Freedom for Women in The Yellow Wallpaper by Charlotte...

Freedom for Women in The Yellow Wallpaper by Charlotte Perkins Gillman and The Story of an Hour by Kate Chopin The Yellow Wallpaper by Charlotte Perkins Gillman and The Story of an Hour by Kate Chopin are two feminist works in which liberation is the overlying theme. Both of the main characters achieve freedom from their husbands oppression in these short stories; however, freedom is only achieved through insanity in The Yellow Wallpaper and death in The Story of an Hour. The women in these stories are viewed as very powerful, as they do whatever it takes to free themselves from the oppressive holds of their husbands. Their strength proves these two short stories very influential works of feminism. Oppression is chief†¦show more content†¦Louise is informed that her husband has been killed in accident, and due to a heart disorder, the news is broken to her very carefully. The reader acknowledges that Brently was oppressive by her reaction to the news of his death. Instead of reacting with melancholy feelings, she expresses her joy for her fallen husband. Chopin writes, ?She did not stop to ask if it were not a monstrous joy that held her. A clear and exalted perception enabled her to dismiss the suggestion as trivial? (par 12). Louise knows that she should feel upset about her ?dead? husband; however she cannot help to feel relieved that the oppression has ended and that she can finally behave in the manner in which she chooses. It is soon discovered that Brently did not actually die in an accident, which causes the Louise to die. Oppression plays a large role in comprehending the theme of liberation in both ?The Yellow Wallpaper? and ?The Story of an Hour.? On ly after the main characters break the oppressive hold that their husbands have over them are they able to gain true liberation, supporting it as a theme pertinent to both stories. Both the female main characters express throughout the stories how they want to be free; unfortunately their freedom is not gained in a normal manner, but through insanity and death. Through the isolation imposed by her husband, Gilman?s narrator begins to go mad,Show MoreRelatedThe Oppression of Wives in Chopins The Story of an Hour and Gillmans The Yellow Wallpaper961 Words   |  4 Pageslead to the demise of their wives. In â€Å"The Story of an Hour† by Kate Chopin and â€Å"The Yellow Wallpaper† by Charlotte Perkins Gillman the husband’s insistence upon control, leaves their wives longing for the freedom of simple expression. â€Å"The Story of an Hour† and â€Å"The Yellow Wallpaper† illustrates how the husband is the controlling figure in the marriage. The two short stories also expose how the oppression put on them by their husband leaves the women unfulfilled and unhappy with their lives. Read MoreThe Cult Of Domesticity By Charlotte Perkins Gilman And Kate Chopin Essay972 Words   |  4 Pagesleaders and breadwinners, while women were the homemakers and domesticates. Since women were considered physically weaker yet morally superior to men, they were best suited to the domestic sphere (Hughes). It is against this backdrop that Charlotte Perkins Gilman and Kate Chopin write â€Å"The Yellow Wall-Paper† (1892) and â€Å"The Story of an Hour† (1894), respectively. Each story is an allegory that spotlights female oppression by patriarchal authority and the struggles of women to attain liberty from this