Posted by Tatyana Lazukova (24.23.55.15) on June 20, 2005 at 9:35:27 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?
The opening scene of the play “Trifles” by Susan Glaspell takes place in the abandoned farmhouse of John Wright. The author describes a gloomy, messy kitchen. The reader has a feeling that things never were put in order in this kitchen. In the description of the kitchen the author mentions all sings of uncompleted work to underline the idea that things are completely out of shape in this house and atmosphere is very depressing.
The opening paragraph of the short story “A Jury of Her Peers” describes the busy kitchen of Martha Hale. The reader pictures Martha working, and her kitchen is in now shape for leaving. The reader learns about Martha that she likes all things to be finished.
In the short story the reader learns about the characters through the author’s description of their characters and emotions.
As we can see, the setting of the opening scene in the story and the play is established differently by to attracting reader’s attention to different things. In the play the author emphasizes unorganized kitchen of Mrs.Wright, while in the short story the author describes Mrs.Hales character through description of her kitchen.