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Comparing The Awakening And Story Of An Hour By Kate Chopin

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In his essay Literacy and Cultural Theory, Donald Hall talks about the essence of feminist oppression. Hall explains, “ While all feminist methodologies focus intensely on gender … and explore the complex ways in which women have been denied social power and the right to various forms of self expression”(Hall 199). This occuring theme is seen in the stories, The Awakening and Story of an Hour by Kate Chopin and Yellow Wallpaper by Charlotte Perkins Gilman. All of these stories illustrate the consequences due to the limitation that are put on women by the expectations of society. He also mentions, “ Feminists speak of women being regulated to the status of objects pointing out that the have traditionally been valued for their beauty…” (Hall …show more content…

She is then isolated from her friends and family due to her “illness” diagnosed from her husband and brother. The narrator mentions, “... and am absolutely forbidden to “work” until I am well again. Personally, I disagree with their ideas.” (Gilman 766). The narrator shows how a patriarchal society saw women as incapable of working when ill because they are fragile. In the 16th century women were not allowed to do the same things as men. Hall states, “ Key to all feminists analysis is a recognition of the different degrees of social power that are granted to and exercised by men and women.” (Hall 199) Hall believes that women were not able to express themselves in any form of art as compared to men who ran the world in this time period. Which is exactly what is believed true by her sister in law. She writes, “ I must not let her find my writing… I verily believe she thinks it is my writing which made me sick”(Gilman 770). Here Gilman shows us how even women of the society believed that her gender should not be allowed to express themselves because it will overwhelm them and have a negative impact on

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