Gender roles are one of the central concerns of this story. Glaspell delineates the marginalization of women and their contribution to society most clearly through the distinctions between what is considered “men’s work”—detecting and solving the crime, and “women’s work”—being stuck in the kitchen on the outside the investigation, performing unimportant tasks such as gathering Mrs. Wright’s clothing. Both Mr. Peters and Mr. Hale repeatedly insult their wives directly and dismiss women’s importance and abilities. The county attorney treats the two women in a condescending manner, assuming they are far too feeble to offer substantial help even as he expects that would bring him any evidence they find to help him.

The significance of the women’s ability to solve the crime and take Minnie Wright’s fate out of the men’s hands displays the power in the women’s way of thinking and the ways they manage to navigate the limits imposed upon them. Their decision to conceal the evidence of Minnie’s guilt converts the story from one about man’s law into one about women’s justice.

Martha Hale fails to be a good neighbor to Minnie. She blames herself for not trying to be a better neighbor and friend.