The Instituition of Marriage - 748 Words

Institution of Marriage In the story â€Å"The Yellow Wallpaper†, by Charlotte Perkins Gilman, I will discuss how women were oppressed by the institution of marriage in the nineteenth century while making comparative references to â€Å"The Story of an Hour† by Kate Chopin. Women were treated as second class citizens during the 1800’s, which under rule of their husband weren’t allowed to be a person of their own, but live in the shadow of their husband. The narrator in â€Å"The yellow Wallpaper† is diagnosed with a nervous disorder by her husband John and her brother, whom are both doctors, and given a resting cure. Living up to the ideals of nineteenth century women, the narrator is expected to be passive, forbidden to exercise her†¦show more content†¦The wallpaper is a symbol of the domestic lift that traps women. The narrator states, â€Å"Sometimes I think there are great women behind. Then in the very bright spots she keeps still, and in the very sha dy spots she just takes hold of the bars and shakes them hard. And she is all the time trying to climb through. But nobody could climb through that pattern-it strangles so† (311).She wants to continue to peel off the paper in order to free the women trapped inside, while at the same time free herself from the world in which she is trapped and only she can see. In â€Å"The Story of an Hour† Louise is an oppressed woman living in her husband’s footsteps, when she learns that her husband is on the deceased list at work she feels a sense of newfound freedom and joy. She begins the recognition of selfhood and no longer feels as though she is owned and dominated by a man. After learning of her awakening she states, â€Å"Free, free, fee† (124). The women in both of these stories begin to feel free from the dominance and constraints of marriage when they realize their possession of self assertion. By abandoning their husbands, both of the women in these stories are given a chance to live without the burdens that have oppressed them in the institution of marriage. By relating the two women characters in the stories, â€Å"The Yellow Wallpaper† and â€Å"The Story of anShow MoreRelatedPlato Communism1302 Words   |  6 Pages-Plato says that private property and family are interdependant . So if only communism of property is adopted only half the goal will be acheived . Attachment to property cannot be given up untill family is there , this is only possible when the instituition of familty is abolished . It is the family for which one acquires property . So if the scheme of communism of property is to acheived then family has to be abolished . Plato gave an elaborate treatment to his scheme . He says that it is theRead MoreNo Religion Teaches Hatred1559 Words   |  7 PagesTags being, muslim, unfortable, amidst, hindu, normal, remove When Christian and Muslim schools can teach Bible and Quran, . Why Hindus cannot teach Gita or Ramayan in our schools? about Ramayan and the Mahabharat there.lets not target learning instituitions unless they teach hatred about other religion.We need to live in harmony with eah other and respect each other....yes , we religions in this world but others think that some day their religion will be in danger so they never prefer to teach thingsRead MoreAnita Desai : An Indian Novelist2023 Words   |  9 Pageshis wife Sarla, is an obstacle, because Deven’s marriage was against his choice. Sarla used to live in the same locality. Deven’s mother and aunts had observed Sarla for years and found her suitable in every way. Deven was more a poet than a professor when he married Sarla. Sarla was also a person of high aspirations. She had wanted to be rich and to be surrounded by luxurious atmosphere. Sarla’s dreams were not fulfilled with her marriage with Deven because they had to leave Deven’s townRead MoreJean Toomer s Literary Masterpiece Cane3302 Words   |  14 Pageswrites: â€Å"Carma’s tale is the crudest melodrama,† and it concerns a woman’s adultery (Toomer 15). Essentially, much like the blacks, Carma is for all intents and purpose owned by her domineering husband; and likewise, she desires more to life than her marriage can offer. For this, Carma’s tale might be considered a symbolic â€Å"call to arms† of sorts by Toomer to have African American’s reject their prescribed placement in society and begin pursuing their own true identity, one that is far removed from the