Eac150
Essay Assignment 1
Helen Nguyen
052601127
Seneca College (Markham campus)
June 07, 2013
Word count: 766
Female Protagonists
Feminism is an ideology aimed at establishing, defining and defending equal economic, political and social rights for women. The Yellow Wallpaper and The Story of an Hour both deal with female isolationism. Both females from the stories desire the freedom to explore the world on their own. While one wished to break free from the shackles of marriage, the other sought for freedom from the confines of a man’s world. Two women from different stories share the same contrasts and similarities. The two female protagonists had similar purposes; the narrator’s purpose was to save people from becoming crazy and Louis’ purpose was to show how women struggle in the confinements of marriage. Though they have similar purposes, Chopin’s story is told in third person and shows more of how women struggle through marriage. She also showed women that there is more to life if unmarried. The female protagonist of Chopin’s story felt trapped by her husband and only felt free when he was gone because she was able to detect the loophole in the restrictions women faced in marriage. The irony of this story is that she died due to loss of joy rather than dying of joy when her newfound life was swiftly taken away the moment her “dead” husband walked through the door. While Gilman’s is told as a diary entry in first person, she shows more of her own personal struggle and what women had to go through if they were thought to be sick. The protagonist in Gilman’s story shows that the narrator’s husband would not let her live a normal life due to her condition. The narrator had to lose herself to understand herself. She was finally able to break free of her marriage, her society and her mind but she had to sacrifice a lot.
Louise Mallard is an intelligent, independent woman who understands the “right” way for women to behave, however her thoughts and
Helen Nguyen
052601127
Seneca College (Markham campus)
June 07, 2013
Word count: 766
Female Protagonists
Feminism is an ideology aimed at establishing, defining and defending equal economic, political and social rights for women. The Yellow Wallpaper and The Story of an Hour both deal with female isolationism. Both females from the stories desire the freedom to explore the world on their own. While one wished to break free from the shackles of marriage, the other sought for freedom from the confines of a man’s world. Two women from different stories share the same contrasts and similarities. The two female protagonists had similar purposes; the narrator’s purpose was to save people from becoming crazy and Louis’ purpose was to show how women struggle in the confinements of marriage. Though they have similar purposes, Chopin’s story is told in third person and shows more of how women struggle through marriage. She also showed women that there is more to life if unmarried. The female protagonist of Chopin’s story felt trapped by her husband and only felt free when he was gone because she was able to detect the loophole in the restrictions women faced in marriage. The irony of this story is that she died due to loss of joy rather than dying of joy when her newfound life was swiftly taken away the moment her “dead” husband walked through the door. While Gilman’s is told as a diary entry in first person, she shows more of her own personal struggle and what women had to go through if they were thought to be sick. The protagonist in Gilman’s story shows that the narrator’s husband would not let her live a normal life due to her condition. The narrator had to lose herself to understand herself. She was finally able to break free of her marriage, her society and her mind but she had to sacrifice a lot.
Louise Mallard is an intelligent, independent woman who understands the “right” way for women to behave, however her thoughts and