Because Mrs. Hale and Mrs. Peters discover and hide evidence that could have been used to condemn Minnie Wright for the murder of her husband, John Wright, the question about the roles that duty and justice play does not have an easy answer. The men in the play, the County Attorney, Sheriff, and Mr. Hale, are all trying to get to the bottom of the case and fulfill their obligations, wanting to assume that Mrs. Wright was the one who strangled her husband while he was sleeping, but don't have enough evidence to present a motive. The men are dismissive of the women and Mrs. Peters says this, along with their other investigative methods, is because they are just doing their duty. When left alone, the women discover a canary with a broken neck among Mrs. Wright's sewing paraphernelia and piece together the situation before them. Mrs. Hale remembers Minnie as a lovely, optimistic woman who was likely broken down by the harsh, cold nature of Mr. Wright. This detail in addition to the absence of children, affection, and the dead canary creates a dim picture that made up Minnie's life.

 

It is apparent Mrs. Wright was neglected and even Mrs. Hale feels responsible for this; the yellow canary was probably one of the only redeeming aspects in her life. It sang, like Minnie did growing up, and Mr. Wright wrung its neck. It is uncertain, but likely that Minnie sought revenge for a lifetime of bleak sorrow by delivering the same fate to Mr. Wright. Mrs. Hale understands this and feels that true justice in this situation would not be to condemn and punish Minnie Wright. She also believes Minnie's revenge was justified; that a woman so neglected and isolated had slim to no chance of getting a way out and pursuing a life of happiness. While the play shows the scenes and silent looks of agreement shared between the women, it does not definitively posit an opinion on this question. It is left up to the audience... Were the women justified in their actions? Was Minnie justified in hers?

 

Glaspell's short story that renders the play into an almost exact copy of Trifles has an extremely fitting title. In "A Jury of Her Peers," in the moment when the women decide to confiscate the damning evidence, the jury they form presents a verdict of "not guilty" in their eyes. Her actions are excused by the women and the men have no idea. The secret will more than likely remain between them as the two women begin to realize the importance of supporting each other in a male-dominated society.