Question

Explain the role that empathy plays in "Trifles." How might the ending of the play be different without empathy?

a) Empathy plays a critical role in the understanding of Minnie Wright's plight, as it leads the characters to sympathize with her and withhold evidence. Without empathy, the ending might result in a different, less compassionate outcome.
b) Empathy is absent in "Trifles," and the characters remain indifferent to Minnie Wright's suffering. Without empathy, the ending would likely remain unchanged, with no understanding of her situation.
c) Empathy is used by the male characters to solve the mystery, as they empathize with John Wright. Without empathy, the male characters might fail to uncover the truth.
d) Empathy is present in the play but has no impact on the ending, as the characters focus solely on evidence and logic. Without empathy, the ending would still lead to the same resolution.

Answer 1

Empathy among the female characters in 'Trifles' is the key element that affects the ending of the play. It allows them to understand Minnie Wright's desperate situation and leads to their concealment of the evidence. Without empathy, the ending would likely have been harsher for Minnie, with her potentially facing conviction.

Step-by-step explanation:

Empathy plays a critical role in Susan Glaspell's play, Trifles. It is the empathy shared amongst the female characters which leads them to understand Minnie Wright's predicament deeply. This understanding drives them to make the pivotal decision to withhold evidence that could incriminate her. Minnie's past, symbolized by her maiden name Minnie Foster, and her transformation due to the oppressive and isolating marriage, become apparent through the empathy displayed by Mrs. Hale and Mrs. Peters. They find a dead canary wrapped in silk that Minnie had cared for, which symbolizes her stifled spirit. The destruction of what she loved leads the women to empathize with Minnie's desperate actions. This empathy forges a bond and an unspoken agreement between them to protect Minnie, thus affecting the outcome of the play.

Without empathy, the play's ending would have been starkly different. The male characters, who lack understanding and focus only on conventional evidence, dismiss the women's insights as insignificant. They are blind to the clues in the domestic space that reveal the motive behind John Wright's murder. The ending without empathy could have been much harsher for Minnie, with the evidence pointing directly to her guilt and possibly leading to her conviction without the consideration of her suffering and the reason behind her action.