Chopin clearly states that women felt that they lost their freedom and that they were just mere prisoners of marriage. Mrs. Mallard’s tragedy is a good example to understand that women were unhappy and depressed, since society forced them to play a secondary role, where happiness and independence cannot be achieved. Kate Chopin, in reality, lost her husband, and perhaps she wrote ‘The Story of an Hour’ to tell that she could not find freedom with her husband’s death, and that the character’s fate was the only possible way to find it, not only for herself but for most women as
This essay endeavors to analyse the situation of two different women. “The Story of an Hour” and “A Rose for Emily.” The first story by Kale Chopin’s in the 19th Century penned by Mrs. Mallard who confirm her about her husband death which made her heart broken. But at the same time she thought she could be free and enjoy her life because in the old time Women was under the mercy of her husband and must obey him which affect their life. “A Rose for Emily” by William Faulker with the breaking news of her father death feeling depressed and unable to do anything. Women have no rights and were under the mercy of her family.
I seen him goin’ in your house.” (Slim 32) Slim assumed she was looking for unwarranted attention from him. What the ranch hands did not realize is that her loneliness led her to these actions, “She put her hand behind her back and leaned against the door frame so that her body was thrown forward.” (Steinbeck 31). Being in a relationship should satisfy one's need for attention. Curley's wife considered her marriage unhealthy and did not consider Curley a good husband. Throughout the novella, Curley's wife was consistently looking for Curley and she spent most of her time in the ranch house alone.
In her own letters, Austen encourages companions just to wed for affection. Through the plot of the novel it is clear that Austen needs to demonstrate how Elizabeth can be upbeat by declining to wed for money related purposes and just wedding a man whom she really cherishes and regards and carrying on with her life after marriage as yet being regarded by her spouse and being given flexibility. Through her valor and move tirelessly talking back to Lady Catherine de
In Dadi’s family, Dadi supports this claim as she describes being a woman as being an inferior caste. Being a woman includes being submissive and being able to work hard in a household for the family, as Dadi also expresses. Dadi sheds light on her experience when she was once a new daughter in-law. Women were to cover their face from father in laws and brother in laws as to show respect to the men. Dadi also expresses that as a new bride there were no rights for women, except though the men.
In the Victorian Era, women hardly had any rights from having jobs to abiding by a dress code. Before they were even married, they experienced prejudice . According to the “The Working and Middle Classes in Victorian Era England”, women were seen (by men) as emotional and unstable to the point where “they were incapable of making rational decisions.” This was completely unfair for women because the fact that they raised kids and managed domestic life showed their responsibility proved that they could make rational decisions. This denies their basic human rights because women have the freedom to think and make decisions. Once a woman marries, all of her property would go to her husband and she must live under his shadow.
However, literary critic Katherine Thompson in an essay describes the Victorian era as the “essential beginnings of gender equity changes” (Thompson). Despite Victorian society’s rejection of any sort of feminist progressive mindset, the decades preceding allowed for these ideas to take root in the women’s suffrage movement. Kate Chopin in her novel The Awakening, explores the concept of feminist individualism and fulfillment through the characterization of the protagonist Edna. Edna throughout the novel defies gender roles and develops into a strong independent woman. Yet at the conclusion of the novel, she commits suicide.
During the late nineteenth century, some women continued to suffer from discriminatory duties such as “solely caretakers” while others began to alter their roles in society (Lythgoe). The detrimental accusations towards women made them seem very submissive The inequalities between the two sexes and how society undermines women are shown in the Norwegian play, A Doll’s House by Henrik Ibsen. The play is very controversial in which it focuses on a marriage that appears to portray the “perfect” marriage. However, as the play begins to unravel its plot, a relationship based on lies and pleasing the public is exposed. Symbols within A Doll’s House are used to represent theoretical concepts and illustrate conflicts between Nora and Torvald Helmer.
The story “The Thirteenth Night” exemplifies the truth about marriage showing how hard it is for a woman to get along with her husband. In this situation, the position of the father who insists that she has to survive the marriage to change the family fortunes is the one that reflects the view of the society. Being a married woman, Oseki subjects stating “I won’t do anything rash,” which serves as an evidence of rejecting own identity (Higuchi 249). The story “Two Modern Girls” relates marriage and deceit, considering that the only aim for Yoshiro was to marry to handle his financial problems. Thus, a result is that in “Two Modern Girls”, Hanako is left alone as a result of her refusal to accept the truth about Yoshiro.
In a male dominated society, women are forced to conform to the moulds that have been prescribed for them. When they do not fit into the categories that have been defined for them, they face ultimate rejection and suffer the consequences of non-conformity. This male dictated view of women is evident in the writings of 19th Century women writers who unconsciously view society through the perspectives that have been imprinted in their minds by society. A case in point is Kate Chopin through her work, Desiree’s Baby which chronicles the tale of an abandoned baby that is raised by a wealthy couple, the Valmonde’s. They were childless and raised her lovingly as their own.