How we cite our quotes: (Line)
Quote #7
MRS. PETERS: (looking in cupboard) Why, here's a bird-cage. (holds it up) Did she have a bird, Mrs. Hale?
MRS. HALE: Why, I don't know whether she did or not—I've not been here for so long. There was a man around last year selling canaries cheap, but I don't know as she took one; maybe she did. She used to sing real pretty herself. (88-89)
And here it is... probably the biggest symbol of Mrs. Wright's confinement that the play has to offer. It's an actual cage, so it's sort of hard to miss. Notice how the play immediately equates Mrs. Wright with the bird. We see a birdcage and then we're told that Mrs. Wright used to sing like a bird herself. Uh... yeah, Susan Glaspell: I think we're picking up what you're putting down. The bird was trapped like Mrs. Wright was trapped; we totally get it.
Quote #8
MRS. PETERS: (glancing around) Seems funny to think of a bird here. But she must have had one, or why would she have a cage? I wonder what happened to it. (90)
We can't help but point out that for someone who felt trapped herself, Mrs. Wright didn't seem to mind keeping the bird in the cage. Ah well, we'll forgive her since it was the one ray of light in her life and all. Still, that probably didn't make the whole being in a cage thing suck less for the bird. Is there a larger meaning in idea of the prisoner imprisoning something else?
Quote #9
MRS. HALE: [...] I've never liked this place. Maybe because it's down in a hollow and you don't see the road. (101)
Check out how prison-like this description of the Wright house is. Being down in a hollow, cut off from the road—it's almost like this gloomy place is surrounded by walls. Even though Mrs. Wright wasn't a literal prisoner, it's easy to see how she felt like one in a place like this.