A jury of her peers by susan glaspell sparknotes. Analysis of Susan Glaspell’s A Jury of Her Peers 2022-12-22

A jury of her peers by susan glaspell sparknotes Rating: 9,4/10 1577 reviews

"A Jury of Her Peers" is a short story written by Susan Glaspell in 1917. The story is told from the perspective of two women, Mrs. Hale and Mrs. Peters, who are asked to assist in the investigation of a murder that has taken place in their small town. The victim is Mrs. Wright, and her husband, John Wright, is the prime suspect.

As Mrs. Hale and Mrs. Peters search the Wright household for clues, they begin to see the isolation and loneliness that Mrs. Wright has experienced in her marriage. They also discover evidence that suggests that Mrs. Wright may have been driven to kill her husband due to the oppressive and controlling nature of their relationship.

Throughout the story, Glaspell highlights the ways in which women are often overlooked and underestimated by the men around them. Mrs. Hale and Mrs. Peters are initially dismissed by the male investigators, who assume that they have nothing valuable to contribute to the case. However, it is their keen observations and understanding of Mrs. Wright's situation that ultimately lead to the discovery of the motive for the murder.

One of the most powerful themes in "A Jury of Her Peers" is the idea of feminine solidarity. Despite the societal expectations placed upon them, Mrs. Hale and Mrs. Peters are able to come together and support one another in their quest for the truth. They recognize that they have a shared understanding of the struggles and challenges that women face, and they use this bond to help each other navigate the difficult circumstances of the investigation.

In the end, Mrs. Hale and Mrs. Peters are able to present their findings to the male investigators, and their insights are instrumental in helping to solve the case. Through their actions, Glaspell suggests that women are capable of making meaningful contributions to society and that they should not be underestimated or dismissed simply because of their gender.

Overall, "A Jury of Her Peers" is a thought-provoking and powerful story that highlights the resilience and determination of women in the face of adversity. It serves as a reminder of the importance of feminine solidarity and the valuable insights that women can bring to any situation.

A Jury of Her Peers by Susan Glaspell Plot Summary

a jury of her peers by susan glaspell sparknotes

Hale concludes his story, the men look for clues in the kitchen. Peters, for anything that might be of use. It is through the shared experiences of Mrs. Although, the law forbidden women jurors, these two women, Mrs. She believes Minnie killed her husband and that her reasons for doing so were connected to her isolation and mistreatment. She was reluctant to have left her unsifted flour back in her kitchen.

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A Jury of Her Peers Analysis

a jury of her peers by susan glaspell sparknotes

Hale did speak guardedly, as if the pencil had affected him too. Holding this block made her feel queer, as if the distracted thoughts of the woman who had perhaps turned to it to try and quiet herself were communicating themselves to her. She regrets not keeping in touch with Mrs. The men dismiss the items in the kitchen as womanly concerns that will not provide any evidence. Peters drew nearer--then turned away.

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A Summary and Analysis of Susan Glaspell's 'A Jury of Her Peers'

a jury of her peers by susan glaspell sparknotes

The men return to the kitchen and, in a sudden decision, Mrs. Thus men, controlling the study of literature, define as great those texts that empower themselves and define reading as an activity that serves male interests, for regardless of how many actual readers may be women, within the academy the presumed reader is male. I tell you, it's queer, Mrs. Hale, caught up in her own train of thought, says that John Wright must have broken the neck of the songbird. Not much of a housekeeper, would you say, ladies? Peters, in a sudden burst of determination, tries to hide the dead bird in her handbag and is flustered as the bag is too small. The assumption that the women are prone to do so places them under suspicion of being blinded by this subjectivity and thus unable to come up with any useful information.

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A Jury of Her Peers by Susan Glaspell (1917)

a jury of her peers by susan glaspell sparknotes

At the house, Mr. In the monotonous expanses of the prairie and the plains, the presence of one small spot of color, or a bit of music, might spell the difference between sanity and madness. For, of course, in refusing to recognize the story of Minnie Wright, the men also avoid confrontation with the story of Mrs. What had interrupted Minnie Foster?. The county attorney did not heed her. Hale did speak guardedly, as if the pencil had affected him too. .


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A Jury of Her Peers by Susan Glaspell

a jury of her peers by susan glaspell sparknotes

Hale's other emotions came the fear now that maybe Harry wasn't dressed warm enough--they hadn't any of them realized how that north wind did bite. And then there was always something to do and Minnie Foster would go from her mind. But now she could come. Again--for one final moment--the two women were alone in that kitchen. Slowly she moved toward the table. Wright's death by strangulation.


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A Jury of Her Peers Study Guide

a jury of her peers by susan glaspell sparknotes

Peters was looking at her. The men reenter suddenly and Martha Hale conceals the box the women have just discovered. In many ways both Mrs Hale and Mrs Peters connection with Minnie is stronger than any connection that they have with their husbands. Peters, who recalls a similar incident in her youth: She easily could have killed the boy who destroyed her cat. Wright's crime, but they also see it as a justifiable reason for Mrs.

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A Jury of Her Peers Themes

a jury of her peers by susan glaspell sparknotes

Upon coming, he met Minnie seated on her rocker in the kitchen. Hale immediately defends Minnie, reminding the attorney of how much work there is to be done around a farmhouse. By this time I--didn't know what to do. It is she who first discovers the badly stitched block, and as she holds it out to Mrs. Again their eyes met. It provides readers with information about things that the characters themselves do not say aloud, or that they are unaware of. I hope she had it a little more red up up there.


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A Jury of Her Peers Summary & Analysis

a jury of her peers by susan glaspell sparknotes

Denied such associations, Minnie Wright worked on her quilt blocks alone, and it is the effect of that solitude which the women read in her blocks and which so profoundly moves them. That was a crime! Research how most women lived back then. . Peters went to the back of the room to hang up the fur tippet she was wearing. For a moment Mrs.

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