trifles

Trifles is a plural noun with several senses in English. It can refer to small, insignificant objects or matters, or to portions of a dessert. In cuisine, a trifle (singular) is a traditional British dessert; trifles can describe multiple servings or varieties of this dish. The classic trifle features layers of sponge cake soaked in fruit juice or sherry, fruit, custard, and whipped cream, typically assembled in a glass dish to reveal the layers.

In cultural usage, trifles are often invoked to describe things regarded as of minor importance, though the term can be used critically to contrast superficial concerns with more substantive issues.

Trifles is also the title of a one-act play by Susan Glaspell, first performed in 1916. Set in a rural farmhouse during a murder investigation, the play follows two women who recognize a motive linked to the victim’s isolated domestic life, while the male investigators pursue tangible evidence. The work is widely studied as an early feminist drama and for its examination of gender, knowledge, and moral choices. It remains a common text in American literature courses and theatre studies.

---