In today's world it's probably difficult for a young woman to imagine a time when women's rights were not those of men. However, one can gain insight into such a time in reading the short story written by Susan Glaspell, "A Jury of Her Peers". Written long before the women's movement, Glaspell paints a disturbing picture of the role women played or were forced to play due to society's inability to understand and appreciate the differences between the sexes. Glaspell uses two main characters, Martha Hale and Mrs. Peters to tell the story of Minnie Wright who is imprisoned as the prime suspect in the murder of her husband. Glaspell uses symbolism to demonstrate the male superiority towards women, the abuse and deterioration of Minnie Wright and the motive that lead to the murder.

Glaspell portrays a time when men are superior to women. She uses symbolism in the story to show the "wrongs inflicted on women" (Ozieblo 28). The use of only surnames when referring to the women symbolizes the women's inferiority to the men. Surnames suggest the women have no individuality. Mrs. Peters becomes known as the "sheriff's wife" (171) her first name never bei

The County Attorney questions Mr. Hale on the condition of Minnie when he found her. Mr. Hale described her just sitting in her rocking chair looking "queer". Mrs. Hale turns and notices that the chair is "...dingy red, with wooden rungs up the back, and the middle rung was gone, and the chair sagged to one side."(168). Mrs. Hale thought of Minnie and how she was nothing like the chair years ago. The rocking chair represents the change and absence of Minnie. The chair deteriorated over the years from neglect just like Minnie. While the men look through the house the women uncover the cause of deteriorated Minnie. The kitchen symbolized unfinished work and poor working conditions. Mrs. Hale sympathizes when she sees the deteriorated stove Minnie is forced to cook in and imagines how tough it would be. Mrs. Peter's asks Mrs. Hale to do what they came for to collect clothing for Minnie. While looking for clothes they discover she has no decent clothing. Mrs. Hale reflects back and talks of the once beautiful Minnie Foster who "...used to wear pretty clothes and be lively ...that was twenty years ago" (172) before she was married. Minnie now having "...shabby clothes..." (172) suggests she doesn't go out much if at all. Not having any children to keep her busy and having a husband that when home "...was a hard man..." (176), who didn't like company, didn't allow her to have a phone, and didn't care "...what his she [wife] wanted." (168) she was isolated from daily human contact. It can be assumed that Minnie had no friends visit when Mrs. Hale and Mrs. Peter's talk of the quilt for never visiting. Farmhouses were miles apart and it could take up to a whole afternoon to travel to a neighboring farm (Hedges 58). By Minnie not having any children or outside contact she was probably slowly driven into depression. Loneliness was a major factor in the early part of the century and was attributed to a large number of cases of rural women admitted into insane asylums (Hedges 59). The Men probably don't understand the loneliness felt because they could combat loneliness when they go to town or tr

Some common words found in the essay are:
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Approximate Word count = 1429
Approximate Pages = 6 (250 words per page double spaced)