Revolution if Trifles and Antigone

Travis Hiland

What you are so eloquently describing is the bitter threshold that precedes every revolution, where the cost of inertia suddenly outweighs the cost of change!

In the face of most human conflict, larger wisdom seems to cry out for diplomacy, especially when viewed through the lens of the hope-infused Gospel. This has been the subject of many heated war room debates. When is caution better than rash bravery? 

I think of Falstaff, in Shakespeare's Henry the Fourth, who famously defends his choice to "play dead" in the battlefield in order to live and fight another day, rather than die upon the hill of vainglorious valor.

"I am no counterfeit: to die,
is to be a counterfeit; for he is but the
counterfeit of a man who hath not the life of a man:
but to counterfeit dying, when a man thereby
liveth, is to be no counterfeit, but the true and
perfect image of life indeed. The better part of
valour is discretion; in the which better part I
have saved my life."

(Henry the Fourth, Part 1 Act 5, scene 4)

And yet, there are breaking points when longsuffering works against our duty to sanctify life and defend liberty.

"...all experience hath shewn that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security."

(Thomas Jefferson, Declaration of Independence)

Agreed. The lines between discretion and valor can be razor thin sometimes. I have been thinking lately about the "continental congresses" that convene inside my own mind. How eloquently I can stand and defend the "peace" of status quo.

Thank you, Kenzi and Abbe, for your wonderful discussion

Kenzi Mortensen

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January 27 at 10:42 AM

One thing I haven't seen mentioned, and I may have just missed it, is the contrast between the sets of women in each play. I think they show two ways women handle the situations they are thrust into.

In Antigone, she is angered chooses to adamantly do what she was told not to do. It may not have been "a manifestation of obstinence, but of faith," as Travis Hiland said, but the men in power saw it as her being obstinate regardless of why she was doing it.

In Trifles, the women subvert quietly and without the men knowing. In all appearances, to the men, these women are "being women." In reality, Mrs. Hale, almost from the moment she stepped through the door decided to defend Mrs. Wright. This is shown in her protectiveness through her defending Mrs. Wright's kitchen. One specific moment I haven't noticed been mentioned either was the stitching on the quilt. I believe it is at this point that Mrs. Hale realizes Mrs. Wright is guilty and at this point that she decides to cover it up regardless.  

MRS HALE: (examining another block) Mrs Peters, look at this one. Here, this is the one she was working on, and look at the sewing! All the rest of it has been so nice and even. And look at this! It's all over the place! Why, it looks as if she didn't know what she was about!
(After she has said this they look at each other, then start to glance back at the door. After an instant MRS HALE has pulled at a knot and ripped the sewing.)
MRS PETERS: Oh, what are you doing, Mrs Hale?
MRS HALE: (mildly) Just pulling out a stitch or two that's not sewed very good. (threading a needle) Bad sewing always made me fidgety.
MRS PETERS: (nervously) I don't think we ought to touch things.
MRS HALE: I'll just finish up this end. (suddenly stopping and leaning forward) Mrs Peters?
MRS PETERS: Yes, Mrs Hale?
MRS HALE: What do you suppose she was so nervous about?
MRS PETERS: Oh—I don't know. I don't know as she was nervous. I sometimes sew awful queer when I'm just tired. (MRS HALE starts to say something, looks at MRS PETERS, then goes on sewing)

 I believe many woman subvert to sexism, it is just not all are blatantly frustrated by it like they are in Antigone. Some, like the woman in Trifles, quietly find ways to fight back. I do not believe that only those who are bold, are strong.

Abbe Michele Hoggan

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January 27 at 11:15 AM

I'm glad you mentioned this, Kenzi. I was thinking something similar. These plays both present situations in which women are trapped by the prejudice and pride of men. We could set them side by side as examples of how women can respond in such a situation. Is one way clearly better than the other?

Antigone boldly defies injustice. It's noble, and it eventually forces Creon to change his unfair decree, but by then it's too late. Several people have lost their lives (Haemon and Eurydice, as well as Antigone). On the other hand, Mrs. Hale and Mrs. Peters' defiance is more subtle. The men don't even see it. While it does nothing to change the unfair situation they live in, it may have saved Mrs. Wright's life. 

Another question I had was about Mrs. Wright's actions. Does the unfairness and cruelty of her situation justify her actions? She's presented as a woman trapped in a life of mental torture with no obvious escape. She's isolated, socially and geographically. Society is blind to her suffering. She has no one she can go to for help and no means to support herself if she leaves her husband. Obviously, Mrs. Hale and Mrs. Peters sympathize and don't want her to be punished. But is she really justified in killing her husband?

Kenzi MortensenActions for reply by Kenzi Mortensen

January 28 at 1:12 PM

I believe there is always a better answer then murder. However, I am blessed to live in a time in which we do have many options in order to escape or better our situations. Other time periods did not always have that same luxury. Maybe the point is not judging whether her actions were justified, but rather understanding why she ended up in the situation she did and working to make our life and others so that they are never pushed into such a decision. Both women wish they would have visited, or done something. Is there someone we know who seems unhappy? What can we do to help them find joy despite their situations? That is the moral of the story I took from this.

Also, I disagree that "it did nothing to change the unfair situation they live in." Although it didn't within the short story we read, I believe that were Mrs. Hale a real person she would have been quietly bold at home as well. It is highly likely that despite her husband seeming sexist that he would have actually improved from what he used to be as he watched and was corrected by his wife. Mrs. Peters on the other hand seemed to be unfamiliar with being bold. I imagine she just endured up until this point. I believe when a person simply endures then yes, no change will occur. I do believe that subtle defiance, quiet determination can make small changes, but these small changes over time can make a huge difference over time.

I believe had Antigone used quiet boldness then she may have lived and over time changes may have occurred. It would not have helped her situation any and it would have meant that she would not have achieved what she wanted, but over time others may have benefited. Changes occurred faster because she chose to be boldly defiant, but it also ended with her dying.

I do not believe that one way or another is better when considering quiet defiance or bold defiance. I believe that each has its time and place. Quiet defiance works very slowly and a person or society won't see sudden improvement like a person would like. However, bold defiance may be met with complete refusal to change as often harshness is met with stubbornness and refusal. When using bold defiance a person must be careful that doing so won't completely ruin all chances of positive change. The other issue though is sometimes quiet defiance isn't enough. Sometimes change needs to happen faster then subtleness provides. So again, both are good tools, and a wise person will know when to use each of them in order to see positive changes occur.   Actions for reply by Travis Hiland