men's questions, but an answer they never find. The women, on the other hand, take note of all they see. They notice the bird, the cage, and the quilt but other things that the men call "trifles," like Minnie's frozen preserves and her request for her apron and shawl. These women are united; it seems, not only as country wives or as neighbors but also on the basic level of womanhood. This is apparent from the beginning of the play. Mrs. Hale and Mrs. Peters "stand close together near the door," (1324) emotionally bonded throughout the play and, here, physically, in a way, too. Mrs. Hale and Mrs. Peters also have a kinship to Minnie, just as to each other. They respect her work as a homemaker. Mrs. Hale quickly comes to Minnie's defense when her housekeeping skills are questioned, saying, "'There's a great deal of work to be done on a farm'" (1326). The women display their loyalty to each other and their sympathy for one another, too. Mrs. Peters can identify with the loneliness and sadness of losing something you love. She understands "'what stillness is,'" and Mrs. Hale knows "'how things can be--for women . . . [they] all go through the same things--it's just a different kind of the same thing'" (1333). These women are obviously united, and together they have a common enemy, as it were. The womens foes, the men, are not united at all. The county attorney, in particular, is in a rush to find evidence. He hurries Mr. Hale through his story with, "'Lets talk about that later . . . tell now just what happened when you got to the house'" (1325). Then he ushers the other two men up the stairs, unthinkingly neglecting the crucial evidence downstairs. To them it is of little importance as they say, Nothing here but kitchen things (1326). Instead of looking at things of the wife, who is in custody, they search all through Johns bed, barn, and other male things for evidence. The women regard these men, between themselves, as "'sno...
