A woman strangled her husband to death. Another woman died of extreme happiness after being told that her husband had died in an accident. “Trifles” and “The Story of an Hour” are the two stories associated with these plots. The two texts are perplexing and that is why they use symbols. Both stories use objects figuratively to reveal a hidden story that contributes to the theme that pain and loneliness can cause a person to act selfishly. Symbols can show the characters' feelings for each other and the main conflict of the text. For example, in the play “Trifles,” Mrs. Wright's feelings toward her husband and their marriage are demonstrated using symbols including the bird, broken birdcage, and fruit preserves. Mr. Hale flashes back to the night Mrs. Wright told him that her husband was dead. Subsequently the two men and two women separate where the women discover several trifles that are the key to understanding Mrs. Wright's life. The women first find the broken bird cage in the closet and then the dead bird in the sewing kit. The bird represents Mrs. Wright herself as she was “really sweet and pretty but a little shy and… fluttering” (Glaspell 7). However, following her marriage, Mrs. Wright felt trapped like a bird in its cage. There is a possibility that Mrs. Wright was physically or emotionally abused by Mr. Wright, as can be inferred from the symbols. For example, Mrs. Wright could not have killed the bird, because she liked the bird, so it must have been Mr. Wright who killed it (Glaspell). Furthermore, Minnie's decision to kill her husband is represented by the broken fruit preserves and the broken bird cage when she could not take her but...... middle of paper ...... and could have suffered from grief because of her abusive husband who was so happy with the news that he was dead. Mrs. Mallard might have been alive if it hadn't been for her husband, who provoked her to act that way. Symbols play an important role in themes. Symbols can help predict what will happen in the story and provide meaningful insights. Authors are not always direct, sometimes they can be very vague, which is why readers have to find a way to understand the whole concept. The symbols will help readers achieve this goal in a great way. Furthermore, the symbols also contribute to the theme such as the struggles of women demonstrated in the two previously mentioned stories. Works Cited Chopin, Kate. The story of an hour. Logan: Perfection Learning Corporation, 2001. Web. November 3, 2013. Glaspell, Susan. "Nonsense." Boston: Thomson Wadsworth, 2004. Web. November 3. 2013.