Spatial Relationships in Susan Glaspell's "Trifles"

The geographical setting for Susan Glaspell's one-act play, "Trifles," is rural, as discerned from the author's use of an abandoned farmhouse for the play, but it is also centered in the kitchen, a special place for women throughout history. In fact, despite being abandoned, the kitchen still draws the actors by virtue of the warmth from the newly made fire in the stove and the room represents a natural place for gathering on a frigid day. The significant of the kitchen for Mrs. Wright is also made clear by her concern over her preserves during the cold weather, even after being charged with her husband's murder. Rather than knocking on the front door, the kitchen was also the room that Mr. Hale used on his visit the day before when he spoke with Mrs. Wright about her missing husband. Although not specifically stated, the kitchen also contained the stairway (with three stairs to the stair door) to the farmhouse's upstairs bedroom area, since this is where Mrs. Wright indicated her dead husband was after being questioned by Mr. Hale. Notwithstanding the close spatial relationship of husband and wife sleeping in the same bed, the murder took place without Mrs. Wright's knowledge. The upstairs area is clearly delineated from the downstairs kitchen where women "ruled the roost" when the men laugh at the women for their interest in quilting styles rather than the crime at hand. In addition, Glaspell also draws on the spatial relationships that exist between women in terms of their geographic proximity as well as their natural camaraderie and fellowship. Indeed, Mrs. Hale admits, "I might have known she needed help! I know how things can be -- for women. I tell you, it's queer, Mrs. Peters. We live close together and we live far apart. We all go through the same things -- it's all just a different kind of the same thing."