Mary Wilkins Freeman's The Revolt Of Mother

Motherly Roles and Responsibilities

By the end of the 1800s social change was in full bloom across the United States; the end of the Civil War preserved the Union and led to the abolishment of slavery. While black americans still faced fierce opposition and prejudices they were free from the shackles of slavery and had more rights than at any other point in American history. As black americans were granted new freedoms, such as the right to vote, women in the United States began to re-evaluate their role in the political and social spectrum across the nation. This led to more demand of being treated equal to the white males in the country and brought upon the Women’s suffrage movement and first-wave feminism. This change in how women should

Wilkins Freeman’s “The Revolt of ‘Mother’”. First published in 1891 “The Revolt of ‘Mother’” tells the story of housewife Sarah Penn who after 40 years of being cooped up in the same house and listening to her husband’s false promises to build the family a new home. While she may not be determined with radical change, she is determined to change to current situation in which she is living in. She decides to go against the status quo of the time and take control of her present situation and make life better for her and her

After he leaves their son Sammy and the farm workers are starting to put hay into the new barn. However; as they are doing this Mrs. Penn orders them to stop doing so and to put the hay into the old barn. Despite being puzzled the men do as she says. Later that night after Sarah and the children finish up dinner she begins to act unusual and begins to pile up plates from around the house. Her actions leave the children perplexed and they inquire into what she is doing. Mrs. Penn replies by telling the children to begin to pack their things and to take apart their beds. When they ask her what for she replies with “You’ll see” (669). They empty the entire house and move everything into the newly built barn. When Adoniram arrives home he is left in bewilderment as to why the family is inside the barn instead of the house. Sarah reassures him that everything is fine and there is no need to worry she states “...you needn;t be scared. I ain’t crazy. There ain’t nothin’ to be upset over. But we’ve come here to live, an’ we’re goin’ to live here. We’ve got jest as good right here as new horse and cows. The house wa’n’t fit for us to live in any longer, an’ I made up my mind I wa’n’t goin’ to stay there” (672). Sarah let’s her husband know that this her decision and that she is going to stand by it no matter what.