Trapped Inside a CageIn the play “Trifles” by Susan Glaspell, the symbols of the unfinished quilt and the canary are used to polarize the perspective between John Wright's relationship and Minnie Foster. The canary being the last resemblance of Minne's freedom and identity, which is stripped away by Mr. Wright due to his inability to recognize, the relationship is one of oppression and sorrow that ultimately leads to her death. The symbols illustrate the blindness of the patriarchal society that suppressed women from aspirations and contentment can only be seen through another woman's perspective. The symbolism represented by the unfinished quilt is that of oppression and control. The men within this play depict a sense of self-importance. The men present themselves as tough and serious detectives, when in reality they are not as careful as the female characters. Susan Glaspell uses a quilt as a symbol to further strengthen her point. Before her husband's murder occurred, Minnie was making a quilt. “Mrs. Hale notes that the quilt resembled the pattern of a log cabin (Glaspell, 164).” The log cabin pattern is significant because it suggests a notion of restriction and emptiness due to the squares being closed and voids There is no evidence that the cabin is warm and comfortable, so the quilt personifies restriction and negativity in their marital relationship This is also funny and an important part of the story because it is suspected that Minnie used a knotted rope kill her husband.As Mrs. Hale asked her question, the men hear her and laugh at her concern about whether the blanket “would be knotted or quilted or not” (Glaspell 169) This concerns Mr.’s arrogant attitude Wright refl... ... in the center of the card ... and his death at her hands. The symbolisms of the unfinished quilt and the canary created by Susan Glaspell clearly identify the standards present in this society. While the bird represented the final joys of Minnie's life, the quilt juxtaposed struggle and loneliness. When all the joys of life are taken away from you, it leaves a sense of hopelessness with nothing to live for for driving Minnie to madness. The pompous attitude of men makes women feel defensive and form ranks. Not only do Mrs. Hale and Mrs. Peters bond, but they choose to hide the evidence as an act of compassion for Minnie. Stealing the box with the dead bird is an act of loyalty to one's gender and an act of defiance against an insensitive patriarchal society. Works Cited Glaspell, Susan. "Trifles." Literature: A paperback anthology. 2nd ed. Canadian. Toronto: Penguin, 2008. 161-171. Press.