Final answer:
Mrs. Peters and Mrs. Hale in 'Trifles' do know what has happened and keep quiet, feeling an empathetic connection to the plight of Minnie Wright, which the patriarchal legal system may overlook.
Step-by-step explanation:
The statement regarding the play Trifles is true. In the play, both Mrs. Peters and Mrs. Hale discover evidence that might indicate the motive behind the murder that Mrs. Wright is suspected of committing. However, they choose not to share these findings with the men, or with the authorities, due to a sense of empathy for Minnie Wright's situation and an understanding of the abuse she suffered. They see themselves in her, recognizing the oppressive effects of patriarchy represented through the trivialization of women's lives. Throughout the play, Mrs. Hale reflects on Minnie's loss of identity and joy after marrying John Wright, while Mrs. Peters connects with the loneliness and desolation she experienced. Their decision to conceal evidence, such as the dead canary with its neck wrung, which they infer as a symbol of Minnie's own stifled spirit, underscores the women's silent but mutual agreement that the legal system might not justly understand or represent the plight of women like Minnie. Therefore, their silence is not so much about justifying the murder but about protecting a victimized woman from a system they perceive as unsympathetic and blind to the nuances of domestic abuse.