des Moines Daily News. She later adapted the play into a short story entitled, A Jury of her Peers. Both reflect Glaspell's great empathy for Margaret Hossack, the real-life woman upon whom Minnie Wright's story was based.
Key Aspects of Trifles
Tone
Trifles is dark and suspenseful in tone. The play's action takes place in a cold, isolated setting, and gradually reveals dark secrets about the characters.
Setting
Trifles takes place in an isolated farmhouse in the early 1900s, during winter. The characters never go...
