Susan Glaspell's play “Trifles” is a play about a woman suspected of murdering her husband. The play is set in the 19th century, a time when women were known to be treated poorly, especially as wives. Most women were treated as objects rather than equals in a relationship. However, in our society today, that has definitely changed. In Glaspell's play, the focus is mainly on the wife, which ultimately gives this writing the chance to be seen as a feminist piece. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original Essay In “Trifles,” a woman is taken into custody on suspicion of murdering her husband. The play focuses on two women who enter his house with the sheriff and a lawyer, looking for evidence. While the men search, the women discuss the case. During this play, women end up finding more evidence than men, but because they are women they are not taken seriously. Glaspell shows that women are not seen as equals when Hale says, "Well, women are used to worrying about trifles." The men in the play continually make derogatory comments towards women. Another example is when they re-enter the room while the two women are discussing the defendant's stitching. The two women were examining it and noticed that the stitching was loose, which made one of them wonder why she was so nervous. This shows that women are much more careful than men, because they realize that her hasty sewing meant that she was agitated for some reason. However, the men walk in while they are discussing the scheme and the lawyer condescendingly asks, “Good. sir, have you decided whether he would quilt it or knot it?" This example shows that while men do not take women seriously, they are the ones who have it all figured out and have evidence that could easily convict the wife, thus making him a piece feminist Abuse situations have definitely changed over the years, the wife had actively sought help against the abusive husband. She talked to the neighbors and told them about her husband's cruel acts, but because he was so well-liked and known throughout the community, and she was just his wife, no one took her seriously. In fact, people began to despise her because she spoke against her husband. However, in today's society, women are treated as equals and abuse is taken very seriously. For example, a case similar to the one Glaspell wrote about occurred in 2013. A woman she shot her husband as an act of self-defense after he threatened her and her children. In this case there was no doubt whether she had shot him or not; however she was not charged at all because it was in self-defense. Even if this had been a clear case of self-defense in the 19th century, the wife would most likely have been charged. In “Trifles,” the wife was detained when she claimed she didn't kill him, and even though the only evidence the police had against her was the fact that she slept in bed next to him, they still arrested her. But in the current case, where it was undoubtedly the wife who shot the husband, she was not charged because it was a case of self-defense. Situations of abuse against women have definitely evolved over the years. Please note: this is just an example. Get a custom paper from our expert writers now. Get a custom essay Women have.