Oscar Wilde’s play “The Importance of Being earnest” vigorously criticizes heterosexual marriage. He employs light comedy to portray shallow, immature characters that don’t know what they are getting into. Susan Glaspell’s play “Trifles,” which explores the hardships and tragedy women experience in marriage, is harshly critical of the institution. Both plays attack the institution and both are light-hearted comedy. The other is a story about a disastrous marriage. The “Trifles”, a darker and more serious tale, offers a much more realistic view of marriage than the comedy. But, it’s easy to laugh at the comedy.
Wilde’s novel “The Importance Of Being Earnest” treats marriage as a frivolous matter. They don’t consider important esoteric and cultural norms, connotations, and trivialities. Gwendolyn & Cecily want to marry Jack Algernon, because they think their names will be Ernest. Gwendolyn explains to Jack, “… My ideal was to love a Ernest name. That name inspires complete confidence. Algernon told me about Ernest his friend and I instantly knew that I was meant to love him. Cecily also meets Algernon in another scene and assumes he’s Jack’s brother Ernest. She tells Algernon all about her relationship with him. She bought him a ring and sent him love letters pretending to be from him. They believe that Ernest is the name of the men, which shows their ignorance about marriage. These women fall for each other with such frivolity that they believe their relationships are also frivolous. Algernon stated that he didn’t see any romantic value in proposing to marry during an initial conversation. It’s very romantic to fall in love. However, a proposal to be made isn’t romantic. You may accept one. One is usually I believe. The excitement ends. Uncertainty is what makes romance so special. I’ll be sure to forget the fact that I have ever been married if I get it.” (3) Algernon’s dialogue suggests that he believes that commitment can ruin romance, and possibly, even love. This is not a strong endorsement of marriage.
Lady Bracknell has a similarly skeptical view of marriage. Gwendolyn tells Jack that Jack and Gwendolyn are engaged. Lady Bracknell says to Gwendolyn, “An engagement should be given to a young girl as an unexpected surprise, pleasant or not.” It is not unreasonable to allow her …” to plan for herself. Jack’s upbringing, family and wealth are all questions she asks to find out if he is suitable. Lady Bracknell believes that love is not in marriage. Marriage is an institution which must support wealth and social class.
Wilde’s play shows a very negative perspective on marriage. However, the play is funny. Wilde’s critique of marriage is laughable because the characters display extreme behavior.
Susan Glaspell’s “Trifles,” by Susan Glaspell, is the opposite. While it doesn’t focus on marriage, the play “Trifles” does examine the negative effects that marriage has on women. This play tells the story of Mrs. Wright and her tragic husband’s murder. The play’s emotional impact is enough to make its audience take the subject matter seriously.
“Trifles” doesn’t focus on marriage like “The Importance Of Being Earnest.” The topic is subtlely implied by dialogue and setting, rather than being overtly displayed by characters’ mannerisms. As Mrs. Wright is shown walking through her home, Mrs. Peters, Mrs. Hale and the audience hear their comments to each other about the woman. The house is not finished when they arrive. The pans below the sink aren’t washed and there’s a loaf left out. Mrs. Wright’s chaotic housework may indicate that she is living in disorder. Mrs. Hale and Miss Peters examine Mrs. Wright’s quilt. Mrs. Hale comments, “Here, that was her work on. Look at the sewing! It’s all been perfectly even and beautiful. This is what it looks like! It’s everywhere! It looks like she doesn’t understand what she was talking about!” (1679) Mrs. Hale grabs the item and starts to re-stitch it.
Additionally, Mrs. Wright’s birdcage is found broken by the women. Mrs. Hale believes it was Mr. Wright who wrung the neck of the bird. Mrs. Wright loved the bird and Mrs. Hale believes that she intended to put it in the “pretty container” (1681) where it was found. It could indicate abuse if Mr. Wright indeed pulled the bird’s neck. The bird could be considered a symbol for Mrs. Wright; in fact, Mrs. Hale calls her a “songbird”, early in the play. Therefore, Mrs. Wright’s murder suggests that Mr. Wright has also committed suicide by killing the bird. Mrs. Wright is motivated to murder her husband by the bird’s death and it confirms their failed marriage.
The conversation between the women allows us to get a better picture of the kind and nature of Mrs. Wright’s marriage, as well as their views on the difficulties faced by women in this time and place. Mrs. Hale describes Mr. Wright (1680) as a “hard-man” (1680). She tells court attorney she hasn’t visited Mrs. Wright’s house for over a year since it “never seemed to be a very joyful place” (1676). She feels guilty for not visiting Mrs. Wright’s house because she found it so un-cheerful. She feels empathy for Mrs. Wright’s pain and says, “I could have known she needed help!” I am aware of the difficulties that women can face. I tell you, it’s queer, Mrs. Peters. We live near each other, but we live far away. “We all experience the same things, it’s just that we all have different experiences.” (1682). When Mrs. Wright’s bird dies, Mrs. Peters shares similar sentiments. She speaks about her first child’s death and how she “knows” what stillness (1682). We learn about the many trials women faced in marriage through this conversation.
The dark tone, serious subject matter, and convincing characters make “Trifles”, a much more indicting of marriage than the “The Importance Of Being Earnest.” The audience will likely be more concerned about the problems of marriage than the light-hearted comedy that features a group young, naive people with very simplistic ideas about how marriage should work. “Trifles,” a harsher comedy, is not about the types of people who marry. While Wilde’s frivolous characters might make you laugh at marriages. Glaspell’s force you to examine the institution and its possible costs.
