Literary Analysis
Write a literary analysis with researched information that thoroughly investigates and responds to the following prompt:
Conduct a feminist analysis of "A Jury of Her Peers." In your analysis, you should discuss significant symbols from the short story that support your claims. You should also explain why the short story is still relevant to modern-day readers.
For help with using a feminist critical perspective to analyze literature, check out the Purdue OWL website: https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/subject_specific_writing/writing_in_literature/literary_theory_and_schools_of_criticism/feminist_criticism.html.
Some key questions you can ask yourself generate ideas on this topic:
How is the relationship between men and women portrayed?
What are the power relationships between men and women (or characters assuming male/female roles)?
How are male and female roles defined?
What constitutes masculinity and femininity?
How do characters embody these traits?
Do characters take on traits from opposite genders? How so? How does this change others’ reactions to them?
What does the work reveal about the operations (economically, politically, socially, or psychologically) of patriarchy?
What does the work imply about the possibilities of sisterhood as a mode of resisting patriarchy?
What does the work say about women's creativity?
What does the history of the work's reception by the public and by the critics tell us about the operation of patriarchy?
What role does the work play in terms of women's literary history and literary tradition?
Sample Solution
“A Jury of Her Peers” by Susan Glaspell is a feminist short story that challenges traditional gender roles and explores the oppressive nature of patriarchy. The story follows two female characters, Mrs. Hale and Mrs. Peters, who investigate a murder scene in an isolated farmhouse in Iowa. As they search for clues to solve the crime, their efforts are disregarded by their male counterparts. Through this narrative structure and symbolism related to bird cages, quilts, kitchen implements, and other domestic items associated with women's work at the time, Glaspell conveys her criticism of patriarchal oppression against women in society.
The first symbol that stands out is a bird cage found at the murder scene which both Mrs. Hale and Mrs. Peters recognize as being similar to one owned by Minnie Foster Wright before she married John Wright. The caged bird can be seen as representative of how Minnie was oppressed by her husband since he had removed all color from her life—shutting her away from social contact with others just like a caged bird cannot fly freely—suppressing any chance for freedom or individuality she may have had before marriage. Furthermore, when Mr. Hale breaks open the cage door he does so without permission from any man present; thus suggesting that only women have insight into what happened to Minnie due to their shared experience of patriarchal oppression even though it is not recognized by men in power positions such as sheriffs or lawyers .
Additionally throughout the story there are references made about quilts which further emphasize this theme of confinement and lack of freedom for women under patriarchy during this time period because making quilts was seen as “women’s work” but also required immense amounts skill on their part however despite this fact no credit was given them for it nor did they get paid , much like how Minnie felt powerless over her situation with John Wright when there were no legal avenues available to seek justice against him due his gender privilege .
Finally we see another example of symbolic imagery used towards demonstrating these societal issues through kitchen utensils strewn around Mrs Wrights house- including rolling pins bread pans- representing how even if trapped within confines created by men like John (just like birds trapped within cages ) , women still remain creative forces capable producing something beautiful such inspiring courage within each other (like baking bread together) -much needed reminding ourselves our own strength pushing back against dominant powers .
All these symbols demonstrate why “A Jury Of Her Peers” remains relevant today: it serves reminder those same struggles faced then-confinement lack recognition creativity– still exist many forms modern day due continued imbalance power dynamics between genders . Therefore , readers continue find inspiration stories like these where strength resilience triumph over circumstances ultimately striving create better world all us regardless gender identity class status .