Trifles

Mrs. Hale and Mrs. Peters are different in the beginning of the play and transition into becoming more unified toward the end. Mrs. Peters was initially tied to the law, and her identity was that of what her husband was. Her husband, the Sheriff, was the law, and initially she was too. Mrs. Hale could empathize with Mrs. Wright because she knew the struggles and requirements of being a homemaker. This difference between Mrs. Peters and Mrs. Hale set up the conflict of being what they had to be in the shadows of their husbands. Mrs. Hale was more of an independent thinker, but Mrs. Peters would defend the law at all cost. The conflict in the story was Mrs. Wright feeling so trapped and secluded that her identity was taken from her, much like Mrs. Peters initially didn't have her own identity. As the drama continued Mrs. Hale got the point to Mrs. Peters her identity as a woman is more important than the identity that Mr. Peters has put upon her.