Assignment: Trifles

Trifles, written in 1916, shows the way women are thought of and treated in a patriarchal society.

1. How do the Sheriff, Mr. Peters, Mr. Henderson, the County Attorney, and Mr. Hale, the neighbor, attempt to solve the murder of John Wright? How do they look for clues? What are their concerns?

2. How do the women, Mrs. Hale and Mrs. Peters solve the murder of John Wright? How is their investigation different from the men's? What accounts for the differences between the men and women's thinking?

3. Is Minnie Wright a victim of domestic abuse? Is this a justifiable homicide?

4. Note the women's actions at the end of the play. Is justice done or is justice subverted?

Write a one-page essay addressing one of the reading prompts. The paper should have at least three paragraphs - an introduction, one or more body paragraphs, and a conclusion. The last sentence of the introduction should be your thesis statement. Italicize the thesis statement. Each paragraph must have an italicized topic sentence. Quote the text to support your arguments; provide analysis and commentary.

Cite the play text and do a Works Cited page using MLA 8th edition. Quotes from Antigone are cited by line number.