Susan Glaspell ( 1876- 1948 )
“We all go through the same things - it's all just a different kind of the same thing." -Susan Glaspell
Susan Glaspell was born in Davenport, Iowa by the married couple of Elmer Glaspell and Alice Keating. She graduated from Drake University in 1899 and works as journalist after that. Glaspell began her career as an author for popular magazines.
However, in 1915, she had turned her energies to the theater especially after she married with George Cram Cook. With him, she helped found a theatrical group called, Provincetown Players which for experimental dramas until later became extremely successful as one of the most influenced on American drama. However, she got divorced with her husband after years of marriage.
Eventhough, she was awarded the Pulitzer Prize for one of her famous play, 'Allison's House' (1931), that was also her downfall in her personal life. She fell into her first and only period of low productivity as she struggled with depression due to divorce, alcoholism, and poor health.
As for me her feminist work in plays production especially 'Trifle' (1916) has change my mind a little bit about human right against gender. I never thought it was such big issues back then because nowadays people are treated equally. Trifles is a play based on the John Hossack case, for the group. It has been argued that the play is an example of early feminist drama. "A Jury of Her Peers", was adapted from the play a year after its debut.
On 2nd December, 1900, John Hossack was murdered with an axe as he slept. His 57-year old wife, Margaret, was charged with the killing. Glaspell covered the trial for her newspaper. The jury did not believe her story that she slept through the killing, even though she lay next to her husband as he was murdered and she was found guilty. The story Trifles almost inspired by this cases and also inspired me to look into feminist perspective about the play more thoroughly.
A journalist who worked with her on the Des Moines Daily News described her as "a strikingly handsome young lady with a nobility of character and charm of manner that command more than passing attention."After nine novels, fourteen plays and numerous short stories as well as articles, Susan Glaspell passed away at the age of 72. She remained as an inspiring writer, a dear good friend to all.
Youtube link : Susan Glaspell- Trifles
No comments:
Post a Comment