Question

According to Holstein, what is the difference between the ways the men and women in Trifles view “the lonely farmhouse”?

Answer 1

According to Holstein, the men and the women have different views about the home space. It is the women in the play who are successful in gathering the murder evidence which the men fail to recognize. This is due to the difference in the perception of both these genders. The women's perception and the scrutiny of things lead them to the required knowledge. It finally helps them to derive the conclusion and take appropriate decision.

While the men follow a strict method of investigation, the women are able to conclude the murder motive by investigating through their feelings and instincts at the lonely farmhouse. The things deemed to be unimportant by men are considered as very crucial clues by the women to get a better insight of the case by empathizing and paying attention to every small detail. The place which the men considered as the crime scene was regarded as Mrs. Wright's home by the women with a totally informal perspective. Finally, when the dead bird is discovered, men view it as a mere evidence and murder motive but the women view the dead bird as a symbol of Minnie's caged life. She loses all her joy when the bird is killed. The only joy that she had.