Realism In The Yellow Wallpaper And The Awakening

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As a reaction to the Romantic era, realism defies against over dramatizing events, and instead focuses on portraying an accurate representation of society. Kate Chopin’s, The Awakening, is a strong example of a literary revolt against the social order of the time, most prominently the role of women in society. Chopin shows things as they are, not as they should be. This is also representative in The Yellow Wallpaper, by Charlotte Perkins Gilman. This short story encaptures the psychological side of realism and also expresses the different societal roles. Both authors allow the audience to experience the problematic aspects of society by exploring the concepts of realism.
Through her novella, Chopin is able to inform the audience of the real …show more content…

In The Yellow Wallpaper, the husband is superior to the wife, Mary. The audience is able to see the psychological effects of oppression through Mary, a person suffering from a nervous disorder. Mary recognizes that she must be active in society in order to heal, but her husband, and physician, will not allow it: “... And what can one do? If a physician of high standing, and one’s own husband, assures friends that there is really nothing the matter... What is one to do?” (YWP 1). Mary sees herself as not being able to do anything but what her husband, John, allows her to. John is overly concerned about what society will think of him instead of his wife’s serious condition. Mary tends show passiveness regarding her illness, but she does show little actions of revolt. She writes and thinks about her sickness, both of which her husband has specifically told her not to do. The imperative imagery of the wallpaper changes in appearance for Mary throughout the short story. At first she describes the color as “repellent, almost revolting” until it eventually grows on her and she regards it as a mystery that is waiting for her to solve (YWP 2). This realistic imagery is important because it shows the serious progression of Mary’s mental state. She ultimately thinks of herself as part of the wallpaper and lets it envelop her. Gilman’s use of the realism themes imagery and the portrayal of life as it is provides an explanation of the dysfunctional social settings people

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