What Inspired Susan Glaspell to Write Trifles

Born in 1876, Susan Glaspell is mainly known in literary circles, and it is for her stage play “Trifles” and her short story of the same plot, “A Jury of Her Peers

What inspired Glaspell to write Trifles?

Glaspell was “inspired to first write Trifles in 1916 from a murder trial that she reported on in 1900 (Pingkan).” Not only did her experience as a court room reporter help to inspire Trifles but also a year later the story version of the play called A Jury of Her Peers.

What is the play Trifles based on?

The play is loosely based on the murder of John Hossack, which Glaspell reported on while working as a journalist for the Des Moines Daily News. On December 2, 1900, Hossack’s wife, Margaret, reported to the police that an unknown person broke into their house and murdered John with an axe while she slept next to him.