There were many things worth writing about in this drama based in 1916; to start: ‘who do you sympathize with as you are interpreting the characters?”
I felt obligated to balance the 1916 scales of justice myself by considering women’s suffrage issues such as: what rights a man would have had in this situation at that given time, domestic violence, the inability to speak against your husband, justice and empowerment found in circles from women resisting the way they were treated. Clearly they lived in a difficult time, governed by male dominance.
Mrs. Hale - strong, smart, loyal, feeling responsible for not being “there” for Mrs. Wright when she first sensed something was wrong, belonging to a community of women that had to stick together in order to emotionally and physically overcome - pieced together the crime scene herself and became the judge, jury, and prosecution -- unbeknownst to the inevitably unsuspecting men of that time and setting.
As a director interpreting this, what else is there to consider? What about an ambiguous interpretation so that the audience is faced with more dilemma in choosing a side. Or even a stronger case for sympathizing with Mr. Wright (thanks Andrew). In the “Trifles Discussion”, I rewrote the plot in a modern day setting, showing an abused wife who murdered her husband. The victim, once again, was a woman. Where is the creativity in re-spinning what has been done hundreds of times in modern box office? Even worse, it assumed my audience was unsophisticated and would be more challenged by “bigger, modern-day drama” rather than offering a unique interpretation of what was already written. The adjustment I should have offered instead was my unbiased perspective or simply an unexpected interpretation of sympathizing with the villain, Mr. Wright. Afterall, who was more "right" between Mr. and Mrs. Wright?? And whose right is it to decide.
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I believe the author wrote this play in a dramatic way on purpose. She wanted us to make our own minds as to whether Mrs. Wright was guilty or not. We choose; the ending is up to us, which is unique and almost a little irritating. I'm too curious-I need to know! However, it would have been a really good twist to "sympathize with the villian." I never thouht of that either!
ReplyDeleteI think you did a really good job with this play. You raise many good questions and points, and made me look back at my interpretation of the play.
ReplyDeleteAlso, it really is striking to look at the fact that these women were made fun of constantly. It is great that in today's world, this does not happen as much as it did back then (or so I hope).
I think that your interpretation of this play is very good. I can tell that you put lots of thought into it. I liked the way you talked about the struggles that women had to go through back then and how it may have been different if it was written today. I don't think that this play would be accepted in our society today. The thoughts and perspectives are very outdated.
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