Trifles

Male dominated society

• Are men more superior than women?
• The men consider themselves smarter than the women.
• Gender roles
• Which sex plays a more important role in the story.

John Wright

• Minnie's husband
• Hard working
• Honest
• Unfriendly
• Controlling
• Murdered

George Henderson

• County attorney investigating the murder
• Cynical and sarcastic
• Feeling of superiority over women
• Narrow minded
• Dismisses the minor details in women's interests

Henry Peters

• Middle aged, heavy, loud and outspoken
• Local sheriff examining crime scene
• Husband of Mrs. Peters
• Dismissive of the women and their help in the investigation of the murder
• Goal is to convict the murderer

Lewis Hale

• Neighboring farmer to the Wright's
• Martha Hale's husband
• First person to discover the murder of John Wright
• Key witness that helps in the investigation
• Belittles women

Martha Hale

• Neighbor to the Wright's
• Arrives at murder scene with her husband Lewis Hale
• Protective friend of Minnie Wright
• Feels guilt and regret for not visiting her unhappy friend
• Feels Minnie was justified in the killing of her husband, John Wright

Mrs. Peters

• Thin, nervous woman
• Wife of the town sheriff, Henry Peters
• At first she's a firm supporter of the law
• Undecided whether she should side with the men, or Mrs. Hale who wants to save Minnie
• In the end does help to conceal the evidence against Minnie

Minnie Wright

• Wife of the victim and the prime suspect in the murder.
• Lonely, trapped and unhappy in her marriage
• Martha Hale's friend and neighbor.
• Cheerful prior to her marriage to Mr. Wright.
• Good singer, which her husband forced her to stop singing.
• Mr. Wright dominated her, making her feel isolated and miserable
• Was she justified in killing her husband, or should she have continued on a path of misery?