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Comparing Feminism In The Awakening And The Yellow Wallpaper

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Feminism is a social principle and political crusade built on and driven by the experiences of women. Feminist theory also focuses on promoting rights of women equal to those of men. Writers of such texts are often concerned with the nature of gender inequality, the ways of patriarchal society, and the power struggles experienced by women. Feminist literary works illustrate two types of oppression, oppression one which involves the restriction of women due to their traditionally assigned duties at home, and oppression two which exposes the ways in which patriarchal society restricts the experiences of women. Oppression two is reflected in The Awakening by Kate Chopin, A Doll House by Ibsen, and “The Yellow Wallpaper” by Charlotte Gilman as these works reveal the way in which men exert power over women in …show more content…

The men in Edna’s life restrict her from becoming independent as they assert constant control over her mindset and physical being. Mr. Pontellier states, “I can’t permit you to stay out there all night. You must come in the house instantly” (53). To which Edna “wondered if her husband had ever spoken to her like that before, and if she had submitted to his command. Of course she had; she remembered that she had” (53). This demonstrates the way in which Edna’s husband restricts her and prohibits her from doing as she desires. Edna begins to analyze her past behavior and recalls having succumbed to her husband’s power. Leonce’s authority over Edna is further conveyed as he “had been a rather courteous husband so long as he met a certain tacit submissiveness in his wife…then her absolute disregard for her duties as a wife angered him” (95). Leonce desires to proclaim authority over Edna and is respectful only when a certain level of obedience is met by her. This shows the abusive nature of their relationship as Leonce views Edna as his possession as he exerts control

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Mr. Pontellier, representing the typical husband of that era, looks at his wife “as one looks at a valuable piece of personal property.” As a wife, society expects you to listen to your husband and to take care of your husbands needs. Early in the novel, it is established that Edna is unique because she defies her husband’s commands. For example, Edna is asked to go inside with her husband when she is at Grand Isle, but she simply tells him that she is “going to stay out here.” However, when Mr. Potellier gets more demanding, Edna gets more confident, stating that she will not answer him if he continues to speak to her “like that.”

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Women during Edna’s time were supposed to be dedicated to their husbands and children, however, Edna yearned for her own independence, and as a result of wanting her own independence Edna knew that she was seen as a terrible person. For instance Edna wanted to “…try to determine what character of a woman I am; for, candidly, I don't know. By all the codes which I am acquainted with, I am a devilishly wicked specimen of the sex. But some way I can't convince myself that I am. I must think about it" (27.4).

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(5). This mindset of a woman’s duty in his mind saddens Edna and causes her to wonder what her true purpose is outside of society’s norms. When Edna discovers independence, she decides to move to a smaller house while her husband and children are away. “When Mr. Pontellier

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Edna continually questions whether or not she is destined to live a life of subordination or if she can find her own freedom. Edna Pontellier’s defiant nature is brought out

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There is a perceived split between “outer Edna and inner Edna” that is constantly disrupting Edna and her desires. Outer Edna is supposed to be recognized as this ideal wife who obeys her husband and does what he commands-similar to her friend Adele. This lifestyle that Edna is supposed to live by cannot be achieved due to “inner Edna’s” desire of being free and independent. “Outer Edna” conforms to society expectations even if it is not what she desires, while “inner Edna” seeks independence and

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Edna and her husband Leonce, begin to have problems at the beginning of the novel. Their issues are created with the lack of communication that is used in their household. Edna withholds information from Leonce when she feels that her voice isn’t being heard. She has yet to realise that she is not happy in her marriage. Later in the plot Leonce starts to question how strong their relationship is.

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The Awakening: Gender Roles “The Awakening,” written by Kate Chopin, is one of the most influential novel regarding gender roles in the era of its publication, which was 1899. During the time of publication, an era of rapid changes that were being made in regards to women rights; states were starting to adopt women suffrage and women were beginning to take a more active role in society as more opportunities presented themselves towards them (Woman Suffrage Timeline). Kate Chopin’s “The Awakening” faced the current movement, was influential in helping reform the movements and helped push forward the ideology that women were not men’s property. Hence, it is one of the most important pieces in concerns of the women revolution, the novel defying the laws of society at the time.

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Starting in the first few pages, Leonce says that he looks at Edna like “one looks at a valuable piece of personal property which has suffered some damage” (2). Although these might be normal thoughts that people in the Creole society have, Edna believes she does not deserve to be treated this way and begins to rebel against these accepted Creole beliefs. Respect is imperative between a married couple but it is apparent throughout the novella that this mutual respect disappears and Leonce and Edna’s relationship slowly disintegrates. In an argument between them in Chapter 11, Edna orders Leonce to go to bed and warns him by saying, “Don’t speak to me like that again; I shall not answer you” (31). This kind of discourse is unheard of at the time and only marks the beginning of their growing distance, both physical and emotional.

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The same night of her awakening and the moment with Robert, Edna stays out on the hammock in front of the house. When Mr. Pontellier comes back and asks her to come inside she refuses. She thinks about that fact that, Another time she would have gone in at his request. She would, through habit, have yielded to his desire; not with any sense of submission or obedience to his compelling wishes, but unthinkingly, as we walk, move, sit, stand, go through the daily treadmill of the life which has been portioned out to us.

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If he were to say, ‘Here, Robert, take her and be happy; she is yours,’ I should laugh at the both of you” (108). Throughout the story Edna’s feelings for Robert grow stronger and deeper, so that by the end of the novel she simply longs to be with him. Yet parallel to that growth Edna has discovered her self and developed her own identity. The idea of a transfer of ownership of her person from one man to another is abhorrent to her, so much so that it would cause her to abandon her dream of being with Robert. Though she wants that very much, she is unwilling to lose her own identity in the process as she did when she was with Mr. Pontellier.

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Sheraliz Ortiz Mrs. Kehrmeyer AP Language, Per 1 14 November 2016 Womens Patriarchal Oppression Women have been denied social power and the right to various forms of self-expression during the 19th century. Feminism is the belief that women should be treated as equals to men and have the same opportunities. Feminist analysis discusses about topics such as women in society that's been through oppression, dehumanizing, and depression. Several brave female writers came forth during this period, to speak out against their oppression through the means of poetry, short stories, and the application of a typical female characters.

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The social roles Edna might have chosen to live by and sustain, implicitly revealing that her sense of the practical, available social identities is erroneously and therefore tragically limited. As Bartley reminds us, Leonce must finally acknowledge and even accommodate Edna 's departure from the house. It is true that he "speaks" her story by providing an excuse for Edna to their friends and family, but Leonce 's fictional explanation for her leaving is nonetheless a sign that he is willing to renegotiate the old (and more conventional) terms of their marriage, including how much responsibility over childcare and childrearing Leonce might be willing to take on himself. Should marriage prove impossible for Edna, she might develop the friendship she has started with Adele, and/or Madame Reisz. Together all three might approach other women in similar circumstances and join a women 's rights movement.

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Edna wants to find her own identity away from her children and husband, later in the novel she states “I suppose this is what you would call unwomanly; but I have gotten into the habit of expressing myself. It doesn’t matter to me, and you may think me unwomanly if you like” Edna has gone on this awakening and discovered more things about herself (Chopin 108). Edna is not a motherly figure, she views herself as slaves to her kids and calls her kids “little antagonists”, in a society where a mothers duty is to her children. While Edna goes through this journey people start to question her, “It sometimes entered Mr.Pontelliers mind to wonder if his wife were not growing a little unbalanced mentally” (Chopin 59).

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Such distinct and unjust differences between male and females has assisted in the lack of females’ being allowed to choose their own path. Even though Edna was able to select her path in the end it lead to her tragic death, “There was no despondency when she fell asleep that night; nor was there hope when she awoke in the morning.” This was the only manner in which she could control her fate and free herself from the societal bonds placed on her. Such is the result of a woman who wishes to define her own identity, in a world with such rigid social

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Léonce Pontellier, a husband to Edna, works all summer and rarely home. Edna’s relationship with Léonce is indifferent; he never acknowledges Edna’s needs or her own wellbeing. He is blind to the little things around him, during his time with his family. To Léonce, Edna is nothing more than a woman with whom he shares a home

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