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Comparing The Yellow Wallpaper And Trifles

2071 Words9 Pages

The following Victorian Era texts “The Yellow Wallpaper” by Charlotte Perkins Gilman and Trifles by Susan Glaspell argue that men are the general cause of women's suffrage. The play Trifles is about a woman named Minnie Foster who is seeking revenge and freedom from her husband after he strangles her pet bird. “The Yellow Wallpaper” is about a woman named Jane who had recently given birth and who is suffering from a mental illness. She developed an obsession with the wallpaper that is in her room and the women that she believes is trapped in the wallpaper. Her husband who is also her doctor refuses to let her do anything stimulating, therefore, she gets worst and has a mental breakdown. For centuries women have been urged to take on traditional …show more content…

During the Victorian Era, women were not left on their own to do as they wished freely, instead they always had to answer to a man or be under a males supervision. Jane’s husband John was not only her husband but he was also her physician. Since he was her doctor who was treating her and her husband he had a great deal of control over her. “As Jane’s physician- husband, he is identified as ruler- and that is, of Jane- in all domains personal, profession, and social”. (Barbara A. Suess 86) John put Jane on bed rest and had a schedule made for her for the time when she was awake. This can be interpreted in a couple different ways. You could either see this as a husband caring for his ill wife who is concerned for her well being or contrary to that a way of controlling what his wife does. John even took away simple activities that brought Jane happiness. “There comes John’s sister. Such a dear girl as she is, and so careful of me! I must not let her find me writing”. (Charlotte Perkins Gilman 4) Jane was not allowed to write so she had to write when no one was around. If John really wants Jane to get better why wouldn't he let her do any activities that brought her joy and made her feel

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