LITERATURE ANALYSIS BY PRAKASH POUDYAL
A Jury of Her Peers: Aspects of Setting
By: Prakash Poudyal
Susan Glaspell uses a vivid setting
in "A Jury of Her Peers", which was based
on the original one act play "Trifles". In
the story, the setting conceals a crucial
piece of incriminating evidence. Her use
of setting describes the place where the
story occurs, the changes in character of
Mini Wright, her unfriendly marriage, the
symbolism of canary, the conflict between
men and women and the voice of Mrs.
Hale and Mrs. Peter which made them the
peers of Mrs. Wright. A strong inner
conflicts seen in the two women in
Glaspell’s “A Jury of Her Peers”.
The story takes place in a small
lonesome town. This town is behind most
modernization and lacking ways of
communicating with larger town. Most
people in this town are farmers. Actually
the story takes place in Wright's house.
This house is in lonesome place and "its
down in a hollow"(192) from where the
road cannot be seen. The kitchen is
"messy"(190). Most of the things are half
done, "not finished"(190).
Minnie Wright was Minnie Foster
before marriage. We learn from Martha's
recollections that Minnie was a sensitive
person, a lover of music - a cheerful sort
who laves colorful clothes. "She
participated in communities activities.
She used to sing real pretty. But
everything changes after her marriage.
Now she has cheap belongings with her.
As the lover of music, she bought a cheap
canary. She wore shabby clothes. "Wright
was close! She exclaimed, holding up a
shabby black skirt that bore the marks of
much making over" (189).
Her little shawl indicates that she
did not have any other choices. All her
belongings show her struggles as a
miserable life. The broken stove, the
repaired chairs, the messed up old
fashion cupboard, no indoor plumbing,
and dirty towels portray that she was
having extreme discomfort and
dissatisfaction in her gloomy house.
The lonesomeness of a hard life -
without love, without children, without
company, without conversation had
ruined her married life. She was very
depressed for being alone in the home.
Because of not having children, it was a
"quite house"(192). She shows her fear of
Wright and also her certainty that she will
never get the telephone with which she
might have communicated with the
