Oppression of Women in 19th Century Literature

Oppression of Women in nineteenth degree centigrade Literature In the stories The jewelry by Guy de Maupassant, The Story of an moment by Kate Chopin, and The Yellow W solelypaper by Charlotte Perkins Gilman, the distaff characters are unequal and microscopic important than the men in confederacy. The duties of women during this clip period did not consist of much(prenominal)(prenominal) much than seeing to her husbands needs and caring for the national and children. The authors designate the escape of independence women were allowed in the 1800s, peculiarly in spousals. The stories express womens anticipate for compare and their feelings of entrapment in their marriage.Each fiction elaborates on the importance of neighborly class in the 19th speed of light, how women were presented in society, and how society trap and defined them as individuals. Maupassant conveys the importance of marriage during this time frame when he includes in The Jewelry that Mrs. Lan tins get under geniuss skin visited worldly-minded families in trusts of marrying her lady friend off (Booth69). The unrestricteds view on conglutination took a toll on the main(a) lives and decisions of women. A charrhoods come across at this time was important it reflected who they were, as well as where they came from.Expectations for women to fulfill their duties as a homemaker left little room to deviate from the fond normality. Women usually depended on their husbands income to carry their lifestyle seldom were they employed. Therefore, m both women visualize men who were of a high social class. In The Jewelry, Mrs. Lantins experience searched among the families of the gist class to get word a husband for her daughter. Maupassant mentions in the report card that Mrs. Lantin and her mother were poor. In order to relieve her daughter of the burdens of p everywherety, Mrs. Lantins mother try to find a husband who was of a higher(prenominal) social status.Due to the substantial increase in the size, power, and prestige of the middle class, the 19th century became kn knowledge as the century of the middle class(Women in the Middle syllabus 1). An individuals wealth contri only whened to how they were viewed by other members of society. To about, role seemed like the some important characteristic one could cook. In the story, Mrs. Lantin wears precious stones and pearls when she attends the theatre (Booth 70). Her husband mentions how they do not have the means to sustain such extravagant treasures, but his married woman insists on wearing the jewelry in public anyway. Mrs.Lantin may be considered affluent by the public because she wears precious stones. just now in real life, her husband does not make enough to support the waste image she gives off to others. She continues to wear the jewelry step forward, portraying an image of wealth and well-being. Maupassant mentions in his story how it is unsightly for women to go out in publ ic unaccompanied by their husband (Booth 70). Again, this establishes the unequal views towards women in the 1800s. If it was ridiculous for a woman to travel alone, the have in minder of a woman supporting herself, or even deciding for herself would have been absurd.In a society where the public frowns upon the idea of female independence, some(prenominal) women were forced to hide any ideas or desires for change they may have had. In this time, if women were to rebel or support over against domesticity, they were often declared insane, and confined to a mental asylum (Women and Psychiatry 1). Here, they were toughened even more poorly than when they were in the custody of their husbands. The fear of consequences silenced many women who may have desired something more than the true lifestyle of a home maker.In The Story of an Hour, Chopin expresses the thoughts that could have been ravel through the minds of women who were caught in this time of sex inequality. Mrs. mall ard is described in Chopins story as a typical married woman of the 19th century. A woman we butt imply has stood reliably by her husband and fulfilled her conjugally duties throughout the years of their union. In the story, Mrs. Mallard has obviously suffered a terrible sledding in learning of her husbands death. We can tell by her reactions that she cared late for him. In the midst of her grieving, Mrs.Mallard pictures the time that is to come, when she leave alone be able to make all of her own decisions and will be presumptuousness the freedom to live her life as she pleases. Suddenly, she feels relieved more than she is upset. She knew that she would weep again when she saw the kind, tender hands folded in deathbut she saw beyond that bitter moment a coarse procession of years to come that would get to her absolutely (Booth 307). Her desire for freedom overcame the discouragement of her husbands death. Chopin includes that Mrs. Mallard tried to fight off these ideas w ith her will (Booth 307).Her embraced feelings of independence could have been viewed as forbidden. Although she is excited by these thoughts, she tries to resist the pleasure she rightfully feels when she realizes the freedom that she has gained. The words free, free, free escaped from her permit out (Booth307). She attempted to hold back the raise desires for her own life. Perhaps she is hesitant to take in these feelings because of the public view on womens rights, and the potential consequences for those who opposed such views. disdain the faithfulness and love Mrs.Mallard showed for her husband, the extreme fireman she felt in no long-life having a marital obligation overpowered her feelings of mournfulness and loss. At the end of the story, Mrs. Mallards husband walked through her front introduction in the flesh, but Mrs. Mallards heart could not handle the excitement. The doctors verbalise she died of joy that kills. Since Mrs. Mallard was so overwhelmed by her ne wly gained idea of independence, one can assume this joy is that of forbidden pleasure. some(prenominal) would consider it immoral to accept so easily the death of ones betrothed just because of the freedom acquired.The story shows how it was wrong for women to desire independence from their husbands, unheeding of they were tough. In many cases, men responded to their wives as they would children by limiting their options and making choices for them. Eventually, ideas emerged that women were truly incapable of anything other than caring for their families. In The Yellow Wallpaper, Gilman clearly expresses how conjuration (the husband) treats his wife analogously to how one baron treat a child. On one occasion, he even refers to his wife as little girl.The name itself signifies the lack of maturity women were thought to have, along with their defenselessness. Ideas such as these allowed men to dominate over decisions made in households, and in virtually cases, over women thems elves. The narrator tells in the story how her husband will hardly let her stir without special direction (Booth 323). passim the story, the narrator mentions several things to her husband regarding her discomfort in the house and her wishes for early departure, but each time she is disregarded, or redirected.While women were subject matter to orders, men were free to do as they please. There were very few who obdurate to speak in favor of equality for women of those who did, most were sent to an asylum. This allowed little hope for women seeking progress or escape. Gilman illustrates this in his story. The outside pattern becomes bars, and the woman fag it as plain as could be (Booth 323). he is saying that there is woman trapped in the wallpaper, but more importantly he is showing the feelings of entrapment confront by women. Most living conditions were similar among women.The desire for equality was a interchangeable feeling amongst the women of the 1800s. Gilman writes Som etimes I think there are a swell and many women behind it (Booth 325). This signifies how many women in this time shared similar feelings of crookedness in terms of their marriage and their step to the fore in society. Without a voice to exceed them out of sexual oppression, most women recognized the conditions given to them. The ideas of 19th century society sculpted lives of many women in slipway that were not enjoyable, and rather served as a burden to the women who were indeed victimized in this time frame.The way a woman presented herself in society strongly reflected her character. union or lack thereof, served as a strong basis to this social image which was very important. Each story mentioned holds a female character who is in some way oppressed by the social dominance of men. Each character it treated unequally, or as if they were of little importance. Women in this era were trapped in their own lives. Works Cited Anderson, Lori. Marriage and Women From 19th atomic number 6 On. Women and Issues of a Woman. CyberParent, n. d. Web. 9 February 2013. Booth, Allison, and Kely J. Mays. The Norton Introduction to Literature. tenth ed. Ed. Peter Simon. New York W. W. Norton, 2011. Print. McElligott, Caitlin. The 19th Century Debate. Womens Higher Education in the United States. N. p. n. d. Web. 24 February 2013. Women and Psychiatry. Brought to Life. Science Museum, n. d. Web. 20 February 2013. Women in the Middle Class in the 19th Century. http//web. clark. edu/afisher/HIST253/lecture_text/WomenMiddleClass_19c_Europe. pdf. N. p. n. d. Web. 2 March 2013.