Married women were victims of society in the past and continue to struggle in the present world. The short stories "The Yellow Wallpaper" (1899) by Charlotte Perkins Gilman and "The Story of an Hour" (1894) by Kate Chopin belong to feminist literature. Therefore, developing an understanding of the oppression of women in the 19th century and also reflecting the present challenges that women face in society. This essay will delve into multiple themes from both stories, including the oppression of marriage, emotional confinement, and the illusion of freedom. Initially, it is important to consider the oppression of marriage in the 19th century (Victorian period). In “The Yellow Wallpaper”, the author narrates the story from the perspective of a …show more content…
After she hears the news, she looks outside the open window and starts to truly appreciate the beauty in the simplest details, “The delicious breath of rain was in the air (.). The notes of a distant song which someone was singing reached her faintly, and countless sparrows were twittering in the eaves” (Chopin, 1894). However, the ending of the story provides an ironic twist. When Louise sees her husband at the doorstep, she collapses, and the doctors declare that she died of a heart disease, “of the joy that kills” (Chopin, 1894, p.2). There is no doubt that her shock was not joy over her husband's survival, but rather distress over losing her cherished freedom. In essence, Gilman and Chopin’s writings provide a strong critique of the significant oppression women faced in their respective marriages in the 19th century. Both authors illustrate the challenges women had to endure at that time, including the oppression within marriage, emotional confinement, and the illusion of freedom. Through “The Yellow Wallpaper” and “The Story of an Hour”, the authors prompt readers to critically reflect on the emotional challenges and abuses women face in marriage