Posted by Maggie Campbell (67.126.220.16) on June 20, 2005 at 8:59:04 p.m.:
In Reply to: Unit 2 "A Jury..." and Trifles Question 1 posted by Jeanne Guerin on June 20, 2005 at 8:35:41 a.m.:
>Drama vs. Short Story:
>In the opening scene of the story how is the setting established differently from the way it is in the play?
In “A Jury of Her Peers” the introduction to the story is set in a happy place. Mrs. Hale is working busily in the kitchen when she is interrupted by something of great importance. She is obviously a woman who accomplishes all her tasks and goals in life. We are told, “she hated to see things half done.” While the weather outside is rather dreary and not so upbeat Mrs. Hale is quick to attend to her visitors waiting for her.
In Trifles however the setting right off the bat is a gloomy destination. The kitchen “abandoned” and the characters that have come inside the house are obviously fearful of something. People travel in groups for safety and the “nervous face” of the Sheriff’s wife is more description than I need to assume that something bad has happened in this house. The words in the introduction are used differently and the description of the house lying out of order is something that is looked down upon.
Each setting opens differently, but each makes its own marks and I read both with enthusiasm.