Posted by Sara Dastoum (24.10.25.68) on June 20, 2005 at 9:29:05 p.m.:
In Reply to: Unit 2 "A Jury..." and Trifles Question 3 posted by Jeanne Guerin on June 20, 2005 at 8:10:31 a.m.:
>Drama vs. Short Story:
>Which version brings us into more intimate contact with the characters? How is that achieved? Does the short story's title "A Jury of Her Peers" suggest any shift in emphasis from the play's title, Trifles?
The short story version brings the reader into more intimate contact with the characters. The short story actually tells the reader what the character is feeling and thinking. The play simply tells us what the character is saying and doing. In the short story, the reader gets more intimate with Mrs. Hale's character and her point of view. "Mrs. Peter's back turned, Martha Hale now scrutinized that piece, compared it with the dainty, accurate sewing of the other blocks. The difference was startling." In the play, however, this intimate piece of information is left out. The short story's title "A Jury of Her Peers" does suggest a large shift from that of the play's title. "A Jury of Her Peers" suggests that Mrs. Wright's peers (the women) are the ones who hold the key to the evidence against her. But because they are her very own peers, they are much more understanding and sympathetic to her side of the story. The play's title, "Trifles," is less intimate. In fact, one of the male characters states: "Well, women are used to worrying over trifles." This shows the reader that the play version is obviously less intimate than that of the short story.