How Does Tessie Hutchinson Live In A Patriarchal Society

Molly Rathert Mrs. Korando American Literature April 12, 2024 Women in Patriarchal Societies In the short stories “The Lottery,” written by Shirley Jackson, and “The Yellow Wallpaper,” written by Charlotte Perkins Gilman, the female protagonists are forced to live in a patriarchal society. In this society, their views are overlooked and their feelings are often pushed to the side. In the case of “The Lottery,” the protagonist Tessie Hutchinson is forced to partake in a town tradition known as the lottery, which ends up getting her killed, against her will. In “The Yellow Wallpaper” the narrator, who was never named, was forced by her husband to stay in a mansion for the summer because of her “nervous depression” which was actually Postpartum

In “The Lottery,” Tessie Hutchinson’s husband, Bill, seems to have a hold on her that she can’t escape. Bill Hutchinson says, “‘Shut up, Tessie”’ (Jackson 5). This shows how Bill did not treat Tessie the best, and how he had complete control over her and her actions. He constantly told her what to do, and he had control over her whole life. In the case of the unnamed narrator in “The Yellow Wallpaper,” her husband John doesn’t believe that she is sick, and he often looks over her thoughts and feelings. The narrator states, “You see, he does not believe I am sick!... one’s own husband, assures friends and relatives that there is really nothing the matter with one but temporary nervous depression- a slight hysterical tendency- what is one to do?” (Gilman 1). This evidence supports the idea that John often didn’t listen to the narrator, and pushed her feelings to the side. Even though she was struggling with a very severe case of PPD, he just pushed it off and called it a nervous depression. Their husband often held them back from making their own decisions, and looked down on

Tessie Hutchinson was forced to partake in the lottery against her will. Many times she exclaimed how she thought it was unfair. Tessie screamed, “It isn’t fair, it isn’t right” (Jackson 7). The author goes on to say that the townspeople began to advance on her, and they got their stones ready. This was one of the many times Tessie explained how she thought that the lottery was unfair, and that it wasn’t necessary. The unnamed narrator was also forced to leave. Her husband involuntarily took her to a mansion for the summer so she could rest and “get better.” Not only was she forced to stay in this house against her will, but John also forced her to stay in the nursery. The narrator states, “I don’t like the room a bit”. I wanted one downstairs that opened on the piazza and had roses all over the window, and such pretty old-fashioned chintz hangings! But John would not hear of it” (Gilman 2). This shows how John wouldn’t allow her to stay in the room she wanted. He forced her to stay in the room she thought was better for her. In both of these stories, the women were forced against their will due to the