August 8, 1916
I slept well again last night. Jig has gone off somewhere with John and Floyd, some type of secret. But he is bad at this sort of thing, and I suspect there is some type of celebration being planned for after tonight. Today, my thoughts are as calm as the flat sea outside my window. It laps gently at the pier, and even the gulls are still and silent. It is a strange thing the way the ocean can adapt a certain mood, which [illegible] things around it.
My mind is clear because the day is here. There are no more tasks to be done or things to fret over. It will go how it will go, and I am satisfied we have done what we can. I am happy to be playing the part of Mrs. Hale, it will keep me focused and active. If I were to be only watching, I'm afraid I would be a bundle of nerves.
I dreamt last night of the trial. I suppose my thoughts are naturally concerned with it at this time. The dream was vague and scattered like birds when I awoke. I [illegible] in bed for time, alone with my thoughts. The image of Magaret, of her reaction when the verdict was read, came to me. She had been so stoic and controlled, it had been a shock to see her break down, surrounded by her family. The tragedy of it all, how could it have come to this? Sometimes the way we treat each other [illegible]. Slowly over the years, we lose empathy, we become numb to each other. Cruel things we would never say, never do in our youth, become normal. I now recognize this in Trifles as well, though I did not put it there conciously. The coldness of her husband, her willingness to murder him - these are the results of years of clashing of wills. Once we lose the ability to feel for each other, to connect with each other, we lose our humanity.
The spirit of women - emotional, loving, mothering - can save the world. I hope, in some way, my play speaks to this tonight.
My mind is clear because the day is here. There are no more tasks to be done or things to fret over. It will go how it will go, and I am satisfied we have done what we can. I am happy to be playing the part of Mrs. Hale, it will keep me focused and active. If I were to be only watching, I'm afraid I would be a bundle of nerves.
I dreamt last night of the trial. I suppose my thoughts are naturally concerned with it at this time. The dream was vague and scattered like birds when I awoke. I [illegible] in bed for time, alone with my thoughts. The image of Magaret, of her reaction when the verdict was read, came to me. She had been so stoic and controlled, it had been a shock to see her break down, surrounded by her family. The tragedy of it all, how could it have come to this? Sometimes the way we treat each other [illegible]. Slowly over the years, we lose empathy, we become numb to each other. Cruel things we would never say, never do in our youth, become normal. I now recognize this in Trifles as well, though I did not put it there conciously. The coldness of her husband, her willingness to murder him - these are the results of years of clashing of wills. Once we lose the ability to feel for each other, to connect with each other, we lose our humanity.
The spirit of women - emotional, loving, mothering - can save the world. I hope, in some way, my play speaks to this tonight.
