Gender Equality In The Yellow Wallpaper And The Two Offers

The United States has made enormous strides to making gender equality a reality. One of the most famous strides was the 19th amendment that guaranteed a woman’s right to vote. But how was all of this progress made? One can easily attribute the progress of gender equality to the growth of publications and works of literature by women. During the 19th century, women began to publish works of literature that advocated for female independence. The short stories “The Two Offers,” “The Story of an Hour,” and “The Yellow Wallpaper” all embody the idea that women could eliminate their personal weaknesses by becoming independent. “The Two Offers,” by Frances Ellen Watkins Harper strongly supports female independence. The story describes the life of
In “The Yellow Wallpaper,” a woman named Jane narrates the story of her summer stay in a mansion. When Jane complains of a mental condition, her husband John confines her to her room to cure what he calls a temporary nervous depression (Gilman). In response to this, Jane says, “If a physician of high standing, and one’s own husband, assures friends and relatives that there is really nothing the matter with one…What is one to do?” (Gilman). Even though Jane personally disagrees with John’s diagnosis, she still complies with his treatment plan because she is dependent on her husband. During her stay, Jane becomes obsessed with a mysterious woman-figure in the yellow wallpaper of her room. Jane eventually rips the wallpaper off of the wall, and at the end of the story, the author reveals that the woman in the wall has taken over Jane’s body. At the very end of the story, Jane says, “I’ve got out at last…in spite of you and Jane…And I’ve pulled off most of the paper, so you can’t put me back!” (Gilman). In this story, the yellow wallpaper is a metaphor for the cage that society places on Jane. The cage is essentially John, her own husband. John was the one who didn’t recognize Jane’s mental condition as legitimate, and John was the one who gave Jane a horrible treatment plan. Because Jane thoroughly depended on John, she allowed him to place
In “The Story of an Hour,” a woman by the name of Mrs. Mallard recently hears of the death of her husband, Brently Mallard. The author describes Mrs. Mallard as a gentle, frail woman who has heart trouble (Chopin). When she hears the news, Mrs. Mallard immediately reacts with sorrow and retreats to her room to think about what has happened. While she is brooding in her room, she thinks about how the death of her husband gives her freedom to do whatever she likes. The author states, “She had loved him—sometimes. Often she had not. What did it matter! What could love, the unsolved mystery, count for in the face of this possession of self-assertion which she suddenly recognized as the strongest impulse of her being!” (Chopin). Even though Mrs. Mallard was a very weak and frail person at the beginning of the story, just the thought of freedom liberates her from her sorrow and fills her with immense joy. Mrs. Mallard feel strong, as though she had eliminated her weakness and any self-doubt she had beforehand. However, the twist in the story is that Mrs. Mallard’s husband is actually alive. When her husband returns, her freedom and independence go straight out the door. As soon as Mrs. Mallard realizes this, she falls to the floor, stricken with a heart attack. Mrs. Mallard’s heart attack is a symbol for