Question

When Glaspell later re-wrote the play “Trifles” as a short story, she titled it “A Jury of Her Peers”. Explain the significance of this title as well.

Answer 1

• While there is no definitive answer, it would seem that Glaspell gave her short story a different title from her play that was published a year earlier in order to distinguish it from this play, first of all. Then, because there are more details in the short story that point to the men's chauvinism as well as Mrs. Hale's staunch defense of Mrs. Wright, Glaspell may have felt "A Jury of Her Peers" a more apt title.
• The names of the characters from the story "A Jury of Her Peers" are significant, lending added meaning to Glaspell's narrative. It is interesting, too, that all three of the female characters have names derived from the Hebrew language; that is, they are traditional names.
• Character names are very important in A Jury of her Peers. The two characters, John and Minnie Wright, are the focus of the story. The name Minnie has significant symbolism. Minnie is derived from mini or minimized, which was very descriptive of her oppressed relationship with John and also the male insensitivity toward most women in society. Women taking their husband’s last names is also very significant in the story.