Comparing Gender Roles In The Chrysanthemums, And The Yellow Wall

CLAIM: “Hills Like White Elephants," “The Chrysanthemums,” and “The Yellow Wallpaper” were written to give social commentary on the strained relationship between men and women of the time by depicting women in lesser roles and unfairly dependant on men. Steinbeck, Hemingway, and Gilman understood the social injustice of gender roles in their society. In each story, women are written in a way which reflects their less influential positions. In “Hills Like White Elephants,” Hemingway introduces the characters in his story as “man” and “girl” (1). By introducing the male character in this manner, he implies adulthood and importance. By referring to the female character as “girl,” Hemingway gives her a child-like status, which is often seen as inferior to adult status. This gives off an air of tension as the two are then seen as unequal. Steinbeck

By portraying Elisa as a gardener and Henry as the businessman, Steinbeck shows that the male often had the role of the “breadwinner” in his time, even though Elisa is depicted as far more capable in the story, written as being able to plant and grow anything (2). Steinbeck included these seemingly minor details to outline the injustice that strained the relationship between men and women. Lastly, in “The Yellow Wallpaper,” Gilman writes the Narrator as saying, “Personally, I believe that congenial work, with excitement and change, would do me good. But what is one to do?” (1). By writing the narrator as someone who does not work, but wants to, Gilman is