Glaspell a jury of her peers. A Jury of Her Peers by Susan Glaspell (1917) 2022-11-06
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Susan Glaspell's short story, "A Jury of Her Peers," explores the theme of gender roles and the limitations placed on women in a male-dominated society. The story is set in the early 20th century, a time when women were expected to adhere to strict societal norms and were often not given the same opportunities or rights as men.
The story follows two women, Mrs. Hale and Mrs. Peters, as they accompany their husbands to the Wright farmhouse to gather evidence in a murder investigation. The victim is Mrs. Wright, the farmer's wife, and the primary suspect is her husband. As the men search the farmhouse for clues, the women are left to observe and explore the domestic spaces where Mrs. Wright spent her days.
Through their observations, the women come to understand the isolation and boredom that Mrs. Wright experienced in her role as a farmer's wife. They also recognize the ways in which Mrs. Wright's husband neglected and mistreated her, leading them to suspect that he may be responsible for her murder.
Despite their suspicions, the women are unable to speak out or bring their evidence to the attention of the men. They are silenced by their societal roles as women and are expected to remain passive and subservient to the men. In the end, the men find the evidence they need to arrest Mr. Wright, but it is the women who truly unravel the mystery and understand the motives behind the crime.
Through "A Jury of Her Peers," Glaspell highlights the ways in which gender roles and societal expectations can limit and oppress women. The story serves as a commentary on the injustices faced by women and the importance of giving them a voice and agency in society.
Glaspell's A Jury of Her Peers: Summary & Analysis
As she searches the cupboard for packing materials for the clothes for Minnie Wright, Mrs. The county attorney looks at the birdcage, but the women say that the bird must have been long-since killed by the cat. The county attorney did not heed her. George Henderson gives Mrs. Peters admits that the evidence does not favor Minnie, given the unlikelihood of her not waking up while the murder happened, musing that the method of murdering was indeed curious, despite the availability of a gun in the house. Wright wrung the bird's neck, silencing the house.
One piece of the crazy sewing remained unripped. Hale," agreed the sheriff's wife, as if she too were glad to come into the atmosphere of a simple kindness. Peters and Martha Hale examine the quilt, they observe an area of the stitching that is messy and crooked, unlike the rest. Just to pass the time of day with him--. She kept her eye fixed on her husband, as if to keep him from saying unnecessary things that would go into that note-book and make trouble. Wright is the wife of Mr.
Glaspell's uses irony to make the female characters, who the men dismiss as trifling, the most powerful characters in the story. She turned to the stove, saying something about that fire not being much to brag of. The women discover an in-progress quilt, and as the men return downstairs they overhear Mrs. Hale says that the women are always worried about "trifles". And then again the eyes of the two women met--this time clung together in a look of dawning comprehension, of growing horror. Hale empathizes with Minnie because she has also experienced the difficulties of running a farmhouse and keeping it tidy, as seen in the first sentences of the short story.
Wright was going to quilt or knot the quilt blocks. What she sees as a woman's hard work, Mr. Peters said, a little helplessly. Getting all stirred up over a little thing like a—dead canary. The story is also a tale of sisterhood and solidarity between women, who are sensitive to the miseries and failings of each other and work hard to support and shield each other. They may be through sooner than we think. The quilt seems to be sewn absentmindedly towards the end, reflecting a disturbed state of mind.
Hale's side since she helps cover up Mrs. After a moment she stepped back, and said, in that manner of releasing herself: "Wonder how they're finding things upstairs? She used to sing real pretty herself. The bird brought a lightness back into her life. Peters says--it looks bad for her. The party includes: the county attorney, George Henderson, the local sheriff, Henry Peters, his wife, Mrs.
She hated to see things half done; but she had been at that when the team from town stopped to get Mr. Peters to get that feeling she had got of work begun and then--for some reason--not finished. Peters, his wife, Mrs. Here—take this in to prove it to her! Hale expresses her resentment at the men laughing at them. He picked up one of the quilt blocks which she had piled on to cover the box. Peters if she thinks that Mrs. I knocked at the door.
A Jury of Her Peers by Susan Glaspell Plot Summary
Hale provide justice for Mrs. Peters reached out for the bottle of fruit as if she were glad to take it--as if touching a familiar thing, having something to do, could keep her from something else. She regrets not keeping in touch with Mrs. Every one moved a little. Hale took a quick step toward the other woman, "Mrs. The thought of Minnie Foster trying to bake in that oven--and the thought of her never going over to see Minnie Foster--. Hale mocks the women for worrying over Mrs.
Hale," said the county attorney, in a way of letting what was past and gone go, "tell just what happened when you came here yesterday morning. Instantly her hand went to her nose. I've not been in this house--it's more than a year. Its neck--look at its neck! He stopped and gave her a keen look. He explains that he was headed into town when he decided to stop and ask John Wright about going in with him on a telephone line. When the men go out to the barn, Mrs. The bird is also symbolic.
Peters' back turned, Martha Hale now scrutinized that piece, compared it with the dainty, accurate sewing of the other blocks. The outer door opened and Mr. Real sweet and pretty, but kind of timid and—fluttery. Maybe because it's down in a hollow and you don't see the road. Peters and Martha can understand how lonely it can feel being in the house all day. Hale, still in that mild, matter-of-fact fashion. The dead bird, the women realize, was killed in a parallel way to John Wright: both injuries to the neck.
Hale all go to the Wrights' house in order to investigate the scene of the crime. It looked very lonesome this cold March morning. Both women watched it as if somehow held by it. No telling; you women might come upon a clue to the motive--and that's the thing we need. Hale immediately questions whether the women would know a piece of evidence if they found one. He believes women are simple-minded. Her instinctual response is to hide from the men something she knows is important, something she knows that they will use as evidence against Minnie without taking the time or care to understand its implications in terms of the awful life Minnie had been forced to live.
