The short story A Jury of Her Peers by Susan Glaspell is a murder mystery with powerful societal themes. I read that this story is loosely based on the murder of John Hossack, a case Glaspell covered as a journalist in 1900.
The story begins with the investigation of the murder of John Wright. He was found strangled in his farmhouse, and his wife, Minnie Wright, is taken into custody as the main suspect. The sheriff, county attorney, and a neighbour search the house for evidence that might help them establish what happened. They are accompanied by Mrs Hale, who knew Minnie before her marriage, and Mrs Peters, the sheriff’s wife. While the men concentrate on finding obvious clues, the two women notice tiny, seemingly random details in the kitchen and sewing room that reveal so much about Minnie’s life.
As they notice certain signs around the house, they start to understand Minnie’s state of mind much better. They realise her unhappiness and that Minnie had lived a lonely and emotionally oppressive life with her husband. They realise that the dead bird may have been the motive for John’s murder. Although the women discover evidence that could condemn Minnie, they hide it. This is the part where the justice vs law theme starts coming into the play. Minnie is guilty, but these two ladies understand the circumstances and suffering that led Minnie to that moment. Their decision to hide the evidence raises a question about whether justice is always the same as following the law.
The most prominent theme, though, is the gender inequality prevalent in those times. The three men constantly dismiss the women’s observations, simply listening to what they are saying as something to pacify them. Their belief that those domestic matters are insignificant is exactly what helps Mrs. Hales and Mrs. Peters solve the mystery. One more important thing is how Minnie’s isolation and oppression are portrayed. Mrs. Hale remembers a cheerful Minnie before marriage, and then as a withdrawn, and unhappy wife stuck in an abusive marriage.
A Jury of Her Peers by Susan Glaspell is such an effective story. It involves a murder mystery but goes beyond that in unexpected ways. Its themes about gender inequalities, destructive relationships, and even justice raise plenty of questions in the readers’ minds. I really enjoyed it, especially its subtle depiction of sensitive themes.
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