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  • Essay / A jury of her peers, by Susan Glaspell - 860

    Glaspell spent more than forty years working as a journalist, fiction writer, playwright and promoter of various artistic works. She is a woman who lived in a society dominated by men. She is the author of a short story entitled A Jury of Her Peers. She was inspired to write this story when she investigated the homicide of John Hossack, a prosperous county man who had been killed in his sleep (1). Such an experience in Glaspell's life stimulated inspiration. The fact that she was the first reporter on site means she must have found everything still in place, which makes an incredible impression. She feels what Margaret (who is Minnie Wright in the story) experienced, which is to say she has sympathy for her. What will she say about Margaret? Will she portray Margaret as the criminal or as the woman whose life was taken? In the short story, Minnie Wright was the victim. From the evidence found at the crime scene, it is clear that Minnie killed her husband; however, the women have several reasons to find her "not guilty" of the murder of John Wright. First, when Martha and Mrs. Peters arrive at the crime scene, they see that it is a very isolated place off the road. The house is located in a hollow, surrounded by solitary trees (1).Mr. Hale believes that having a telephone to communicate with the rest of the world in such a place will reduce loneliness, even though Mr. Wright does not want communication (2). Minnie leads a miserable life in this place. Martha can't believe Minnie Foster has become this way. She describes her rocker and says, "This rocker doesn't look like Minnie Foster at all." Minnie's foster family twenty years ago” (3). The rocker is a very old rocker with a faded color and some parts missing. Additionally, Mrs. Hale thinks that it is torture for Minnie to struggle with the stove year after year because the stove is in such poor condition(8). Here are some examples that show how unhappy Minnie is in such a lonely place..