Though the narratives “Desiree’s Baby,” “The Yellow Wallpaper,” and “Trifles,” were written over a hundred years ago, all exquisitely demonstrate how male dominance and abuse affects the female psyche. The heroines of these narratives are used, unable to contribute in a meaningful way to their own well-being, all the while being viewed as individuals whose opinions are lackluster. The abusive manner in which they are treated by the men who supposedly love them drives them toward possible suicide, psychosis, and even murder.
“Desiree’s Baby,” by Kate Chopin, is the story of Desiree, a young orphan of unknown ancestry, who married Armand, a local plantation owner. Armand is determined to marry Desiree, and declares that her ancestry is unimportant to him, “What did it matter about a name when he could give her one of the oldest and proudest in Louisiana” (p. 420)? However, upon birth of their first child and discovery that the child has black features, Armand accuses Desiree of having black heritage and turns her out. At the end of the end of the story, we discover
…show more content…
Any relationship where one partner has more power and misuses that power to control his partner is destined for failure. It is significant that these narratives are just as compelling today as the day they were written. Though some societal views regarding women have changed, women are still as susceptible to emotional and other types of spousal abuse today as they were then. This begs the question of who is responsible when a woman under stress cracks. Is Desiree responsible for her disappearance into the bayou, or is Armand? Did the narrator in the “Yellow Wallpaper” have a break from reality, or did her husband and physician drive her there? Did John Wright cause his own death? Ultimately, these are questions society must answer. How culpable are victims of abuse when they cannot endure