Mainely Needlepointer's 'Thread And Gone'

In the story, a family heirloom becomes a conflict because while Dee wants to take the quilt to decorate her home, Maggie would make better use of the quilts by using them instead of framing them. This quilt that has been passed down from generation to generation, is symbolic of the love that both the older generations and the present generation has for each other. The quilt also symbolizes the strength of the family and the stitching is symbolic of the bonds that hold a family together. Mama ultimately decides that the quilt will go to Maggie because Dee does not understand the practicality of the quilt which is that they were from pieces of clothes that were lived in, which represented their past. Alice Walker was also emphasizing that it is the woman in the family that have held and currently hold families together by depicting closeness of the female relationships.

Wright’s, or Minnie’s, sewing pieces, there is a piece that is not clean and well done like the rest. Mrs Hale started fixing it and Mrs. Peters did not think that was a good idea, “A moment Mrs. Hale sat her hands folded over that sewing which was so unlike all the rest of the sewing. Then she had pulled a knot and drawn the threads. “Oh, what are you doing, Mrs. Hale?” asked the sheriff’s wife, startled. “Just pulling out a stitch or two that’s not sewed very good,” said Mrs. Hale mildly.” Mrs. Hale fixed the piece, because it would show anger, or a sudden change in mood. She understands why Minnie killed her husband, and she does not think Minnie deserves to be punished for it. She was able to finally escape her terrible husband. While working on this piece, she was contemplating on killing her husband. She was sewing to relax and calm down, but then she started thinking about why she should kill her husband and her work got sloppy and

The first clue that the woman find is the errant quilt patch. While going through Mrs. Wright's house they find a quilt, and on closer examination notice one quilt patch off from the rest. Mrs. Peters states, ““The sewing, All the rest of them have been so nice and even—but—this one. Why, it looks as if she didn’t know what she

Wright explains that someone must have come in, in the middle of the and slipped a rope around her husband’s neck while she was asleep next to him, she states, “I sleep sound.” Mrs. Wright didn’t seem concerned never moving from her rocker, she kept rocking and pleating the apron. The men searched the kitchen which appeared unkept and found only kitchen items, nothing out of the ordinary. Her neighbor Mrs. Hale came in and said that she hadn’t been in the house in years, she states “It hasn’t been a cheerful place” (561). Mrs. Wright is now being accused of murdering her husband and her only concern was her preserves, the county attorney sates, “Held for murder and worryin’ about her preserves” (561). The ladies that was in the Wright house was discussing how Mrs. Wright used to be, dressed up in pretty clothes, was lively and confident, she lost that over the years and now “She didn’t even belong to the Ladies Aid” (562). They guessed she couldn’t do her part and felt shabby, so she kept to herself. The ladies thought she killed her husband and practically convicted her right there in her kitchen. The women are constantly worrying over Trifles, or something that is totally unimportant. After Mrs. Wright is arrested for the murder of her husband the two ladies take Mrs. Wright quilt to the jail to keep her

The conflict between the personalities and lifestyles of the narrator’s two daughters is especially noticeable in their valuation of the quilts. To Wangero, the quilts, as well as the butter churn and bench, are aesthetic and historical in their value. She and her husband are celebrating their people’s heritage, and in doing this Wangero finds the possessions of her family to fit her artistic ideal. Having left home for a broader

One of the perspectives employed by Porter is seen through Granny’s thoughts, which are preoccupied by her jilting and “the thought of him [the man who jilted her]… that moved and crept in her head” (5) that when her death came she still “wanted to give Cornelia the amethyst set…[and] to do something about the Forty Acres” (8).

She was so weary from the traveling and what she had been going through. She silently watched what was going on in her new surroundings. Other Indians came in through the outside door, said something to Mahonoy in a very respectful manner, and then disappeared to another part of the longhouse. Amelia was beginning to understand that the longhouse was a place several people lived in, with rooms separated by partitions. It was late, and Mahonoy raked coals together in the fire for the night and cleaned up her cooking area. Amelia watched her work and looked closer at the middle-aged woman's attire. She had a soft leather skirt on that came halfway to her ankles. It appeared not to be tight or hard to move in, although it was made of thin leather. The hem of it was cut all around into narrow fringe that hung around her ankles like tassels. On her body she wore a loose fitting tunic that came down over the top of the skirt. It was made of the same type of leather skin. The tunic had no sleeves to it and the neckline at the top was just an opening cut straight across for the head to go through. It had fringe along the bottom of the tunic also. The waist was cinched in by a belt tied into a knot. She wore a small decorated pouch on a long leather thong around her neck that hung down like a pendant. Her hair had been black but now was streaked with grey, straight and long. She had a fabric headband tied around her forehead with some geometric decorations and feathers tied on it that hung down by the side of her head. On her feet were moccasins that had tops coming halfway up to her knees. Amelia thought she recognized silver coins with holes drilled in them, sewn onto the moccasins as decorations along with some colorful beads. Mahonoy's hands were the hands of a woman who has done hard work. Her fingers were broad and had knarled knuckles and short, nails. Once in awhile when she moved to lift something Amelia heard a

I was dreading this moment, the moment that would choose my fate. I walked into the brightly lit courtroom, everyone was looking at me with judgmental glances. I walked up to the stand and raised my right hand to swear in. “Could you please explain to the courtroom the events leading

“I can ‘member Grandma Dee without the quilts” is what Maggie says to her sister, which shows Maggie’s value of family. Both critics believe the ongoing tradition of quilting must be represented through the generations of quilting and the background history or it all. Where the quilt came from is the most important value. The quilts contains passed down stories whereas they form a link between the generations (Weidmann 260).

The quilt cause a lot of tension when Dee ask Mama for it. Mama had promised the quilt to Maggie once she gets married. It was an inheritance to Mama from her mother. The quilt symbolizes the family’s heritage because Mama and Aunt Dicie contribute making the quilt. More than a few of their generation contribute in making the quilt; each piece is part of their ancestors. Mama considers the quilt is part of her personal history of the pride, struggle and her connection to the women in her family. It is a family treasure. Dee wants the quilt as a part of a display piece in a museum; she wants to hang up the quilt. On the other hand, Maggie wants the quilt and because she connects with significant values of the quilt, she understands her family

The men 's inability to see the facts of the situation is emphasized by Mrs. Hale and Mrs. Peter’s ability to deduce the discouraging course of Minnie 's life over the previous 20 years. In addition, although the male characters see no relevant clues in the kitchen, the women, once alone, notice evidence in the mere state of the kitchen: All is amiss--the lid is off the sugar canister and a half-full bag is sitting next to it; there is a dish towel in the middle of the half-wiped kitchen table; and the squares for the quilt she is piecing consist of fine, even sewing -except for one block, in which the sewing is crazy. “What made this woman, they wonder, leave things half-done? What made her nervous enough to make her sewing "crazy"? What so distracted this woman, who even in jail worried about her preserves and wanted an apron?” (Bendel-Simso) Only women, and only women of similar social and geographical backgrounds, can recognize these clues. Foreshadowing of this evidence is given in the opening paragraph of the story, in which Mrs. Hale 's eye makes a scandalized sweep of her kitchen as she is forced to abandon her bread-making half-done when she is unexpectedly called to the crime scene.

“Your aunts and cousins are growing restless waiting on you. This is my second glass of wine. I need a little buzz to tune out Lisa and Renee’s shady remarks. The catty criticism began as soon as they walked in the door. They’re downstairs kissing your father’s ass like he’s the hold Messiah.” LaTonya hisses. “But enough about those miserable heffas, I have something special that’s the perfect finishing touches for tonight.” She hands Mya a small Tiffany’s jewelry box.

Not so much for Maggie and her mother living simple life in rural area, but for Dee. It’s new day and Dee is not Dee anymore, but Wangero Leewanika Kemanjo. And things Dee considered old and out of style, Wangero appreciates and wants to collect and display. Wangero never before realized “how lovely these benches are” (243), kitchen benches her father made. She asked to have churn top and dasher her uncles whittled to decorate her apartment with. She also wants her mother to give her two quilts made out of Grandma and Grandpa old clothing and even “Great Grandpa Ezra’s uniform that he wore in the Civil War” (244). But the mother decided, that Maggie will get them. Maggie who never wins, always ready to give up. The daughter who needs her help and protection. She needs to see that she can have some things too. And they were promised to her. Wangero is mad, upset, talking about how priceless they are and how her mother and sister doesn’t understand their heritage and how these quilts will get destroyed by everyday

One of the fìnal clues in the story, the irregular stitching in Minnie’s quilt patches, connects immediately with Mrs. Hale and Mrs. Peters. In the late nineteenth century, explains Elaine Hedges, small, exact stitches were valued not only for their durability. They became a badge of one’s prowess with the needle, a source of self-respect and of prestige, through the recognition and approval of other women

Wright. They discuss her childhood, her life with John, and the quilt that she was making before she was put in prison. They realize how very much Mrs. Wright had changed over the years and how miserable her life with John Wright had been. The women express sympathy, unlike the male characters, over what the kitchen disorder would mean emotionally to Mrs. Wright. Mrs. Hale says "I'd hate to have men coming into my kitchen, snooping around and criticizing." (Glaspell 1387) They talk about the murder, asking each other if they think Mrs. Wright did it. The women can’t imagine why, if she did it, she put a rope around his neck to kill him , because "there was a gun in the house", (Glaspell 1388) and that would have been easier. They start to talk about the quilt she was making. The men come in and laugh as the women look at the unfinished quilt. The sheriff says " They wonder if she was going to quilt it or knot it!” (Glaspell 1388) poking fun of the women. The men go outside and the women notice the sewing is perfect until they find a patch that is messy. Mrs. Hale suddenly takes it and fixes it. She says "what do you suppose she was so nervous about? " (Glaspell 1389) They find an empty bird cage and wonder where the bird is. The women then find Mrs. Wright’s pet bird. It has been killed, and she has hidden it in her sewing box. When Mrs. Hale hears the men returning, she hides the dead bird under some quilt pieces. They decide, quickly that