In the short story “A Jury of Her Peers,” Susan Glaspell introduces the reader to the harsh reality that Midwestern women faced in the 19th century. Through this short story, Glaspell demonstrated the lack of political rights that women had and the constant stereotypical limitations that women were subjected to. Most were seen as nothing more than housewives, or women who stayed home and looked after the children while their husbands worked, complied with their husbands' wishes, and accepted being seen simply as an empty shell of beauty without substance. This being considered, Carolyn Eastman continues to report that "the rise of domesticity and true womanhood in the 19th century remains one of the most powerful and vivid stories in American women's history" (Eastman, 250). The short story tells the story of Minnie Wright, accused of murdering her husband. While Minnie awaits trial, the sheriff, his wife, one of Minnie's neighbors, his wife, and a county prosecutor inspect her house for evidence to use against Minnie. While the men search, the women collect personal items to bring to Minnie. Going through Minnie's items, the women find evidence through her little trifles that concludes and could convict Minnie of the murder committed by her abusive husband. In the end, they decide not to report Minnie out of respect for Minnie's suffering. It is also assumed that men and husbands never find the proof they were looking for, but it is certain that, although demeaned for "worrying over trifles" (Glaspell, 710), Susan Glaspell was capable of portraying natural intellect, loyalty. , and the mind behind the generally overlooked female character. This portrayal is widely praised and Elaine Hedges truly applauds Glaspell "reflects crucial realities in the lives of women in the Midwest and West of the 19th and early 20th centuries." » (Hedges, 3) Although it is only a short story, “A Jury of Her Peers” exposes the reality that women face on a daily basis through strong female characters. This short story discloses the true treatment and representation of how the female character is usually displayed. It manages to reveal how, even though they are repressed and limited to the sexist ideals of society, women are intellectual, loyal and autonomous. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get an original essay It is very common in works for the female character to be underestimated, overlooked, or as Stephanie Haddad would report, for "events and actions." It happens to women, usually with the aim of teaching a male character a lesson or stirring emotion in him.” Female characters are often depicted as needing help or as a liaison for the information a man needs to achieve his end goal. The majority of female characters are never given the role of learning the lesson or solving a case, but rather the female character is used as a symbol for a man to achieve his goals. Throughout world and literary history, women have been the ladder for men to gather information, but what goes unnoticed is the recognition of these women and their continued success. In “A Jury of Her Peers,” Ms. Peters was able to take note of every detail and gather evidence that establishes Minnie as a murderer. When Mrs. Peter explains to Mrs. Hale the reason whyMinnie doesn't usually keep her jars out at night, her husband makes fun of her and says, "well, you can't beat women!" Held for murder and worried about her reserves” (Glaspell, 710). When in fact Minnie doesn't normally leave her canned goods outside because "she's afraid that when it's so cold at night... the fire will go out and her jars will burst." (Glaspell, 710) Mrs. Peters was able to recognize that this act was out of the ordinary and in fact pointed out that something must have been keeping Minnie preoccupied, otherwise she would have put her down, as usual. Glaspell uses relatively feminine elements to present the evidence necessary for Minnie's conviction, to illustrate the memory capacity and attention to detail that the female character can typically see and interpret. Glaspell did this to further reiterate the selective knowledge a woman possesses. By not using objects intended for men or that could be recognized by either gender, such as knives, guns, and sheds, Glaspell aims to prove the importance of showcasing the cunning intellect of the characters feminine. Glaspell used the kitchen, a symbolic assimilation for women, as the location for the majority of the key details of the short story. Specific objects in a kitchen can usually be recognized by a woman, and that is why they were chosen as one of the major symbols in the short story. According to Kathleen Wilson, “the kitchen is described as being messy with unwashed pans under the sink, a dishcloth left on the table, a loaf of bread outside the breadbox and other disarray. It gives the impression that no attention has been paid to cleaning, either recently or usually” (Wilson 3). Paying close attention to these elements, Glaspell argues that the placement of a female character in the kitchen is not always for the purpose of cooking. or housework and that the female character does not always need to be focused on her task in the kitchen, but rather can have substance and could concentrate on a higher or more important task. This is supported when Mrs. Peters and Mrs. Hale notice this. a bucket of sugar on a low shelf. Mrs. Hale thought of "the flour in her kitchen at home, half sifted, half unsifted, she had been interrupted and left things half finished" (Glaspell, 711). Glaspell uses the kitchen as a symbol to show how, through Mrs. Peter and Mrs. Hale's knowledge of housekeeping, they were able to solve a murder case and do everything a man can, or in this short story, could . The female characters weren't in the kitchen cooking, cleaning, or serving, they were there solving problems and investigating, something the male characters in the short story hadn't thought to do. Glaspell also used Mrs. Peter's Husband to present how men in the novel often discredit information from female characters with the belief that because it comes from a woman, it is not vital to their task. With this technique, Glaspell allowed the reader to truly understand the importance, intelligence, and importance of Mrs. Peter in the investigation. This element, as Elaine Hedges would argue, "challenges dominant images and stereotypes of women as 'fuzzy-minded' and concerned only with 'trifles', and with its celebration of female sisterhood, power of the sorority. If Mrs. Peter's husband took what she had to say seriously, perhaps he and the other men in the novel would have obtained the evidence they needed to convict Minnie. It is men who have engaged and promoted the stereotype that womenhad nothing substantial to say, which led to their failure in this matter. Glaspell's satirical tone underlines this statement and, much like the novel "Madwoman in the Attic", uses irony to demonstrate that intelligence is not often correlated with that of women, despite their constant conflicts. “The Madwoman in the Attic” presents an analysis that most women are criticized for their intelligence. He goes on to sarcastically report that society would prefer only cherubic, angelic women who have only a "life without external events... a life whose story cannot be told because there is no story." (Gubar & Gilbert, 22) Gilbert and Gubar illustrate the realistic stereotype of women as empty and empty despite whatever knowledge they may have in their lives or “stories” (Gubar & Gilbert, 22). “A Jury of Her Peers” seeks to reject the lens that Gilbert and Gubar present and illustrate the female character as one who has substances. Glaspell's short story also praises and demonstrates the dedication and connection women have to themselves and another. Ms. Peters and Ms. Hale worked together to wrap up everything leading up to Mr. Hale's murder. Phyllis Mael supports this by noting that "it is unlikely that if either woman had been alone she would have had sufficient understanding or courage to make the vital decision, but as trifles reveal the drudgery From Minnie's life (and by implication theirs), a web of brotherhood is woven that connects the lives of all three” (Mael, 281). This expresses how the women, especially Mrs. Peters who is “married to the law” (Glaspell, 713) devoted themselves to protecting their friend and comrade. female. In an article by Stephanie Haddad, she criticizes male authors for allowing women to be "objectified, used, mistreated, and easily dismissed." and regarding the multiple novels that include death, "None of the women survive the novel, save another woman, or help another woman, and if they live, it is to fulfill a very specific and have an impact on a man's life. » (Haddad, 4) Mrs. Peters and Mrs. Hale agreed that they would tamper with the evidence to keep Minnie out of prison. With this, Glaspell presented a short story with friendship as its root context. If Mrs. Hale was not friends with Mrs. Peter and Minnie, she would never have gone to the house with her husband. In this case, she and Mrs. Peters would not have been looking for motive, unlike their husbands who were only looking for evidence, leading the reader to wonder if the ending of the novel would have a sense of ease and "happy ending" . knowing that the women falsified the evidence and that Minnie could go to prison after experiencing 20 years of isolation and abuse. Through the strength of their friendship, these women risked being arrested and having their reputations tarnished. Additionally, these women haven't seen Minnie in a long time, but still consider her a close friend to break the law for her and, even though she killed a man, lie for her. This demonstrates that the female character either does not have a sufficiently important role to make such a decision, or chooses in favor of a man. Glaspell set out to prove that, just as in reality, the female character is trustworthy and dedicated to the upliftment of her own gender. Although it could be argued that Minnie's abusive circumstances increased the reader's admiration for Mrs. Hale and Mrs. Peters' decision. about their moral dilemma, but through Glaspell, including Mrs. Peter and Mrs. Hale's journey to Minnie's conviction, it allows the reader to appreciate women and their intellect. Furthermore, the denunciation of women by their husbands makes their discovery even moreinteresting. With each detection, the women tell Minnie's story and the situation she was in with her husband is revealed. Ms. Peter and Ms. Hale have proven the misogynistic view and symbolic cage that a stereotype has been created for women. All women husbands behaved like Gubar and Gilbert, impractical notion that “the man must be content; but to please him is a woman’s pleasure.” (Gubar and Gilbert, 23) With keen eyes and skill, Mrs. Peter and Mrs. Hale were able to see that Mr. Foster had forced Minnie into isolation, with the belief that she would do well because that he appreciated the quiet, believed she would. content to stay at home cooking and cleaning all day, and finally being happy with everything because he was happy. With this information, the reader sees the motivation behind Minnie's rage, loss, and sympathy that may have been created for Mr. Foster. Glaspell's short story aims to elevate the female gender and allow the reader to see some of the struggles women face. This goal cannot be achieved if the reader has formulated societal prejudices, contracted from stereotypes, towards the murdered male character. Hedges inserts the statement that "Glaspell uses a technical term from the world of women's work in a way that provides a final triumphant conclusion." justification of his method throughout history. If, like Mrs. Hale and Mrs. Peters, the reader can now indulge in those acts of perception by which one sees into things, [and] through one thing to something else” (Hedges, 10). The humble task of Mrs. Peter and Mrs. Hale tying the quilt resonates with this statement. Minnie has tied a rope around her husband's neck and is finally freed from her cage. With Mrs. Hale and Mrs. Peters not sharing the newly discovered information with their husbands, they tied a knot that solidified women as an empowering group. women. All three women say no to male authority, and in doing so, they become knotted or bonded together. With this short story, Glaspell was able to show the reader what impacts women as a gender on a day to day basis and, as stated earlier in the essay, prove that even though repressed women are intellectual, loyal, and self-sufficient. With this in mind Jo Freeman's novel, Women; A feminist perspective emphasizes that "there is no reason to assume that the family goals that young women have learned to value are less important than the success goals so emphasized for young men." If members of either sex chose to compromise their work, particularly women, the economic cost of such a choice would be substantial. (Qttd. in Eccles 1987) This means that while women should not limit themselves to these stereotypes, women can also be elevated in the fact that even in the roles that women occupy, women excel and have a harder task. important than they deserve. Glaspell pays particular attention to the role that Minnie played in her household and everything that allowed her to follow her housewife lifestyle. When the women describe an unusually unkempt kitchen, Glaspell shows the reader everything Minnie has to do while her husband is away. First, Mrs. Hale described Minnie's house as a "never happy place", implying that as the woman of her house, it was her job to bring joy by taking care of the household . Additionally, the wives discuss the various things that should have been fixed, such as a broken stove, a rocking chair "dirty red, with wooden bars on the back" (Glaspell, 712), a dirty towel in the kitchen,,. 2016.