Question

The plot of Susan Glaspell's Trifles revolves around the murder of a farmer. In the play, the county attorney and the local sheriff search the victim’s house for clues that link the victim’s wife to the crime. What can you conclude from the sheriff's attitude in this excerpt? COUNTY ATTORNEY: (looking around) I guess we'll go upstairs first—and then out to the barn and around there, (to the SHERIFF) You're convinced that there was nothing important here—nothing that would point to any motive. SHERIFF: Nothing here but kitchen things.

Answer 1

I conclude that the sheriffs attitude is that of boredom and wants to get out of there or that the sheriff is hiding something and being very guiltless. If that makes any sense.

Answer 2

In this passage, we learn that the sheriff has already looked at everything that is to be found in the house, and that he believes there is nothing that could point to a motive for the murder. However, we learn that he thinks kitchen things are unimportant. This shows that the sheriff is not very inquisitive, as he does not think of the possibility of "kitchen things" being used for murder.