Final answer:
Minnie Foster is characterised indirectly in Susan Glaspell's narrative, where her personality and circumstances are revealed through symbolic elements, the setting, and the dialogue of other characters, reflecting women's solidarity and moral dilemmas in that era.
Step-by-step explanation:
In Susan Glaspell's narrative, Minnie Foster is presented through a form of indirect characterisation. Rather than being explicitly described by the author, Minnie's character is revealed through the dialogue of other characters, through the setting of her kitchen, and through symbolic elements such as the broken jars of preserves.
This approach suggests Minnie's loss of identity and gives insight into her life circumstances and personality without directly stating them. For instance, Mrs. Hale's and Mrs. Peters' conversation alludes to Minnie's past as Minnie Foster, implying her former identity was taken after marrying her husband.
The disarray in her kitchen is noted by the male characters, who interpret it unfairly as poor housekeeping, while the female characters understand it as a sign of Minnie's troubled life.
Through the symbolic analogy of the ruined preserves, Glaspell hints at Minnie's attempts to preserve her own dignity in a repressive marriage, eventually leading to the extreme act of murder. The concealment of evidence by the female characters further enriches Minnie's characterisation, reflecting the solidarity and moral dilemma faced by women of the time.