Trifles: Character List

Minnie Wright (Mrs. Wright/Minnie Foster)

The wife and suspected killer of the murdered John Wright. Minnie never appears on stage, so the audience only learns about her through other characters. The male characters find her perplexing, unable to comprehend why she might have gone mad and killed her husband. The female characters have a more sympathetic view, empathizing with the loneliness and isolation of her oppressive marriage.

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John Wright

Minnie’s deceased husband, found strangled in his bed the day before the play begins. He was reputedly a “good man” because he paid his bills, was honest, and did not drink. But Mrs. Hale remembers him as an exceptionally cold, cheerless man who was cruel to Minnie and made her give up singing. Mrs. Hale speculates that John Wright killed Minnie’s bird because he couldn’t stand anything that sang.

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Mrs. Hale

The wife of Lewis Hale and neighbor to the Wrights. As the only character who is well acquainted with Minnie Wright, Mrs. Hale feels guilty for not visiting Minnie more often. She understands all too well the challenges of running a farmer’s household and takes exception to the men’s unfair criticism of Minnie’s homemaking skills. Observant and deeply suspicious of men, Mrs. Hale is the first to notice the clues that implicate Minnie Wright in the murder, but she feels no obligation to divulge anything to the Sheriff or County Attorney.

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Mrs. Peters

The Sheriff's wife, who is tasked with retrieving a few of Minnie’s belongings from the farmhouse. A relative newcomer to the town, Mrs. Peters does not know Minnie Wright well, having only met her after the arrest. Even so, Mrs. Peters can easily perceive the clues that Minnie was lonely and unhappy and likely responsible for the murder. As a woman, Mrs. Peters empathizes with Minnie, but as the sheriff’s wife, she feels compelled to uphold the law. Her conflicted feelings create suspense as the audience wonders whether she will reveal the evidence to her husband and the County Attorney.

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County Attorney (George Henderson)

The man in charge of the investigation. Young, self-assured, and pompous, the County Attorney is confident he will find evidence that explains Minnie Wright’s motive for the murder. Although he tries to establish a rapport with the women through humor and flattery, they find his jokes condescending and insulting. Like the other men, he looks for evidence in all the wrong places, dismissing important clues as feminine trifles.

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The Sheriff (Henry Peters)

The local lawman and husband of Mrs. Peters who arrested Minnie Wright. The Sheriff was called to the crime scene on the day of the murder, so he initially has more knowledge than the County Attorney. Early in the play, he convinces the County Attorney not to bother looking for evidence in the kitchen because there are only “kitchen things” there. Even though it seems fairly evident that Minnie murdered John Wright in their own bed, the Sheriff inexplicably seems focused on checking the bedroom, the windows, and the barn for signs of a break-in. Like the other men, he seems dismissive and judgmental toward women, making several jokes at their expense.

Mr. Hale

The neighboring farmer who discovered the murder. Early in the play, Mr. Hale recounts his visit to the Wright’s house and describes Mrs. Wright’s “queer” behavior. Although Mr. Hale seems hesitant to conclude that Mrs. Wright committed the murder, he joins the other men in making fun of the women during the investigation. The play’s title comes from Mr. Hale’s declaration that “women are used to worrying over trifles.”

Next section Minnie Wright