Mary Wilkins Freeman's The Revolt Of Mother

In “The Revolt of Mother” by Mary Wilkins Freeman, Sarah Penn, also known as Mother, is the conventional woman of the nineteenth century. She was raised to always be submissive to men. This was practically a rule in this era. Women were treated and recognized as a minor value compared to men. However, Mother does not want to continue to be looked at as a feeble woman with little to almost no value. Mother has been pushed too far. She begins to defend herself and her beliefs. Mother is a great representation of rebellion, self-assertion, and defying gender roles. Adoniram Penn, also known as Father, is the husband of Sarah Penn. He is standoffish, selfish, and stubborn. He refuses to discuss any information with her about their living conditions. He tends to avoid the subject overall and is too busy focusing on his farm. Father constantly ignores Mother’s questions and comments when she tries to persuade him to provide the family a new home and improve the living conditions. Mother is annoyed and aggravated, so she decides to rebel against his ways and views of managing the household and the farm. This is a vast step considering all women are supposed to be submissive to men, and do not

She respects her husband, but she is not going to let him get in her way. She takes care of the family and the house, yet Father just does not seem to keep his promises or compromise with Mother. Mother’s confidence grows, and she begins to take action, like what is mentioned in the previous paragraph. Mother is displeased with numerous parts of the life her and her children have. She might be a woman who people find unimportant, such as her husband, but she still does not give up until she gets her way or makes some form of a difference. For instance, when she finally takes full control of the situation and gets the new house she has been begging her husband for. She acts upon her words causing her to be