Blogging Journal Questions for "A Jury of Her Peers"
Please answer one of the following questions for the story, "A Jury of Her Peers." Make your answer a comment to this post. Write between 150 and 200 words; provide your word count at the bottom of your paragraph(s). Please finish your work by 6:00 p.m. on Tuesday, October 21.
1. Does this story confront or confirm your personal beliefs? Explain.
2. Write about an idea expressed in the writing (or in your group) which you either disagree or agree with.
3. Explore a social or ethical issue raised in the writing. Judge the behaviour of the characters or the views of the author. Are they right or wrong in your opinion?
4. In what ways does the writing reflect the time it was written?
14 comments:
3. Explore a social or ethical issue raised in the writing. Judge the behaviour of the characters or the views of the author. Are they right or wrong in your opinion?
To what extent do the actions of Minnie Wright constitute what the courts would call a “justifiable homicide”? Certainly, I heard many of you talking about the issue in your groups in Friday’s class. Courts in a number of countries, including Canada and the United States, will accept that “battered partners can use force to defend themselves and sometimes kill their abusers because of the abusive and sometimes life-threatening situation in which they find themselves” (Wikipedia entry: Battered woman defence). Mrs. Hale and Mrs. Peters both find in favour of their peer, Mrs. Wright; together they hide “the thing that would make certain the conviction of the other woman” (18). I am convinced, as are the two women, that Minnie Foster has suffered through a long marriage with John Wright. Whether she was a “battered partner” I cannot say, so given current law, Mrs. Wright should be found guilty. The world contains many examples of cold, dead marriages, yet that alone does not justify murder. And his killing of her canary, while cruel, certainly does not give Mrs. Wright a reason for cold-bloodedly killing her husband. In this case, the homicide is not a “justifiable” one. —196 words
Hello, brad...this is my answer for the short story, i hope this is the correct format that u're looking for, and hope u like it...^^*
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-Question #4: In what ways does the writing reflect the time it was written?
-Answer:
After I read the story, I finally understand what women go through and how difficult it must be hard to live a life as a woman because when Mrs. Hale is worrying about Mrs. Wright’s preserves, "Mrs. Peter’s husband broke into a laugh,"(6) which makes women little and worthless, and when after the young attorney washed his hands, and " he kicked his foot against some… under the sink,"(6) in which makes the kitchen things so useless, and so dirty that nobody wants to touch them. Also, when Mrs. Hale rearrange the pans that the young lawyer kicked in the previous time, she "hate to men comin’ into my kitchen…snoopin’ around and criticizin’,"(7) in which shows that the kitchen is my space,and wants no one to come. Also, I think maybe she doesn’t want to get criticism anymore from her husband and her son, Harry.
Words:approx.160.
1. Does this story confront or confirm your personal beliefs? Explain.
This story confronts with my personal beliefs. I believe that murder is murder, and if you take the life away from someone or something, you should be charged. Mrs. Hale has a woman’s point of view, and an empathy with Mrs. Wright’s lonely life as a peer; moreover, her excellent insight is even better than the sheriffs. Nevertheless, she crossed the borderline of excesses as a defender against the law, and her hiding evidences is totally unacceptable. Even though she knows Minnie Wright for twenty years, still doesn’t know anything about Minnie’s real life without seeing each other. Minnie might have killed her bird, because there is nothing to prove that Mr. Wright did it. She could have accidentally stepped the bird (my friend’s experience) or Mr. Wright might have killed the bird on purpose, but if the evidence does not exist anymore, the truth would never be appeared. “something to make a story about and connect up with this clumsy way” the country attorneys says, having compassions is sometimes too risky for justice.
174 words
ans for Q1
There was an interesting Taiwan news saying a man’s penis been cutting off by his wife because of adultery when he was in sleep. The relationship between husband and wife is very close because they sleep together and live together. It confirms the story that you should put more care and concern with the closest person who sleeps beside you.
In these modern days, women are more independent than ever before. Men lost its head of the family position. Wife can do whatever they want. I saw a lot of men wondering on the street because he is forbidden by RCMP to live with his wife because of spouse assault. The law protects wife who was abused and asked husband to leave the house and family they both created.
My personal believe is treat your wife as a princess and give the best to your family. 146 words
#3
If you witness a murder, would you inform the police? Would you tell them everything you know? Of course, I will. “The law has got to punish crime”. I believe that deprivation of someone’s life is against the law and one of the greatest sins in the eyes of God. On the short story, “A Jury of Her Peers”, I am absolutely disagreeing of concealing the thoughts and evidences that can use to detain the suspect. Mrs. Hale and Mrs. Peters have shown their anxiety and concerns about women’s right, but its not enough reason to keep their mouth shut and bury their information as a secret. They have let themselves overcome by their emotions and worries without knowing that they have disregarded the “human rights” and it gives the idea of tolerating people to kill. One of our responsibilities in our society is to help to stop the crime and “[we are] endowed with reason and conscience and should act towards one another in a spirit of goodwill.” (Wikipedia entry: human rights) God is the one who gave us this life, therefore, he is the one who have right to take it away from us.
Word :196
# 4
Women Are Serious
The story reflects some feminism ideas in two ways:
Firstly, women were indignant to men as a boss. For example, when the county attorney said resentfully, “Here is nice mess…dirty towels… dirty dishes…” Mrs. Hale said stiffly, “There is a great deal of work to be done on a farm…men’s hand are not always as clean as they might be.”
When the men left the kitchen, she said, “I’d hate to have men comin’ into my kitchen.”
Secondly, the story indicates men didn’t understand women. Some instances are following:
“Sheriff’s wife spoke, oh—her fruit… when it turned so cold last night …her jar might burst. “
Mrs. Peters’ husband broke into laugh, “Well, can you beat the women! Held for murder, and worrying about her preserves.”
Also sheriff repeats ladies sentences in mockery, “They wonder whether she was going to quilt it or just knot it!”
There was a laugh for the ways of women…”
And Mrs. Hale confronted, “Our taking up our time with little things… I don’t see as it’s anything to laugh about.”
In result, women didn’t help the men, and they found out independently Mrs. Wright isn’t guilty. 194
3. Explore a social or ethical issue raised in the writing. Judge the behaviour of the characters or the views of the author. Are they right or wrong in your opinion?
Reaching gender equality has been one of the mostly advocated goals in our society. Fighting for equality often results to a dramatic change, which is sometimes very tumultuous. In the short story, “A Jury of Her Peers”, Susan Glaspell illustrates the struggle of women in competing for the power and rights that the men are enjoying. Mrs. Hale and Mrs. Peters’ acquiescence to their husbands clearly show their inferiority. This is showed often when they “[stand] close together” (2) like sheep that flock together when they sense an approaching dominant creature. The stereotypical nature of housekeepers who “[worry] over trifles” (6) also gives them the reputation of being subordinate. However, the power seems to shift to them when they are able to solve the case and conceal the evidence, leaving the men baffled. The issue in the story is not really whether the murder is an act of justice, but rather, the significant lesson behind the murder. I believe Glaspell wants to promote self-awareness by educating the readers that one gender cannot completely subdue their counterpart by using their authority. Rebellion will surely be the outcome if one chooses to be more dominant. This is highly proven when Minnie Foster, without a shadow of doubt, murders his spouse. –208 words
3.
Mrs. Hale was bitten by her remorse for her did not spare some time from her busy schedules to visit her old day friend-Mrs. Wright as often as possible. She knew her friend, who lived in an unpleasant house with an unfriendly husband and she is lonely. To Mrs. Hale, she might play a part to have helped in preventing this tragedy. Yes, she could have help but may not prevent it. For one’s life is one’s own responsibility. She might help once, twice. But could she be there for her whenever she needed? No, she had her own business to run, and in the other hand, she couldn’t put her hands in others’ life too. Just like parents couldn’t be the back up for their children all the time, the toddler would not have learned walking unless their parents let go their hands. This is not cruelty, this is reality. This is how life always be and how people should learn to stand on their own feet.
168 words
#3
If someone has it in them to take another persons life, should this person be protected? I believe if someone commits a crime, by choice or not, there should be consequences. In “A Jury of Her Peers” Mrs. Hale and Mrs. Peters hid the evidence which was needed to convict Minnie Wright for the murder of her husband. Granted, it is very clear why the two ladies are trying to help her. Mr. Wright killed his wife’s cannery and which in succession killed everything inside of Mrs. Wright, pushing her over the edge. The lady’s as well as myself are very sympathetic for Mrs. Wright; no one should have to live with someone who is abusive, mentally or physically. All this being said, it does not justify taking someone’s life. Times were different during this time; women simply could have the Courts protect them. Divorce was almost unheard and with everything piling up Mrs. Wright was overwhelmed and took things to an extreme level. Given the circumstances, she should still have to serve her sentence. Someone who has committed a serious felony should not be brushed aside. Mrs. Hale and Mrs. Peters did not do the right thing.
- 198 words
2. Write about an idea expressed in the writing (or in your group) which you either disagree or agree with.
During the first decades of the last century, women suffered of discrimination and different kind of violence, but most of them were indifferent about it. I agree when Mrs. Hale exclaims “I might ‘a’ known she needed help! ...We live close together, and we live far apart. We all go through the same things”. Women were demeaned not only inside their homes but in society; they were considered not smart enough to vote nor even to help ruling their homes. However, most of women were indifferent with each other’s suffering even with their own pain. Unfortunately, dreadful events like “Mr. Wright’s murder” although are not justifiable were strong enough to make women reflect about their problematic circumstances which were ignored. Additionally, different feminist movements made woman realize that their situation wasn’t a personal matter. It was a social problematic that they should confront together in solidarity instead of suffering apart pretending that everything was fine.
155 words
Reply to Q#3
Can an all-men-control justice system achieve complete social justice or convince the other sex to trust it? This is one of the issues raised in the writing. In the very end of the story when main character, Mrs. Hale, snatches the box with a dead bird inside and stuffs it into her coat, I hear a big “No” from Susan Glaspell. Glaspell reveals a world that men and women are not equally treated. Women response to the domestic work, but gain no respect or understanding from men. When Mrs. Peter mentions about Mrs. Wright’s concern about her preserves, her husband “[breaks] into a laugh” and says, “Well, can you beat the woman! Held for murder, and worrying about her preserves!”(6) Mrs. Hale’s husband also comments that “women are used to worrying over trifles.” (6)These men’s words convey a message: the jam, kitchen things, the quilt, and even the women are trifles. As a result, these two women can not trust these men’s approach for this crime. They are not interesting in the facts, but looking for “Something to make a story about”.(17) For the county attorney has made up his mind to against Mrs. Wright, the best way for these two women balancing the situation is to hide the possible evidence. Considering the time background of this story, I totally acclaim Glaspell’s efforts to challenge the mainstream.
-- 227 words
3. Explore a social or ethical issue raised in the writing. Judge the behaviour of the characters or the views of the author. Are they right or wrong in your opinion?
Mrs. Wright committed a crime with a pitiful reason. She had been living with a hard man and piling up her loneliness for a long time. Did Mrs. Wright have any other ways instead of killing her husband to help herself escape from the cage? It seems not. She had been suffering them until her only friend, a bird, was killed, and then she let her emotion burst out. She chose a bad way. Perhaps, it is the only way for her.
At that old time, women may have no choices to arrange her own life. That is why Mrs. Peters and Mrs. Hale both were sympathetic to Mrs. Wright’s feelings and both tried to cover up for her. An old saying in Chinese culture says: since a woman has married, she has to follow her husband. No matter her husband’s life is like a dog or a cat. So, what if a woman married to a bad guy? Just follow him is the answer.
In my opinion, Mrs. Wright is the sacrifice of that old time. She killed not only her husband but also the social rules. She is brave enough to challenge it.
-195 words--
Answer from Lien:
1. Dose this story confront or confirm your personal beliefs? Explain.
“A Jury of Her Peers” confronts my personal beliefs. In order to understand someone’s situation, you should put your foot into his or her shoe. I used to witness a couple situations similar to Mrs. Wright’s. In Vietnam, the mother of two teen daughters admitted of stabbing her husband into his chest with the fifteen centimeter knife. She found not guilty because everybody saw that her alcoholic husband used to bit her up everyday, and called hers and her parent’s name, and had no responsibility. Similarly, Mrs. Wright’s peers, Mrs. Hale and Mrs. Peters seem to protect her not being guilty or to receive a light penalty. They have the same sympathy for each other as a woman at that time, and they understand Mrs. Wright’s feeling of losing a previous bird. At that time, I can imagine that how a marriage woman’s life was like. Even my generation, I still heard that a marriage woman was like a bird in a cage or like a fish in a tank. When Mr. Henderson complains Mrs. Wright is “Not much of a housekeeper”, Mrs. Hale excuses “there’s a great deal of work to be done on a farm (6).” People’s strengths are limited. If you push them so hard, they can explore without knowing. The law is the law, but it still bases on witnesses and situations.
1. Does this story confront or confirm your personal beliefs? Explain.
Most of the people have the experience when pass an intersection,if there is a yellow light: either rush over or stop for the red signal to come. It’s a similar dilemma in marriage. Whenever there is a yellow single lights, you choose to keep silence till the situation becomes even worst or you choose to rush over it.
Unfortunately, not like the decisions we make during driving, many people, especially women will choose to keep silence and wait until the red signal lights. Mrs.Wright does the same. After she finds to pass the intersection for her become a mission impossible, she chooses the extreme way to settle it.
Simply judge their behavior is right or wrong is superficial, since there is no such standard in a marriage to tell so. We cannot ask one part in the marriage to take the full responsibility. Even being born as modern people in this dramatic society, do we really know how to take care and communicate with our another part?
168 words
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