What a marvelous little story! I love it when I get more than I bargained for.

Two women are dragged along with their husbands, a sheriff and a witness, to the scene of a murder. While the men are "investigating", the women, who are subject to a snide, deprecating remark now and then, gather the real clues to what occurred at this house of a neighbor.

There is a lot being said by Ms. Glaspell. She addresses the relationships between men and women and those among women themselves. There is a thread of question: what might I have done? And one of responsibility: what if I had paid attention, what if I had offered help?

It is very hard to discuss in any detail without giving away too much of the plot, and I hope that others will read this gem, so I do not want to do that. ( )

I did read this for school, so naturally, I came in with low expectations. However, I was pleasantly surprised by the theme of this story. My biggest gripe is that it was difficult to understand what was going on or what the characters were saying because of the writing style, but that is understandable because it was written over a half a century ago. ( )

00001227

wow. this was brilliantly written and I'm sort of crying ( )

This is the second time I've read this short story. First time in college, second time just now. My outlook on life has somewhat changed with the greater experience. I believe I was more negative towards the story and the actions of the women in the story the last time I read it. It's not an original thought, but the only thing I can think of at the moment.

( )