Trifles A One-act Play by Susan Glaspell

Farmer John Wright has been murdered. While he was asleep in the middle of the night, someone strung a rope around his neck. Shockingly, that someone might have been his wife, the quiet and forlorn Minnie Wright.   Playwright Susan Glaspells one-act play, written in 1916,  is loosely based on true events. As a young reporter, Glaspell covered a murder case in a small town in Iowa. Years later, she crafted a short play, Trifles,  inspired by her experiences and observations. The Meaning of the Name Trifles for This Psychological Play The play was first performed in Provincetown, Massachusetts, and Glaspell herself played the character, Mrs. Hale. Considered an early illustration of feminist drama, the themes of the play focus on men and women and their psychological states along with their social roles. The word trifles typically refer to objects of little to no value. It makes sense in the context of the play due to the items that the female characters come across. The interpretation may also be that men do not understand the value of women, and consider them trifles. The Plot Summary of a Family Murder-drama The sheriff, his wife, the county attorney, and the neighbors (Mr. and Mrs. Hale) enter the kitchen of the Wright household. Mr. Hale explains how he paid a visit to the house on the previous day. Once there, Mrs. Wright greeted him but behaved strangely. She eventually stated in a dull voice that her husband was upstairs, dead.  (Though Mrs. Wright is the central figure in the play, she never appears onstage. She is only referred to by the on-stage characters.) The audience learns of John Wright’s murder through Mr. Hale’s exposition. He is the first, aside from Mrs. Wright, to discover the body. Mrs. Wright claimed that she was sound asleep while someone strangled her husband. It seems obvious to the male characters that she killed her husband, and she is been taken into custody as the prime suspect. The Continued Mystery With Added Feminist Critique The attorney and sheriff decide that there is nothing important in the room: â€Å"Nothing here but kitchen things.† This line is the first of many disparaging comments said to minimize the importance of women in society, as noticed by several Feminist critics.  The men criticize Mrs. Wright’s housekeeping skills, irking Mrs. Hale and the sheriff’s wife, Mrs. Peters. The men exit, heading upstairs to investigate the crime scene. The women remain in the kitchen. Chatting to pass the time, Mrs. Hale and Mrs. Peters notice vital details that the men would not care about: Ruined fruit preservesBread that has been left out of its boxAn unfinished quiltA half clean, half messy table topAn empty birdcage Unlike the men, who are looking for forensic evidence to solve the crime, the women in Susan Glaspells Trifles observe clues that reveal the bleakness of Mrs. Wright’s emotional life. They theorize that Mr. Wright’s cold, oppressive nature must have been dreary to live with. Mrs. Hale comments about Mrs. Wright being childless: â€Å"Not having children makes less work—but it makes a quiet house.† The  women are simply trying to pass the awkward moments with civil conversation. But to the audience, Mrs. Hale and Mrs. Peters unveil a psychological profile of a desperate housewife. The Symbol of Freedom and Happiness in the Story When gathering up the quilting material, the two women  discover a fancy little box. Inside, wrapped in silk, is a dead canary. Its neck has been wrung. The implication is that Minnie’s husband did not like the canarys beautiful song (a symbol of his wife’s desire for freedom and happiness). So, Mr. Wright busted the cage door and strangled the bird. Mrs. Hale and Mrs. Peters do not tell the men about their discovery. Instead, Mrs. Hale puts the box with the deceased bird into her coat pocket, resolving not to tell the men about this little â€Å"trifle† they have uncovered. The play ends with the characters exiting the kitchen and the women announcing that they have determined Mrs. Wright’s quilt making style. She â€Å"knots it† instead of â€Å"quilts it†Ã¢â‚¬â€a play on words denoting the way in which she killed her husband. The Theme of the Play Is That Men Do Not Appreciate Women The men within this play betray a sense of self-importance. They present themselves as tough, serious-minded detectives  when in truth, they are not nearly as observant as the female characters. Their pompous attitude  causes the women to feel defensive and form ranks. Not only do Mrs. Hale and Mrs. Peters bond, but they also  choose to hide evidence as an act of compassion for Mrs. Wright. Stealing the box with the dead bird is an act of loyalty to their gender and an act of defiance against a callous patriarchal society. Key Character Roles in the Play Trifles Mrs. Hale: She had not visited the Wright household for over a year because of its bleak, cheerless atmosphere. She believes that Mr. Wright is responsible for crushing the merriment out of Mrs. Wright. Now, Mrs. Hale feels guilty for not visiting more often. She believes she could have improved Mrs. Wright’s outlook on life.Mrs. Peter: She has tagged along to bring back clothes for the imprisoned Mrs. Wright. She can relate to the suspect because they both know about â€Å"stillness.† Mrs. Peters reveals that her first child died at the age of two. Because of this tragic experience, Mrs. Peters understands what it is like to lose a loved one (in Mrs. Wright’s case—her songbird).Mrs. Wright: Before she was married to John Wright, she was Minnie Foster, and she was more cheerful in her youth. Her clothes were more colorful, and she loved to sing. Those attributes diminished after her wedding day. Mrs. Hale describes Mrs. Wright’s personality: She was kind of like a bird herself–real sweet and pretty, but kind of timid and—fluttery. How—she—did—change.

Financial Analysis Of CFO - 1191 Words

This paper reports on an analysis of a survey of 1,050 CFOs in firms across 39 different countries in December, 2008 with the goal of examining the actions taken by firms that were financially constrained in juxtaposition with those that were not financially constrained. They utilize the distinction between constrained and unconstrained to determine how company plans pertaining to employment, marketing, technology spending, and other facets of their business are impacted. Additionally, they examine company financial policies and corporate spending behavior to shed light on instances when investment strategies may have been impacted by financial constraint. Prior research on the topic primarily used data from publicly available financial†¦show more content†¦In order to distinguish the various confounding factors that may impact the responses from firms that are financially constrained or unconstrained, Campello, Graham, and Harvey use the methods of Abadie and Imbens (2002) and Dehejia and Wahba (2002) and match their firms according to size, industry, ownership structure, credit score, profitability, whether or not they pay a dividend, and prospects for future growth. In this manner, they analyze financially constrained firms (as the treatment group) with the constructed counterfactual firms that were not financially constrained (the control group). Per the survey, firms could categorize themselves as â€Å"not affected,† â€Å"somewhat affected,† or â€Å"very affected† by credit conditions. The authors found that there was little to no relationship between the size and financial constraint as well as between the ownership structure and financial constraint. Most CFOs expected high growth prospects regardless of their declaration regarding the impact of credit markets. They attempted to find the nature of the constraints by asking about credit availability, higher costs of external funds, and ability to access newShow MoreRelate dGrooming CFOs to be CEOs674 Words   |  3 PagesCFO as CEO Introduction Given the increasing complexity of business and the need to financially quantify risk and opportunities so options are clearly understood while also operating in uncertainty, the progression of CFOs to CEOs will continue to accelerate. 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Comparative Analysis of De Montaigne and Donne on Mind and Body Free Essays

Both Michel De Montaigne and John Donne argue that the cultivation of the mind is linked to the well being of the body. Both argue that a mind void of proper enrichment and education will lead to an unhealthy body. However, Montaigne argues that the appropriate means of â€Å"education and enrichment† are studying and following the works of other great thinkers of history. We will write a custom essay sample on Comparative Analysis of De Montaigne and Donne on Mind and Body or any similar topic only for you Order Now Additionally, Montaigne declares imagination to be the impetus for the downfall of the body. Conversely, Donne argues that a mind groomed in imagination is the proper mode of finding bodily health. In their writings, both Montaigne and Donne are seeking a unity between the mind and the body. By comparing Montaigne†s Essays and the poetry of Donne, it is evident that the means for unifying the mind and body can vary for different people. Montaigne†s general philosophy on the relationship between the mind and the physical health of the body is one that associates a healthy existence with a healthy mind. His idea of a healthy mind is that which is learned through the studies of the â€Å"great thinkers† of the past, and steered clear of being taken control of by the omnipotent imagination. In Montaigne†s essay â€Å"On the Education of Children,† Montaigne stresses the importance of education, but only promotes a select few genres of education as appropriate. Montaigne links these few genres of education directly to the well being of the body. First, Montaigne declares that â€Å"The mind that harbours philosophy should, by its soundness, make the body sound also†(pg.67). Here he argues that anyone who is soundly based in the philosophy of the â€Å"great thinkers† of history will have the wellness of body that they desire. He states that † The most manifest sign of wisdom is a constant happiness; it†s state†¦always serene†(pg.67). Montaigne†s obvious foremost concern is that people be educated in the thinking of great thinkers. Secondly, Montaigne addresses the types of free thinking that are appropriate for a healthy mind and body. He argues that the free thought of a person should be based in the thought of the â€Å"great thinkers.† Montaigne says if a person â€Å"†¦embraces the opinions of Xenophon and Plato by his own reasoning, they will no longer be theirs, but his†(pg.56). He encourages people to â€Å"†¦imbibe their [â€Å"great thinkers†] ways of thought†¦Ã¢â‚¬ (pg.56). Montaigne†s argument is that free thinking not based in the thought of the â€Å"great thinkers† is simply uneducated freethinking, and thus is unhealthy for the mind and body. Finally, Montaigne†s essay â€Å"On the Education of Children† reveals Montaigne†s argument against the learning of â€Å"profitless† knowledge, or in other words. He says that â€Å"†¦most of the branches of knowledge in current usage are valueless to us†¦Ã¢â‚¬ (pg.65) and that â€Å"†¦we must limit the extent of our studies in those branches†¦Ã¢â‚¬ (pg.65). Montaigne†s apparent argument is that only a certain type of education, one based strongly in the thought of the â€Å"great thinkers,† is the type of education that will provide for not only a healthy body, but also a healthy mind. In Montaigne†s essay â€Å"On the Power of the Imagination,† Montaigne next argues against the perils of the imagination. He declares that the imagination, unlike freethinking based in acceptable knowledge, leads directly to an unhealthy body. Montaigne first attacks the sheer power of the imagination. Montaigne states regarding the imagination that â€Å"Everyone feels its impact, but some are knocked over by it†(pg.36). He contends that the imagination is something that slowly begins to take over the mind of a person and drive them further from the appropriate lines of learning. He argues that the imagination leads to the harm of the body. His first claim on this is that bad thoughts, such as having bodily failures (Montaigne uses the example of impotence), are spawned from the imagination. He declares that the â€Å"†¦comical impediments which so embarrass our society that they talk of nothing else are most likely caused by apprehensions and fears†(pg.39). These apprehensions and fears are brought on, Montaigne argues, by an imagination that controls the mind and body. Montaigne even goes as far as to call imagination the culprit for many people falling ill, as he says that the reason some people become sick is that their imaginations concoct how bad they could feel, and their bodies simple follow suit. He states that â€Å"†¦the mind must generally be prepared in advance.†(pg.41) in order for the body to feel a certain way. Montaigne†s whole argument in the essay reflects his distaste for the cultivation of a mind through imagination and his idea that imagination leads to an unhealthy mind and consequently, an unhealthy body. John Donne†s general viewpoint on the relationship between the mind and the health of the body differs greatly from Montaigne†s. Donne†s theory is simply that the path to a healthy body is an imagination. He claims that the imagination is the machine responsible for creating the ideas that make the body feel good. As for education, he argues that the highest forms of education are not from history books or philosophers, but from the deeper and more imaginative forms. In Donne†s poems â€Å"The Canonization† and â€Å"The Will,† Donne presents the argument that there is a knowledge to be sought that is much deeper and truer than any book knowledge. In â€Å"The Canonization,† Donne boldly states that earthly knowledge and materialistic cultivation of the mind is far below the education of the mind through love. He says: â€Å"For Godsake hold your tongue and let me love†¦ With wealth your state, your minde with Arts improve, Take you a course, get you a place, Observe his honour, or his grace†¦ Contemplate, what you will approve, So you will let me love†(pg.28). Here Donne states that to him the ultimate knowledge is that of love and that he would choose this before all other earthly types of knowledge. Donne argues that love can teach all necessary knowledge in life. He continues this argument in his poem â€Å"The Will,† in which he discusses all of the knowledge that love has imparted on him. He states: â€Å"Thou, Love, hast taught mee†¦ That I should give to none, but such, as had too much before†¦ Onely to give such as have an incapacatie†¦ Onely to give to those that count my gifts indignity†¦Ã¢â‚¬ (pg.60). Donne reveals hear some of the lessons that love has taught to him. Donne†s obvious argument is that the knowledge that is held in a book cannot be paralleled to that which can be learned through the higher ways of learning such as love. In Donne†s poems â€Å"The Flea† and â€Å"The Dreame† Donne lets his imagination go and argues that the imagination can be used in order to achieve a healthy and happy mind and body. First, in â€Å"The Flea,† Donne sets up a very imaginative metaphor as he uses a flea to act as the means of uniting him with his woman. He tells his woman that â€Å"†¦in this flea, our two bloods mingled bee;†(pg.48) and continues to say that â€Å"This flea is you and I†¦Ã¢â‚¬ (pg.48). This very use of the flea stretches the imagination to a great extent, as it places a seemingly bothersome insect into the place of tying together two people through its blood. It is evident then that Donne†s support for the imaginative went as far as placing it into the love poems he wrote to try to seduce his woman. Donne†s belief in imagination was wholehearted. As for relating this use of the imagination to the well being of the body, Donne addresses this as well. Donne†s imaginatively crafted metaphor is also a well-planned out scheme to seduce his woman. In other words, Donne uses the imagination to help make his body feel better by seducing and sleeping with his woman. His argument to his woman is that since the flea has drawn blood from each of them and the two have already exchanged the most special of bonds, that sleeping together would not be anything wrong. He tells her: â€Å"Thou know†st that this cannot be said A sinne, nor losse of maidenhead, And pamper†d swells with one blood made of two, And this, alas, is more than we would doe†(pg.48). Here we see Donne putting into practice his argument that the imagination can be used in order to get the body what it desires. In his poem â€Å"The Dreame,† Donne parallels his dreaming, or imagination, to the very woman of whom he is dreaming in the poem. During the poem, Donne dreams of a great sexual fantasie with his woman, and soon enough, she walks into the bedroom to find him dreaming. However, Donne†s dream is not interrupted, but rather it continues with her entrance. He says: â€Å"Therefore thou wakd†st me wisely; yet My Dreame thou brok†st not, but continued†st it, Thou art so truth, that thoughts of thee suffice, To make dreames truths; and fables histories; Enter these armes, for since thou thoughtst it best, Not to dreame all my dreame, let†s act the rest†(pg.45). Donne†s apparent argument is then one that declares imagination to be the precursor to reality. He argues that if a person does not first imagine how a certain circumstance will result, then they will certainly not have the pleasure of knowing what circumstances may follow. In other words, Donne believes the imagination to be a passageway from mental health and pleasure to bodily health and pleasure. Montaigne and Donne are two people seeking the same result: a unity between the mind and body. Both incorporate their compelling philosophies into their writing and present convincing arguments in order to explicate their theories. Each of the two agree that the body and the mind are related, and additionally that the imagination is a powerful controller of both the mind and body. However, the two disagree in their sentiments towards what types of learning and creativity create a healthy mind and body. Each of the two present their respective theories in very coercive arguments, and yet very disparate arguments. However, the two may have more ecumenically similar qualities when brought into modern society. Perhaps the greater message imparted upon the reader by the two authors is that the unity between the mind and the body is found through different means for different people. Each person must seek out their own form of mental cultivation that will help them to achieve both a healthy mind and a healthy body. How to cite Comparative Analysis of De Montaigne and Donne on Mind and Body, Papers

Walmart Scandal in Mexico free essay sample

Walmart is under investigation for the allegations of bribery carried out by executives in Mexico eager to boost the company’s growth in that Market. The New York Times was first to break the story describing the Mexican scandal as â€Å"a prolonged struggle within the company that pitted its much publicized commitment to the highest moral and ethical standards against its relentless pursuit of growth†. In Septemper 2005, a senior Wal-Mart lawyer received an email about how Wal-Mart de Mexico had orchestrated a campaign of bribery to win market dominance in its rush to build stores. The New York Time lays out a seven-year campaign of unethical behavior, totaling more than $24 million in â€Å"suspect payments† and corporate aggression that has made Walmart the largest private employer in Mexico with one of every five stores and over 200,000 employees. I found it interesting that during the alleged scandal the Los Angeles Times comments that a 42% increase from the $312 billion Wal-Mart said it earned in the 2005 fiscal year, when much of the Mexican bribery was said to be occurring. We will write a custom essay sample on Walmart Scandal in Mexico or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page It seems to be a very fine line with Wal-Mart regarding public scrutiny over balancing profits and growth with sustainability and ethical business practices. Along with the allegations in Mexico some critics question if the same has happened in the US. According to Al Norman, author of the Case Against Wal-Mart; is known as the â€Å"the guru of the anti-Wal-Mart movement. Mr. Norman comments about some claims that include situations where citizens testifying at public hearings have accepted cash in exchange for making pro-Wal-Mart statements. In other cases, he claims, groups protesting Wal-Mart expansion have ceased to protest after accepting donations from the company or its partners. Mr. Norman cites an example that happened in 2004 in Tallahassee, FL where a group opposing Wal-Mart’s construction of a store said that a real estate broker representing the project offered them a six-figure contribution if they would support it. The group declined the offer and reported it to the county commissioners as having been bribed. However under Florida law, a bribe, to be illegal, must include criminal intent. Ok but about just being morally wrong? According to Carol Cone, managing director of brand and corporate citizenship for Edelman, the public relations firm, shoppers really do care about the moral and integrity compass of the stores they shop. 87% of American consumers surveyed think businesses need to place at least as much weight on society’s interests as they on business interests. I believe that this could have been avoided had Wal-Mart committed to having a strong and effective global anti-corruption program in every country that they are in. The U. S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) prohibits bribes to win business overseas. Also I believe the consumer has to speak up by using the theory of voting with dollars! We need to do the research by probing the track record of our favorite stores to shed light on their business ethics, labor and human rights. Another point of how Wal-Mart can avoid this in the future is having a more proactive approach to corporate social responsibility (CSR) and an adequate crisis management system. The reactive steps Wal-Mart has put in place regarding its compliance program will help prevent this from happening in the future. Randy Hargrove, a company spokesman, stated that Wal-Mart improved the way it reported and investigated accusations of ethical violations; it hired new executives to oversee compliance; and it combined its compliance, ethics, investigations and legal functions into one department. According to Wagner, Lutz and Wietz, â€Å"the importance for firms to communicate their social responsibility not only has risen substantially over the last few years but also continues to increase dramatically as a result of current worldwide economic conditions and the resultant skepticism of how corporate practices affect the well-being of societies†. In addition, media and technology advances allow for immediate dissemination of both positive and negative messages about a company. When company actions are different than CSR statements, the company’s image and sales suffer. I believe as result of the improved CSR statements and the Wal-Mart bribe situation, American businesses working on foreign soil will improve. Furthermore, I believe U. S.  companies operating on foreign soil will use the Wal-Mart example as company business lesson and ensure they have the above mentioned best business practices set up to avoid another repeat in history. Any further examples of this sort of unethical business behavior could be fatal to businesses from law suits and fines not excluding reputation. Also the consumer is much more aware and checking to make sure these companies are who they say they are! I know I will be following up a little more closely.

Walmart Scandal in Mexico free essay sample

Walmart is under investigation for the allegations of bribery carried out by executives in Mexico eager to boost the company’s growth in that Market. The New York Times was first to break the story describing the Mexican scandal as â€Å"a prolonged struggle within the company that pitted its much publicized commitment to the highest moral and ethical standards against its relentless pursuit of growth†. In Septemper 2005, a senior Wal-Mart lawyer received an email about how Wal-Mart de Mexico had orchestrated a campaign of bribery to win market dominance in its rush to build stores. The New York Time lays out a seven-year campaign of unethical behavior, totaling more than $24 million in â€Å"suspect payments† and corporate aggression that has made Walmart the largest private employer in Mexico with one of every five stores and over 200,000 employees. I found it interesting that during the alleged scandal the Los Angeles Times comments that a 42% increase from the $312 billion Wal-Mart said it earned in the 2005 fiscal year, when much of the Mexican bribery was said to be occurring. We will write a custom essay sample on Walmart Scandal in Mexico or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page It seems to be a very fine line with Wal-Mart regarding public scrutiny over balancing profits and growth with sustainability and ethical business practices. Along with the allegations in Mexico some critics question if the same has happened in the US. According to Al Norman, author of the Case Against Wal-Mart; is known as the â€Å"the guru of the anti-Wal-Mart movement. Mr. Norman comments about some claims that include situations where citizens testifying at public hearings have accepted cash in exchange for making pro-Wal-Mart statements. In other cases, he claims, groups protesting Wal-Mart expansion have ceased to protest after accepting donations from the company or its partners. Mr. Norman cites an example that happened in 2004 in Tallahassee, FL where a group opposing Wal-Mart’s construction of a store said that a real estate broker representing the project offered them a six-figure contribution if they would support it. The group declined the offer and reported it to the county commissioners as having been bribed. However under Florida law, a bribe, to be illegal, must include criminal intent. Ok but about just being morally wrong? According to Carol Cone, managing director of brand and corporate citizenship for Edelman, the public relations firm, shoppers really do care about the moral and integrity compass of the stores they shop. 87% of American consumers surveyed think businesses need to place at least as much weight on society’s interests as they on business interests. I believe that this could have been avoided had Wal-Mart committed to having a strong and effective global anti-corruption program in every country that they are in. The U. S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) prohibits bribes to win business overseas. Also I believe the consumer has to speak up by using the theory of voting with dollars! We need to do the research by probing the track record of our favorite stores to shed light on their business ethics, labor and human rights. Another point of how Wal-Mart can avoid this in the future is having a more proactive approach to corporate social responsibility (CSR) and an adequate crisis management system. The reactive steps Wal-Mart has put in place regarding its compliance program will help prevent this from happening in the future. Randy Hargrove, a company spokesman, stated that Wal-Mart improved the way it reported and investigated accusations of ethical violations; it hired new executives to oversee compliance; and it combined its compliance, ethics, investigations and legal functions into one department. According to Wagner, Lutz and Wietz, â€Å"the importance for firms to communicate their social responsibility not only has risen substantially over the last few years but also continues to increase dramatically as a result of current worldwide economic conditions and the resultant skepticism of how corporate practices affect the well-being of societies†. In addition, media and technology advances allow for immediate dissemination of both positive and negative messages about a company. When company actions are different than CSR statements, the company’s image and sales suffer. I believe as result of the improved CSR statements and the Wal-Mart bribe situation, American businesses working on foreign soil will improve. Furthermore, I believe U. S.  companies operating on foreign soil will use the Wal-Mart example as company business lesson and ensure they have the above mentioned best business practices set up to avoid another repeat in history. Any further examples of this sort of unethical business behavior could be fatal to businesses from law suits and fines not excluding reputation. Also the consumer is much more aware and checking to make sure these companies are who they say they are! I know I will be following up a little more closely.