Caged Birds Without a Song

Written within the nineteenth century, some(prenominal) Susan Glaspells Trifles and Henrik Ibsens A Dolls House, use symbolisation within the play to illustrate how different the roles were between hands and wo workforce during this time. account and cosmos appearance were turn overed as intrinsic forms of value within nineteenth century marriages, as though they were solely the backbone of the marriages success. Women were viewed as subordinates, mere extensions of their husbands, creating a strong theme of male government agency that echoes equ bothy throughout both plays.Incidentally, in direct correlation to their foolish presumptions and patronizing mannerisms toward women, in the end, the men argon ultimately responsible for their consume fall. In Trifles, the concerns of women ar considered to be mere trifles, unimportant or of both value to society, which men are ultimately controlling. The play opens at the Wrights root word a day by and by Minnie Wright either did or did not killed her husband. The sheriff, Mr. Peters and his wife, the county attorney, and Mr. vigorous with his wife oblige arrived at Wrights the home to find evidence proving Minnies guilt or innocence, while shes being held in prison for the murder.Then men repeatedly comment on the unkempt conditions of the Wrights home, in particular the kitchen, implying Mrs. Wright must have been unstable because a home is much(prenominal) mix-up is outside their perception what a womens role entails. Its during this snapshot Mrs. Peters calls attention to the exploded jars of harvest-home preserves, misgiving the hard work baffling in canning preserves, and Mrs. Wrights concern that the cold weather would cause her jars of fruit to freeze and burst. She worried nearly that when it turned so cold. She said the promoted go out and her jars would break (Glaspell 322).The Sheriffs response is, intimately can you beat the women Held for murder and worryin almost her preserv es (Glaspell 322). The men view her concern as trivial and unimportant in comparison to the fear Mrs. Wright is facing. In A Dolls House, Nora, the protagonist, equivalent other women during this time, was considered proportion of her husband, Torvald. Women were not allowed to own any type of property or sorb gold without the co-signature of a man. Noras role as a woman was to take care of the children and make sure everything was perfect within the household.Torvald treats Nora like a small silly girl and believes his wife only(prenominal) focuses on trivial matters. He views her as his prize and at no predict does he see her as an individual to be considered equal in their marriage. He continuously coddles her and implies she is a secondary element within their marriage. He calls her his squirrel and little lark in a have the appearance _or_ semblanceingly affectionate manner, nevertheless the implications of these pet names are somewhat derogatory and imply her abilit ies are simply to scamper about carefree.He lectures Nora on how to spend their money wisely because to him she does not possess an intricate under wearing of business principles. In the weeks leading to Christmas, Nora washed-out her evenings alone working. Torvald assumes that his wife is using the time spent during these busy nights making trivial family Christmas ornaments and other holidays treats. In reality, Nora is working on side jobs she has acquired for money to repay a loan she illicitly acquired during a time Torvald was critically ill.She spends eight geezerhood of his or her marriage unitedly trying to keep this scandal secret and repay the loan totally before anyone had the chance to find out. She knowingly plays into Torvalds patronizing mannerisms because she knows that he is more concerned with how their marriage looks in public than actually understanding the implications of her actions. Viewing the women as extensions of themselves, in Trifles the men expre ss no intrust to see the world through Minnie Wrights or the other two womens point of view. At first, both Mrs.Peters and Mrs. Hale seemed apprehensive about Minnies guilt and which side of the law to be on. It is only after Mr. Hales comment, Well, women are used to worrying over trifles, that you olfactory perception the women start to draw together in unity. (Glaspell 322). His words imply that women are lacking the common sense and mental focus to pay attention to the important things at the same time suggesting that the men should expect such a character flaw as status quo because they are only women and therefore deal everyday in small, unimportant details.The men peril off in search of evidence proving the guilt of Minnie Wright while the two women are left alone in the kitchen to gather some of the face-to-face items she has requested. As the two women engage in conversation, they begin to reminisce about the woman who they once referred to as friend. A short time in to this labor they discovering an empty, damaged birdcage. Unsure of the cages purpose the women begin hypothesizing wherefore it would be in the Wrights home. During their discussion Mrs.Hale states, Shecome to think of it, she was var. of like a bird herselfreal sweet and pretty, but kind of timid and fluttery. Howshedidchange (Glaspell 328). Upon further investigation the women find the bird, a canary, mantled in a piece of silk tucked away in Minnies sewing box it was dead, someone had wrung its neck. Again thinking of Minnie, Mrs. Hale states, No, Wright wouldnt like the birda thing that sang. She used to sing. He killed that, alike (Glaspell 329).Of course, the canary is what ultimately proves Minnie Wrights guilt, but because the women are able to discover what makes this discovery so significant, they empathize with Minnie, and without ever voicing their decision to do so, they never tell the men. The concept that women are viewed as an extension of their husbands is withal seen in A Dolls House, when Torvald learns of Noras deception and illegal loan. He says to her, Oh, what an awful awakening In all these eight yearsshe who was my pride and joya hypocrite, a liarworse, worsea criminalHow infinitely disgusting it all is The shame I should have suspected something of the kind. I should have known. all your fathers flimsy values have come out in you. No religion, no morals, no sense of dutyOh, how Im punished for letting him off I did it for your sake, and you repay me like this (Ibsen 245). Torvald continues this rant as he attempts to sort out what actions he should take next, This thing has got to be hushed up at any cost. And as for you and me, its got to seem like everything between us is just as it wasto the outside world, that is.Youll go right on living in this house, of course. But you cant be allowed to bring up the children I dont make bold trust you with them from now on happiness doesnt matter all that matters is saving the bits and pieces, the appearance (Ibsen 246). He is so consumed with himself and how the implications of Noras actions affect him that he is completely blind to the fact she now understands how he truly views her, incapable. It is this specify moment in which Nora boldly states, When your big fright was overand it wasnt from any threat against me, only for what might damage ouwhen all the risk of infection was past, for you it just as if nothing had happened. I was exactly the same, your little lark, your doll, that youd have to handle with double care now that Im turned out so brittle and frail. Torvaldin an instant it dawned on me that for eight years Ive been living here with a stranger, and that Id even conceived three childrenoh, I cant stand the thought of it I could tear myself to bits (Ibsen 252). Nora then decides she will no weeklong carry on this martial masquerade and leaves Torvald for good.As stated above, in both Susan Glaspells Trifles and Henrik Ibsens A Dolls House, t he men are ultimately responsible for their own fall in the end. The men maintain their view of women being subordinates and they are often dismissive regarding anything involving even the general realm of women. Each play uses symbolism within the scene to illustrate just how different the roles of men and women were during this time and how reputation and public appearance were viewed as intrinsic forms of value within nineteenth century marriages.