The Jury Of Her Peers: A Closer Look

When Susan Glaspell first published her short story "A Jury of Her Peers" in 1917, it provided a profound commentary on gender roles and the value of women's perspectives in a patriarchal society. This narrative was born out of her one-act play Trifles, which debuted two years earlier. Glaspell, a Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright, used this story to explore themes that were not only relevant to her time but remain strikingly relevant today.

Themes and Symbolism in "A Jury of Her Peers"

A. Gender Roles: At the heart of "A Jury of Her Peers" lies a critique of the way society views and undervalues women's roles and capabilities. The men in the story, from the sheriff to the county attorney, dismiss the women's observations as trivial or insignificant:

• Table 1: Gender Roles Comparison

  Aspect	Men's Perspective	Women's Perspective
  Domestic Duties	Chores and trivial	Daily survival and key to solving mysteries
  Emotional Expression	Sign of weakness	Source of strength and insight
  Legal System	Objective analysis	Considers emotional and social context

B. Symbolism:

• Quilt and Sewing Basket: The quilt and sewing basket symbolize the domestic work that women were often confined to, but also represent the covert detective work the women engage in, piecing together the life of Mrs. Minnie Wright. <p class="pro-note">💡 Pro Tip: Pay attention to household items in literature; they often symbolize deeper themes or plot elements.</p>
• Birds: The dead canary found in the sewing basket represents Mrs. Wright's stifled life, reflecting her own silenced voice and crushed spirit.

C. Justice and Empathy:

• Glaspell challenges the traditional legal system by suggesting that women might offer a more empathetic and contextual approach to understanding crime:
  • "She was going to knot it, that's what she was going to do when she was interrupted." This line from Mrs. Hale represents the women's keen observation and their ability to infer the psychological state of Mrs. Wright.

The Narrative Technique

Glaspell employs an indirect narrative style that allows readers to see the events through the perspectives of the characters, particularly the women:

• Humor: The story is laced with subtle humor, often at the expense of the men who overlook the "trifles" that the women pick up on:

  • Mrs. Hale's retort to the men, "Of course it's no more than their duty," subtly mocks their patronizing attitude towards women's work.

• Structure: The narrative unfolds in a way that mirrors detective work, with the women solving the mystery through the mundane details men overlook:

  • List of Key Events:
    1. Arrival at the Wright's house: The scene is set with the men and women separated by their roles.
    2. Finding the preserved food: This leads to the discussion about preserving life, which parallels Mrs. Wright's situation.
    3. Discovering the sewing: They uncover evidence of domestic unrest and a potential motive.

Practical Applications in Literary Analysis

A. Close Reading:

• Analyzing "A Jury of Her Peers" can teach students to pay attention to what is unsaid or overlooked in narratives. Here are some practical steps for teaching:

  • Step 1: Identify the elements of setting and how they contribute to the story's mood.
  • Step 2: Discuss character dialogue and the subtext, particularly how women communicate subtly in the presence of men.
  • Step 3: Explore the symbolism and its relationship to the themes.

  <p class="pro-note">🔍 Pro Tip: Encourage students to look for 'absence' or 'silence' in literature; these can be as telling as what's explicitly stated.</p>

B. Teaching Themes:

• Themes of justice, empathy, and gender inequality are ripe for discussion. Here are some points to consider:

  • Comparison with Modern Day: Use contemporary examples where gender roles still play a significant part in legal and social justice.
  • Analyzing Character Development: Look at how the characters evolve through the story, particularly the women's change from bystanders to active participants in the 'investigation'.

Summary and Call to Action

Throughout "A Jury of Her Peers," Susan Glaspell masterfully weaves together elements of mystery, social commentary, and subtle humor to deliver a powerful critique on gender roles and the value of women's insight. The story encourages readers to look beyond the surface, to consider the context and the subtleties that define human behavior and justice.

If this analysis has sparked your interest, don't stop here. Explore more of Glaspell's works, or delve into other narratives where women's voices are either silenced or amplified in unique ways. Engage with literature that challenges societal norms and discover how different perspectives can alter the perception of truth and justice.

<p class="pro-note">💼 Pro Tip: Reflect on how "A Jury of Her Peers" parallels contemporary discussions on justice, gender, and observation. Understanding these connections can enhance your appreciation of literature's societal impact.</p>

<div class="faq-section"> <div class="faq-container"> <div class="faq-item"> <div class="faq-question"> <h3>What is the central theme of "A Jury of Her Peers"?</h3> <span class="faq-toggle">+</span> </div> <div class="faq-answer"> <p>The core theme of "A Jury of Her Peers" revolves around gender inequality, particularly how women's perspectives are often overlooked or dismissed in a patriarchal society.</p> </div> </div> <div class="faq-item"> <div class="faq-question"> <h3>Why did Glaspell choose a title like "A Jury of Her Peers"?</h3> <span class="faq-toggle">+</span> </div> <div class="faq-answer"> <p>The title symbolizes the informal court held by the women, who empathize with Mrs. Wright due to their shared experiences, essentially forming her true 'jury of peers'.</p> </div> </div> <div class="faq-item"> <div class="faq-question"> <h3>How does the story illustrate the concept of 'hidden in plain sight'? </h3> <span class="faq-toggle">+</span> </div> <div class="faq-answer"> <p>Through the women's observations of everyday household items, the story showcases how clues integral to solving the crime are dismissed by men as mere trifles, yet hold deep significance.</p> </div> </div> </div> </div>