The patented mystery, in all its gripping predictability, presents audiences with numerous clichés: a stormy night, a shadowy figure, a sinister butler, and a mysterious phone call. Susan Glaspell's Trifles doesn't fit this mold. Glaspell's mysterious investigation into the murder of John Wright presents the reader with only one suspect, Mrs. Wright. Even if the court examiner and sheriff fail to find evidence against Mrs. Wright, the reader can plausibly make the case against the neglectful wife. Glaspell's use of descriptive language and subtle hints establishes atmosphere, presents motive, and reveals the evidence needed to solve this murder mystery. Defining the appropriate atmosphere is important for any play, especially one that requires its readers to be wary of their surroundings. The reader's first glimpse of the setting is that of an "abandoned farmhouse... [and] a gloomy kitchen" (Glaspell 127). These first words give readers a heightened state of tension and prepare them for darker events yet to come. Mrs. Hale repeatedly describes the cold house as not "a very cheerful place" and states that it might not have been "any more cheerful for the presence of John Wright" (130). These comments coming from a neighbor lead the reader to believe that Mrs. Wright was not happy in her surroundings, largely due to her husband. Even the rocking chair in which Mrs. Wright sat seems contaminated with something unpleasant. Mrs. Peters wants to "shake off the atmosphere that the empty rocking chair [evokes]" (131) before continuing her conversation with Mrs. Hale. The strange sensation that the house causes pushes the women to think more deeply about the events that led to John Wright's death. This curiosity means that women if... middle of paper ......would have much more difficulty presenting the evidence to the reader. This portrayal not only makes the story more interesting but also increases the character development of this short drama. Works CitedBanner, Lois. Women in Modern America: A Brief History. New York: Harcourt Brace, 1974.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. Glaspell, Susan. "Trifles." Comedies 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.Hewitt, Nancy. “Beyond the Search for Sisterhood: The Story of American Women in the 1980s.” Social history. vol. 10: No. 3 (1985): 299-321