In Susan Glaspell's play "Trifles," the protagonist is Mrs. Wright, also known as Minnie Foster Wright. Mrs. Wright is the main character in the play and the focus of the action and events.
Mrs. Wright is a complex character who is initially depicted as a cold, distant woman who is suspected of killing her husband. Throughout the play, the characters of the county attorney, the sheriff, and the neighbor, Mr. Hale, try to uncover the truth about Mrs. Wright's involvement in her husband's death. They search for evidence and clues in Mrs. Wright's home, examining everything from the kitchen to the pantry to the sewing room.
As the characters search for evidence, they reveal their own prejudices and biases towards women. They dismiss the importance of Mrs. Wright's trifling possessions and domestic duties, believing that they have no bearing on the case. They also belittle and patronize Mrs. Wright, referring to her as "Minnie Foster" and "the woman" rather than using her proper name.
However, as the play progresses, it becomes clear that Mrs. Wright is not the cold, distant woman that the male characters initially perceive her to be. In fact, she is a victim of abuse and oppression at the hands of her husband, who controlled and belittled her. The trifles that the male characters dismiss as insignificant – a quilt, a birdcage, and a box of fruit – are actually symbols of Mrs. Wright's creativity, imagination, and desire for freedom.
Throughout the play, Mrs. Wright is portrayed as a complex, multi-dimensional character who is struggling to assert her own identity and agency in a society that denies her rights and opportunities. She is a victim of abuse and oppression, but she is also a survivor who is able to find strength and resilience in the face of adversity.
In conclusion, Mrs. Wright is the protagonist in "Trifles." She is the main character of the play and the focus of the action and events. Through her portrayal as a complex, multi-dimensional character, Susan Glaspell presents a powerful critique of the societal expectations and constraints placed on women in the early 20th century.
