Feminism And The Roles Of Women In The Yellow Wallpaper And The Story Of An Hour

Feminism and the Roles of Women in Their Family In the short stories “The Yellow Wallpaper” and “The Story of an Hour” by Charlotte Perkins Gilman and Kate Chopin, the authors illustrate the burden women have to carry during the Victorian time. During this period, men believe that their wives should not have the power to make their own decisions. Instead, men often treat their spouse as a child; therefore, they unintentionally take over their wives’ lives. The two authors have a similar feminist idea that women should control their own lives even while keeping family roles. The story of “The Yellow Wallpaper” describes that many women often endure mental stress when they follow their husbands’ advice. The narrator begins the story by saying

In the story of “The Yellow Wallpaper”, Gilman suggests that the narrator should have the responsibility of a mother that she always want. For example, the narrator in the “The Yellow Wallpaper” needs and desires to take care of her child, but her husband does not let her. Instead, John takes up all the responsibilities in the family. The author suggests that John needs to let his wife do her job. Gilman proves this when the narrator misses her baby and she says, “…I cannot be with him, it makes me so nervous” (Gilman 78). This proves that John makes his wife feels worried and sad. These feelings add to her depression, and her depression gets worse. This also demonstrates that John’s desire to do all the works by himself has a negative effect on his wife health. In addition, women have the responsibility to maintain a happy and peaceful atmosphere in their family. For instance, Gilman provides examples of the narrator and her family. The family in the story “The Yellow Wallpaper” encounters a mournful incident because the husband does not allow his wife to be herself. When the wife feels sad, the atmosphere in the family changes because everyone in the family connects to each other by the emotional and physical attachment. Gilman proves this fact when the narrator in the story becomes insane, and her husband faints when he sees her (Gilman 89). This shows that John also feels the narrator’s energy when she is ill. Gilman illustrates this when she shows John’s energy decreases to the point where he cannot stand on his feet, and he faints. This tragic scene proves that John and his wife connect to each other both mentally and physically. The readers can surely assume that the husband will have to take care of his child by himself without the support from his wife. This can be a tremendous burden on the family especially on the child because a baby needs his or her