Men's Assumptions in Bagatelles and A Doll HouseThere are many similarities in the relationships between men and women in Bagatelles by Susan Glaspell and A Doll House by Henrik Ibsen. The conflict in each play is the result of incorrect assumptions made by men in a male-dominated society. Men believe that women focus on trivial matters and are incapable of thinking intelligently, while women quietly prove men's assumptions wrong. In the plays Trifles and A Doll House, men believe that women only focus on trivial matters. As Mrs. Wright is held in prison for her husband's murder, she worries about the cold causing her fruit jars to freeze and burst. Mrs. Peters and Mrs. Hale discuss Mrs. Wright's worry about her canned fruit after finding a broken jar. Mrs. Peters expresses Mrs. Wright's concern: "She said the tree would die out and its jars would break" (Glaspell 1.27). The sheriff's response is, "Well, can you beat women!" Held for murder and mindful of her reserves” (Glaspell 1.28). The women realize the hard work involved in canning this fruit and understand Ms. Wright's concern. The men see this as unimportant compared to the problems Mrs. Wright faces. Similarly, in Isben's play A Doll House, Helmer thinks that his wife Nora is only focused on trivial matters. Three weeks before Christmas, Nora spent every evening working alone. Helmer thinks Nora is making Christmas decorations and other treats for the family for the Christmas holiday. In reality, Nora is working to earn money to pay off a loan she took out illegally when Helmer was ill. The domestic cat is accused of destroying the non-existent ornaments. Helmer reminds him of the long hours spent away from the family. Helmer sa...... middle of paper ......n, John S. Ibsen: The Open Vision. 1982. Durbach, Errol. A Doll's House: Ibsen's Myth of Transformation. Boston: Twayne, 1991. Glaspell, Susan. “Trifles.” Pieces by Susan Glaspell. New York: Dodd, Mead and Company, Inc., 1920. Reprinted in Literature: An Introduction to Fiction, Poetry and Drama. XJ Kennedy and Dana Gioia eds. New York: Harper Collins Publisher, 1995. Glaspell, Susan. Trifles. Making Literature Matter: An Anthology for Readers and Writers. Ed. John Schilb and John Clifford. Boston: Bedford/St. Martin's, 2000. 127-137. Ibsen, Henrik. A doll's house (1879). Trans. Rolf Fjelde. Rep. in Michael Meyer, ed. Bedford's Introduction to Literature. 5th edition. Boston and New York: Bedford/St. Martin's Press, 1999. 1564-1612. Templeton, Joan. "The Doll's House Backlash: Criticism, Feminism and Ibsen." PMLA (January 1989): 28-40.