A Dolls House and Trifles - Term Paper Example

“A Doll’s House” and “Trifles Comparison. At first reading, Henrik Ibsen’s “A Doll’s House” and Susan Glaspell’s “Trifles” appear to be markedly different. Ibsen’s play centers round the theme of a woman’s search for self-identity, while Glaspell’s drama explores the aftermath of a murder. However, a closer reading reveals one great similarity in the pieces: the theme of feminism and sexist behavior. Both the plays explore gender relationships and the position of women in society. “A Doll’s House” narrates Helmer and Nora Torvald’s marital relationship and Nora’s journey from protected housewife to independent woman. “Trifles” analyzes the dark shades underlying the married life of John and Minnie Wright and the attitude of Henderson, Hale and Peters to Mrs. Peters and Mrs. Hale. Torvald’s attitude towards Nora in “A Doll’s House” resembles the men’s attitude towards the women in “Trifles” and gender assumptions contribute to the conflict in the two plays. Torvald’s attitude towards Nora is that of the benevolent patriarch. She is his “little lark,” “squirrel,” and “little featherhead!” (Ibsen, Act I). He considers her to be a “helpless little mortal” (Act II), who is so lacking in sense that she cannot even take care of her teeth: he forbids her to eat macaroons. He expects obedience from her and complacently responds “No, I am sure of that,” when Nora declares “I should not think of going against your wishes” (I). Nora is a child, who needs to be guided and watched over. When he catches her in a little lie, he actually “Shakes his finger at her” in admonishment (I). He agrees with Nora when she says, “Everything I think of seems so silly and insignificant” (I). He takes great pleasure in criticizing and correcting her dance. Torvald attitude is very sanctimonious. When Nora says, “Everything you do is quite right, Torvald,” he replies, “Now my little skylark is speaking reasonably” (III). Her criticism of his attitude towards Krogstad as “narrow-minded,” inflames him and he deliberately dismisses Krogstad immediately. He treats Nora as a “doll-wife” (III) whose priority is to amuse him with tricks of “dancing and dressing-up and reciting” (I). Torvald criticizes her money-sense by saying, “That is like a woman” (I). Torvald treats Nora as a parent would an indulged, irresponsible and helpless child. Torvald’s attitude toward his wife is reflected in the attitude of the men towards the women in “Trifles.” The men are extremely condescending in their treatment of Mrs. Peters and Mrs. Hale in the play. When Minnie Wright’s concern over her preserves is aired, Henderson declares that “women are used to worrying about trifles” (Glaspell, 9). Likewise, “the men laugh” (17) at their preoccupation with Minnie’s work on her patchwork quilt. The question as to whether Minnie intended “to quilt it or just knot it” becomes a recurring joke which has connotations of masculine superiority and amused tolerance. The men are prepared to indulge the women in their little worries and Henderson figuratively gives them a sanctimonious pat on the back with his “what would we do without the ladies?” (9). The men ignore the kitchen in their search for evidence, with the Sheriff dismissing it “as nothing here but kitchen things” (8). The implication is that the kitchen is the woman’s domain and, as such, does not deserve to be given much importance. A woman’s duty is as a housekeeper and she is expected to keep a spick and span house. The men are aware that their indulgent attitude towards the perceived fragility and insignificance of women will be mirrored by the jury: Henderson points out “But you know juries when it comes to women” (28). In line with his refusal to take the women seriously, Henderson does not bother to check the things carried out by the women. The vast disconnect between male assumptions and the reality of women directly contributes to the conflict in the plays. Contrary to Torvald’s perception, Nora is no spendthrift nor “so silly as you think” (I). She lies about eating macaroons and skillfully uses flattery to manipulate her husband. Torvald thinks Nora is making ornaments when she is actually doing copying work. Torvald’s attitude of “manly independence” (I) and protectiveness mislead Nora into thinking that he will shoulder the blame of her indiscretion. The conflict in the play comes when these assumptions are proved false: the deed which Nora considers “something to be proud and glad of” (I), is derided by Torvald as “unutterable ugliness” (III). His “doll—wife” becomes a liar and a criminal. Nora leaves Torvald when she understands his true attitude. Similarly, in “Trifles,” the women are not as foolish as the men think. It is the women who decipher that the untidy sewing on the quilt is a sign of nervousness on Minnie Wright’s part and that the broken bird cage and the dead canary are the very motives for murder that the men are futilely searching for. The bird with the broken neck is the “definite thing --- a thing that would connect up with this strange way of doing it” (28). However, the men’s condescension antagonizes the women and they are united in their sympathy for Minnie. Mrs. Hale and Mrs. Peters successfully hide the evidence of Minnie’s guilt from the men. The action in “A Doll’s House” and “Trifles” is based on gender assumptions. Torvald assumes that Nora is a helpless, clinging wife who needs to be indulged as a child. He himself assumes the attitude of protector and mentor. The men in “Trifles” assume that the women are only capable of discussing and worrying about household trifles. These mistaken assumptions and underestimation of women contribute to the conflict in the plays. Torvald’s and Nora’s marriage comes apart when the gender assumptions are proved false. Mrs. Hale and Mrs. Peters hide evidence of Minnie Wright’s guilt from the unsuspecting men. In both cases, it is the women who are the moving forces of the drama. Gender assumptions underlie the conflict in the plays and also contribute to the resolution of “A Doll’s House” and “Trifles.” Works Cited. Glaspell, Susan. “Trifles.” Title of Text Book. Ed. Editor's Name(s). City of Publication: Publisher, Year. Page range of entry. Print. Ibsen, Henrik. “A Doll’s House.” Title of Text Book. Ed. Editor's Name(s). City of Publication: Publisher, Year. Page range of entry. Print “Trifles.” http://etext.virginia.edu/etcbin/toccer-new2?id=GlaTrif.sgm&images=images/modeng&data=/texts/english/modeng/parsed&tag=public&part=1&division=div1 “A Doll’s House.” http://www.readbookonline.net/title/833/ Read More