Please use this space to formulate your thoughts about women's roles in marriage, and their ways of contesting their condition, or not, based on any of our first three readings: Trifles, "The Story of an Hour," and "Desiree's Baby." This blog will be due Wednesday evening (midnight) for Thursday's class
What assumptions are made about women in each text?
How are women's voices ignored, misunderstood,
erased?
How is setting symbolic in each story? In what spaces do women find freedom, find themselves?
How do women acquire a voice of their own? That is, what strategies do they implement to articulate their feelings?
Why do women sometimes choose not to speak?
How does each story explore, expose, the power of patriarchy? (the law of the father)
You may write about one text or compare two, or all three. Be sure to quote from each text at least once.
The blog should be about 300 words. See page 9 of coursepak for blog scoring.
There are many women who view their home as a setting of tranquility, lifestyle, and even their own domesticated individuality. In the reading, “The Story of An Hour” by Kate Chopin (1894), Mrs. Mallard experiences dramatic destruction of her home and her own self. When she is informed of her husband’s death in a recent train wreck, she becomes indwelled in an absolute depression and fear. Life as she knew it would never be the same. Her sensibility was taken from her in a matter of seconds when her husband’s friend who confirmed the death of Mr. Mallard read his name on the list of those who had died. Her once calm home had now been turned into turmoil and mourning. Her sister and her husband’s friend were in complete despair with weak attempts to relax the gravity of the situation.
ReplyDeleteUnfortunately, her sister’s comfort was to no avail. It was only in her solitude that Louise Mallard was able to come to terms with her new reality. After she had enclosed herself in her room and sit indignant in from of her window was she able to surpass her horrific state as a widow and settle in her new self who no longer had a happy home with a husband. She would have to live on alone and accept her new course of life. Her united dreams with her husband would no long be accomplished as well as the growth of her relationship with her husband. She realizes, “ There would be no one to live for during those coming years; she would live for her self.” It was at this moment that Louise understood that her husband and home was the significance of her being. Detaching herself from her routine as a wife would be an altering challenge and change for Mrs. Mallard. However, it was in the solitude of her room that she was able to find freedom and relief from her overwhelming grief. It was only then, however, that Louise, finally, was able to surpass her emotions and accept that she will now live independently for herself. Finally, she was able to find the strength to open the door and surrender to her sister’s comforting arms. Reestablished she walked back to her husband’s friend to come to find her husband alive and well. The sight of her husband was intense and even disappointing. She had accepted her fate and independence only to relinquish that authority one again to her husband.
-Steven Holguin
Hello Steven--Congrats on first reply! I like the way you focus on Mrs Mallard's need for solitude . . .would like you to help us focus on her emotions at each stage--where in text do you see her "turmoil"? do we need to distinguish between her emotions and those of sister? Good analysis of ending.
DeleteHey Dr. Van. I'm in! Thanks for inviting me to the blog. :-)
ReplyDeleteDr. X
thanks for the tip! problem solved :)
ReplyDeleteThe typical nineteenth century woman falls into the social norms of “traditional” marriage roles that restrict them from becoming individuals. By abiding to the laws of a marriage ruled by patriarchy, women become powerless and in most cases, become ownership of men; claiming both mind and body. Based on Kate Chopin’s “The Story of an Hour” and “Desiree’s Baby,” it is when women acquire a voice of their own that they gain a little control of their life. These women allow their minds to free, fall and think or ultimately fail to escape their given roles. Women rely more heavily on their emotions, which stirs in them, a response. Women also identified and communicated with each other as housewives. As the majority without power, rights, or choices, communication was a tactic used to help women cope with their emotions. Successful or not, self evaluation also played a part in acquiring a voice. In “The Story of an Hour,” Mrs. Mallard acquires a positive aspect of her husband’s death. She gives into her subconscious, and she goes through what she feels is a “possession.” During this “possession,” she comes to the realization that “There would be no one to live for during those coming years; she would live for herself. There would be no powerful will bending hers in that blind persistence with which men and women believe they have a right to impose a private will upon a fellow-creature.” In this liberating moment, she discovers, to her most importance; free will. Her awakening challenges the traditional laws of marriage between a man and wife played during the nineteenth century and questions inequality and a power struggle; how much authority can each person impose on one another? Despite the negative reaction that led to her death when she saw her husband in sight, I believe it is fortunate she dies with the assertion that she, as a woman was capable to think for herself and lead her own life. In comparison to Mrs. Mallard, Desiree’s story is more tragic. Chopin's story on Desiree not only targets the issue on marriage, but also racism and inequality. It brings light to broken vows, betrayal and injustice. She chooses to describe Desiree wearing white garments such as "soft white muslin and laces" frequently throughout the story to symbolize the woman's innocence and good nature. Desiree's husband, Armand refuses to acknowledge his wife and baby and accuses her of not being white due to the growing child’s physical features. Although it is believed she is white, she is found at fault and Armand begins to treat her with cruelty. Once again, Chopin describes the unfair treatment women received during the nineteenth century. In one part of the story, Desiree calls to her husband, "in a voice which must have stabbed him, if he were human." Chopin continues to bring attention to the negative nature of Armand. Desiree finds support in her mother, who as a fellow woman can sympathize the emotional trauma that can be caused by a marriage. Although she attempts to defend herself to her husband, she fails to have her own awakening and instead, breaks down like her marriage. In her abandonment, she chooses to leave upon her husband's wishes, leaving her fate unknown. Unlike the character of Mrs. Mallard, Desiree does not get her own salvation and is believed to walk to her death. As Desiree claims to her mother, "I shall die. I must die. I cannot be so unhappy and live." It is described that Desiree walks in a white garment towards the deep banks of the river. Chopin ends her story with Desiree dying with her innocence and Armand left in the dark; he lives with his betrayal upon knowing he is of African descent. Through the characters of "The Story of an Hour" and "Desiree's Baby," Chopin successfully demonstrates the married life of the nineteenth century women. She challenges society's take on a women's life and her self worth. In a way, both Mrs. Mallard and Desiree die like martyrs.
ReplyDeleteJulie--I admire your idea at beginning of blog about women acquiring a voice and gaining some control--(we might even think of Minnie Wright's murder of husband as a "voice" thought that would be extreme!). YOu have a very interesting comparison set up between the two Chopin stories and main characters--especially your ending!
DeleteKate Chopin’s “The Story of an Hour” shows clearly the patriarchal patterns within society. In the story, Mrs. Louise Mallard is informed - carefully due to her “heart trouble” - that her husband has died; Mrs. Mallard’s reaction is not completely unexpected: she bursts into tears, so to speak, and shuts herself away in her room. She then breaks away from the expected reactions when, sitting on her chair and looking out of her open window, she whispers “free, free, free!”. As the story progresses, one finds that “she had loved him - sometimes”. “Sometimes”, obviously, is not enough to label a marriage as “healthy”. One sees problems within Mrs. Mallard’s marriage; and yet, these problems do not begin to clarify until it is realized that “There would be no one to live for during those coming years; she would live for herself.” The phrase “to live for” appears to be the source of Mrs. Mallard’s troubles. Having to live for someone is troublesome because it suggests that one cannot live for oneself. This shows why Mrs. Mallard feels “free” - physical constraints are not able to be applied to this situation; it is socio-marital situation in which society traps the wife through the accepted customs of marriage. Mrs. Mallard’s life had become intertwined with marriage: ontological distinctions for her are only possible through marital ontology. That is, her identity, her form of being, her reason to be, are all tied up with marriage. No longer a person in immediate relation to herself, Mrs. Mallard has become “Mrs. Mallard” - “Louise” still exists, but this is no longer her primary identity. The patriarchal power relations that constituted this change are deeply instilled in society, and the only way for one to free oneself is through the death of the patriarch. It is this realization that makes Mrs. Mallard begin to “live”.
ReplyDeleteJoseph--I admire your focus on the idea of identity itself--its connection to marital ontology; you are incisive in explaining how the death of the patriarch enables a new identity for Mrs. Mallard. Let us know if you find things in Gender Troubles that might be relevant to our discussion!
DeleteIn Susans Glaspell’s Trifles and Desiree’s baby their marriages were majorly influenced by the power of patriarchy in which the husband was superior and had every say. Women are portrayed as objects inferior to men. Not allowed to have a voice and just keep their place as housewives. In Susan Glaspell’s Trifles Mr. Wright ripped his wife Minnie of any happiness she could possibly have. Mr. Wright was the man of the house and controlled everything. Her job was only to cook, clean and sew. The story begins and takes place in the kitchen known as the place where women were expected to be. The women didn’t have any freedom of expression. Mrs. Hale explained how Minnie Foster was before her husband she was full of life and loved to sing. Often the women’s voices are ignored because the men believed that women only think about trivial things. Mrs. Peters mentions “Oh, her fruit; it did freeze. [To the lawyer] She worried about that when it turned so cold. She said the fire’d go out and her jars would break. “The Sherriff goes on to say “Well, can you beat the women! Held for murder and worryin’ about her preserves. The Sherriff mocks the women saying that the least of her worries should be these preserves and instead worry about the crime she has committed. Regardless what the women said they realized it was just best to keep quiet.It did not matter if they were wrong or right or if they had a point. The men were the least bit interested in what they had to say. Mrs. Hale and Mrs. Peters sympathize with Minnie Foster. The women feel that Minnie Foster has suffered enough. Finally Mrs. Peters and Mrs. Hale find freedom and triumph by keeping the evidence they acquired a secret. And Minnie Foster finds freedom by putting an end to her husband’s cruelty by ending his life. The men didn’t want to give the women a chance to express themselves or speak. In Desiree’s Baby there is this similarity. The husband Armand is adamant after seeing the baby that Desiree is not a white woman. Desiree pleaded with him in desperation to listen to her. “I am white! Look at my hair, it is brown; and my eyes are gray, Armand, you know they are gray, and my skin is fair’."However Armand had made up his mind and there was nothing that could prove him otherwise. Distraught Desiree call upon her mother who advises her to go home with her. Armand chauvinist behavior towards Desiree gives her the courage to leave. Desiree was so easily no longer of importance to him. In conclusion in both stories the men were wrong. However since the women werent given the chance to be heard. The truth was never truly revealed.
ReplyDeleteI like the connection you make about the truth remaining unheard, unrevealed in both stories because women's voices are not heard!
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ReplyDeleteIn the nineteenth century, gender roles were highly prevalent and stereotyped within a marriage. Women usually remained submissive and silent due to the overpowering ego of their husbands. Along with a muted voice, their feelings and beliefs were often rejected and unappreciated by the male. Susan Glaspell’s play, Trifles is extremely effective because it clearly depicts the patriarchal power of men, and the underlying intelligence of women. Hidden knowledge shared by this gender has been concealed from men, in order to preserve a clever female intuition.During the first scene of Trifles, the presence of the women were barely apparent, and their voices were silenced. However, the male superior attitude towards the “crime scene” revealed the excessive self-assurance they possessed. Their knowledge was impacted negatively, because they overlooked significant details due to their over-confidence in solving criminal mysteries. For example, on page 17 the Sheriff claimed, “Nothing here but kitchen things,” after briefly inspecting the kitchen. He assumed only cooking utilities would be found in a woman’s primary place. On the contrary, the women were the true analyzers and observers. Glaspell distinguishes the curious nature of both sexes by subliminally using gender roles. In traditional society, women were often confined to household duties such as cooking, cleaning and sewing. While the men searched for evidence upstairs, the women resided in the kitchen, their domesticated comfort zone. This may explain why Mrs. Peters and Mrs. Hale examined the food, quilt and other items so closely. For example, on page 20 Mrs. Hale recognized an inconsistency in the quilt. She stated, “Here, this is the one she was working on, and look at the sewing! All the rest of it has been so nice and even. And look at this! All over the place!” Although this was alarming evidence to the women, the men simply laughed about it. The Sheriff said, “They wonder if she was going to quilt it or just knot it!” This proves that men considered female ideology to be limited and diminutive. Gender roles are also shown because the men quickly return to their research. This proves that men were the authoritative ones, in control of all significant tasks. Susan Glaspell continuously emphasizes the male disconnection to womanly instincts in Trifles. Another example is when Hale declared, “Well, women are used to worrying over trifles,” The word and title of the play alone can strongly signify the value and impact of the most minuscule things. It draws a contrast between the thought processes of men and women. The men believed it was in a woman’s nature to overreact to small issues. However, the men themselves suffered from narrow-mindedness because they underestimated the potential of these small details. This is advantageous to the women because it allows them to maintain a hidden intelligence, while the men are deeply unaware of this knowledge. If women were entitled to voice their own opinions and feelings during this time period, the play would have been totally different. Unfortunately, women were prohibited from projecting their voice, due to societal constraints and patriarchy. Trifles has done a magnificent job differentiating gender roles and views in the nineteenth century.
ReplyDeleteVery thoughtful assessment of contrast between men's and women's ways of perceiving, acting and you give excellent context and examples!
DeleteI generally like your clear exposition of gender roles in the 19th century - an epoch dominated by men, an epoch that is certainly still our own. And yet, it appears as though this epoch could not have been constituted without conformity to the law, the patriarchal law. Perhaps I'm straying from the scope of the blog a bit, but I think it's necessary to point out: you write in your comment of "Trifles", "In traditional society, women were often confined to household duties such as cooking, cleaning and sewing". This is, of course, true. It would be easy to show that this is not a new phenomenon, and that it even goes back to ancient Greece as a woman's duty. Yet, this was thought of as natural (a word which is commonly used as a justification for acts) and was part of a partnership of the household, constituting - with the emergence of children - the family unit. I am not contesting men's invariably controlling attitudes, however these gender roles exist in society. Society is more than just men - it also takes women (the other half of society) to constitute these gender roles.
DeleteJoseph--thanks for expanding our thinking about everyone's participation in construction of gender codes--and also noting that patriarchy is much older than the 19 c.
DeleteThe expectations of a woman’s role have always been the same. A woman is expected to take care of the home, her husband, and their children while finding some way to take care of her. But in Trifles by Susan Glaspell, it focused more on the woman’s feelings that were brought upon because of the expectations of society. In story, it was clear that both Minnie Foster felt suffocated in the marriage. Minnie Foster was seen as a delight of a woman who sang in the choir and was always happy and cheerful. “I wish you’d seen Minnie Foster when she wore a white dress with blue ribbons and stood up there in the choir and sang.” But going into a marriage with a man, it seemed that her spirits were killed and she didn’t sing anymore. She was always in the taking care of things in the house and on the farm. To many, it would seem that she is taking care of her responsibilities as a wife. But when Mr. Mallard turned up dead, there were many signs in the home showed that Minnie was just tired of the way she was living. For example, the two men noticed that her kitchen was dirty and began to criticize. The kitchen was a place for a woman as many men would say. But Mrs. Hale and Mrs. Peter could see what both men couldn’t or wouldn’t. Seeing their surroundings of the kitchen, they were able to see that things weren’t quite right with Minnie. They noticed from the messy kitchen to the quilt. A quilt is made to show stories about someone. “It’s all over the place! Why, it looks as if she didn’t know what she was about.” To Minnie, her quilt was made to show her discomfort and loneliness that she had in her home and in her marriage. It also showed who that things in the home weren’t quite right. While both Mrs. Hale and Mrs. Peters are noticing these signs, Glaspell makes it clear that men see what they want to see. She emphasizes that both the Sheriff and Mr. Hale search all the other room but the kitchen. But above all those clues, the most symbolic, in my opinion is the dead canary. It seemed that Minnie didn’t have any children and there was loneliness. She was always feelings trapped in her own home and her husband wasn’t home. The bird was symbolic for the kind of person that she used to be, a person that was happy, who loved to sing. The similarity between the dead canary and the death of Mr. Wright is that they are both dead with neck injuries. When it was clear that Minnie had killed her husband, he died that same way he had killed Minnie’s spirit.
ReplyDeleteThoughtful discussion of bird/symbol/Minnie at end--lots of good points here. When you say things like "men see what they want to see" consider how to make this more specific--what they see is guided by their assumptions about women's gender roles/responsibiliities, right?
ReplyDeleteMarriage. “To wed or not to wed?” is the question, at least it is in our current society. It may not be asked by everyone everyday, and it may not be so widely accepted, however, we now have the right to even ponder such a decision. Although the “proudly forever single” status may be a newer concept in terms of the woman’s political journey, I do believe that Kate Chopin hinted to this concept in Story of an Hour. “There would be no powerful will bending hers in that blind persistence with which men and women believe they have the right to impose a private will upon a fellow-creature.” Mrs. Mallard’s feelings of repression where not only caused by the “grip” that her husband had on her, nor was it only the result of a particular patriarchal law, but it was the pressure that all of society imposed on it’s women to fill a constricting one dimensional role as the wife. It was never asked whether or not a woman wanted to become someone’s wife. Even in today’s society it is often assumed that at some point every woman will have to decide between a career and domestic bliss. Not only was the role constricting, but the standards that one is often expected to meet are quite impossibly attainable. In Desiree’s Baby, we are vaguely introduced to Armand Aubigny who is described to be “struck” by love at the sight of Desiree. Such a force is so easily refused when Armand discovers that Desiree is of African descent after their baby is born. With this information he is apparently revolted and does not hesitate in abandoning his wife and child. Again, race is a standard set by society and, in this instance and many others, unfairly included in the list of attributes a wife should have. It is also clear that Desiree was so aware that her voice was irrelevant that her only choice was to kill herself. I believe that Kate Chopin was alluding to the abstract idea of a woman’s choice versus her given place in society. Not that it should be shameful that a women’s place is in the kitchen, but that it would be her choice out of pure desire, that she own her desires and decisions, and have the freedom to execute.
ReplyDeleteTabatha--you link the role of patriarchy in the two stories effectively--in fact there is a "powerful will" in both cases! Do you think there is also a parallel being constructed between race and gender? Something to talk about tomorrow...
DeleteThe woman's role has been shaped and molded by social and gender standards and constraints that have their roots in patriarchal ideologies. Today, in America, women are actively rather than passively living by standards that fit their needs, goals, and desires. Globally I'm not sure how widespread this may be, but here in the U.S. there are definite differences from the late 19th and 20th centuries in contrast to today (though there is still much needed improvement to equalize standards in the home, community, workforce, etc.). The civil rights movement of the 50's and 60's, the feminist movement that followed, and other socially conscious rally's all contributed to what we have today in the early 21st Century. This is not to say that the fight for women's rights or the feminist movement only came about in the late 20th Century. Authors such as Susan Glaspell and in particular Kate Chopin have been considered early feminist, and expressed their voice by writing literature that reflected the times. In their stories assumptions could be made about the female characters that reflected the roles woman played in American society and we see how these women respond to their individual situations, specifically their roles in marriage. In Susan Glaspell’s Trifles, we see how the women characters are assumed to be humble caretakers of the home. If such a role wasn't performed correctly then there was room for criticism for not measuring up. This was a standard set by patriarchal ideologies that also implicitly placed woman as second class citizens. For example the County Attorney made a comment about “Dirty towels!” during the investigation. The other women come to Mrs. Wright’s defense because they could identify with the role the wife was supposed to play and rejected the attorney's attempt to belittle Mrs. Wright's abilities to perform her role as a house wife. To be criticized without consideration would be silent acceptance on their part. Glaspell responds to this notion by having the women go so far as to keep evidence they found in the kitchen hidden by using silence in a show of solidarity. Since the kitchen was the assumed place for women, and the men totally ignored this area, it became a symbolic battleground of will. This is a stark contrast to the expectation of love and loyalty to the husband. Chopin’s character is assumed to be weak and frail. Chopin open’s the story The Story of an Hour with “Knowing that Mrs. Mallard was afflicted with heart trouble, great care was taken to break to her as gently as possible the news of her husband’s death.” By the end of the story it becomes clearer that the heart trouble has more to do with emotions than anything physical. A woman’s place was at her husband’s side no matter how unhappy she was in the marriage. The idea that freedom could only come through the death of Mrs. Mallard’s husband indicates just how constrained women were in governing their own lives.
ReplyDeleteCecil--I especially admire your comment that the kitchen becomes a "symbolic battleground of will" in Trifles! You could go one step further in comparing themes in these two stories by thinking about how the women in both cases do in fact exert their common WILL despite patriarchal constraints.
DeleteHow do women acquire a voice of their own? That is, what strategies do they implement to articulate their feelings?
ReplyDeleteThese stories are taken place during the 19th century, where women had to meet certain standards. Such as, being a house wife, having the food ready by the time their husband comes home, keeping the house clean, a typical women role during that time. Most of the time society had them silent, where men's opinion mattered more, where women had no rights. However, women had their own way to express themselves. There is quote by an unknown person that says, "Speaking is silver, but silence is gold." This is very relevant to these stories, especially in, Trifles. In the story a murder scene took place in Mrs and Mr. Wrights house. Where the husband of Ms. Wright was murdered. She was seen has the suspect. The men did most of talking where the women in the story where silent. The men only paid attention to the big details and the hardcore evidence, while the women were concentrating in the little details. It's interesting because the men just completely ignored the kitchen and just went upstairs where murder took place, while the women were in the kitchen. You can see automatically that the kitchen is a woman's space, there territory if you will. They notice that there's something wrong there, it's not clean. They start finding little details that all leads to saying that it was the wife that killed the husband. They start hiding the evidence, while the men can't find anything that would help them find out who did it. The women chose to be silent. This to me means, that women are more visual and pay more attention to the bigger picture by using silence and emotion. In the other story, Story of An Hour, shows that women can be also express themselves through silence and again, by going to there "space". Mrs. Mallard was told that her husband died. "..She wept at once, with sudden, wild abandonment..." Her immediate reaction to these news was a sense of liberation. That in way, she embraced the news of her husband death. It also explains that she goes to her room, her space, but alone. When she gets to her room, she goes straight to a armchair facing an open window. The open window that symbolizes, freedom and relief. It explains that she feels like gray skies are finally opening up and becoming a sunny day. She feels like her spirit is telling her to be free, that she's finally able to start a new life with no strings attached. This is all happening when she's silent. In her silence she's experiencing a rebirth in life. Again, a women's silence is way of expression. I also feel that a women's secret is lying beneath their silence.
Juan--I like your concluding comment that women's secret is lying beneath their silence...also your discussion of SPACE for women and how they come into their own sense of selfhood in privacy--nice focus.
Delete"The story of an Hour" by Kate Choping and " Trifles" by Susan Glaspell's both stories that were described in 19th century, concentrated on the women’s relations of their marriages. I felt like these stories had a lot in common because the main characters who were women in both stories were lacking of freedom power . In the story Trifles the story began with a fact that John Wright was found to be dead with a rope round his neck. Mrs. Wright who was his wife was the one who was to be blamed about this crime because she was the only one to be in the house. Through the story the women that were investigating the crime found the dead bird with a broken neck which was the symbol of the conflict . They also investigated that Mrs. Wright liked to sing however John Wright was the person that was very closed in himself and didn’t let his wife to enjoy what she liked to do. According to the Trifles on page 19, Mrs. Hale who was investigating the case said “ Wright was close. I think maybe that’s why she kept so much to herself…I suppose she felt she couldn’t do her part, and then you don’t enjoy things when you feel shabby. She used to wear pretty clothes and be lively, when she was Minnie Foster, one of the town girls singing in the choir. “ This explains how bright Mrs. Wright’s life was before marriage by wearing bright clothes and her enjoying to sing . However once she had married her husband kept her as in the prison. The broken neck bird and the broken cage had to be the symbol of the conflict of the husband that didn’t want the bird to sing that’s why he broke the bird’s neck off, which is the reason why he most likely found to be dead as well with a rope around his neck. In the other story “ The Story of An Hour” by Kate Choping the story began with the same idea of the crime that the husband was found to be dead. Mrs. Mallard was told that news by her sister. I felt like Mrs. Mallard was the last one to know about the death about the husband’s death because her sister told her the fact and, her husband’s friend Richard which was there knew about it as well. The next sentence that I found interesting on page 30 “ She did not hear the story as many women have heard the same”. So I wonder how come Mrs. Mallard is mostly the last one to know about the death of her husband since many women knew about it already ? Maybe she didn’t have access to know what is going on outside her house and she was locked? After what she have heard she went to the room and looked in the window looking at the small pieces of the nature. She felt relaxed which gives me an idea that she is not getting depressed over her husband but she feels better about it and by proving that she says “free, free, free!” ( page 30) Which now makes it obvious that now she feels free without her husband, she didn’t have power with her husband and felt as she was in prison when he was alive. I felt like both women in the stories were waiting for the moment of their husbands to be dead because they had no rights, they were as in the prison and had no power to do what they liked. In both of the stories there were no sadness about the loss of their husbands but instead it felt like now they are revealed.
ReplyDeleteKhrystyna Betryshyn
Very thoughtful connections between these two women's circumstances and desires--and interesting that you notice each story beginning with the premise that the husband is dead! Do watch for little things like incorrect spelling of author: Chopin.
DeleteWe had very similar ideas. The death of a husband really seems to resonate in the minds of the two author's, and perhaps many women around that time period. And not necessarily in a good way. I believe it gives good insight on the struggles that many women face, but couldn't speak up about. Thankfully, literature allowed this plight to be heard.
Deletewell said! (about literature giving voice...)
DeleteBeing a women is difficult because we are often mistreated and unapperciated. We often have difficult finding our voices we struggle to be independent due to the stipulations that are forced apon us because of soceity,culture and family. The three works Tfifles bY Susan Glaspell The Story Of An Hour by Kate Chopin gives readers insight on the lives of women living in the 19 century, these women are living in unhappy marriages with controling husbands who are taking over their indivuality.
ReplyDeleteIn the story Tfifles Mrs.Wright was acussed of killing her husband in the bed were they slept. The men in the story controlled the women every move, the wpomen only talked when the were asked to and they talked amongst them selves when the men weren't around. The women were angist Mrs.Wright that were forced to believe that she was guilty due to the fact that the men dominated the situation. Looking only for hardcore evidence that would convict Mrs.Wright the men failed to look at the little things in the kicthen. The men didn't except to find evidence in the kitchen because that is the women's place. The men couldn't find the evidence because they were blinded by thier cold hearted feeling towards women.
The story Of A Hour focuses on a women name Louise who's husband was killed in a train addicent, the revealing of the news from her sister had sadden Louise. This is ironic because Mrs.Millard was actually happy knowing that her husband had been prononued dead she could finally be free. The repeated use of the word free indicates that Louise is happy with the news, she can began and new life. This reminds me of the saying ''TURNING OVER A NEW LEAF'' Bently walks through the door revealing that he is no longer dead. The sight of her husband presents kills Louise because she realized that she will no longer be free and will continue to live an unhappy life. Both text reveals that women are not able to be independent. Both women lose indivuality and identity because of the dominating species in the marriage. Women voices are over looked both text because the women are not able to voice there opinion when something is wrong. The fear of speaking up to a man would be labeled as disrespect.
Women find a sense of freedom in the bedroom area of thier home. Looking out of the window were they find a sense of freedom it's like a breath of fresh air this symblolize a new beginning of life a new start. If women would gain the courage and stand up and voice the opinion with out offending men maybe we could aquire our own voice. The power of patriarchy expose that women are to be submassive while the men are the dominate control over everthing in the relationship
Junisa--If you were to compare the ideas you mention about "loss of individuality and identity" how are the two women similar? And then how are they different? Does each acquire a kind of freedom, even if it doesn't last?
DeleteIt is difficult for me to imagine a world where all men are uniform and all women are uniform. I always stress the importance of never speaking in generalizations because I believe it is detrimental towards the advancement to a society of acceptance. Where I'm heading with this mini-rant is the assumptions that are made of women in Trifles and The Story of An Hour. In Trifles, the men assume the women to be various things. They seem to have very apparent preconceived notions on what the women should be interested in, what they should be knowledgeable about, and in a way, they view them as naive. They assume the women don't really have much to say or have significant input on the crime. Around the end of the play, after the women make the discovery of the dead bird and come to the conclusion that John Wright probably killed the bird and metaphorically killed Mrs. Wright, the men ask to view what the women have chosen to take in. After very briefly examining it, they disregard it. "The Lawyer goes to the table, picks up the apron, laughs.". They seem to assume the women are somewhat naive. Examining what assumptions are made about women outside of the context of the play, I came up with different ideas. Women are assumed to have an inclination towards what is morally right, contrasting the men's point of view of following the law. Women are assumed to have a different sense of judgment. They are also assumed to have a knack for finding things men would normally ignore. And one of my favorite assumptions is that they can both empathize with Mrs. Wright because of her cold, distant husband. She was shackled and not allowed to be free thanks to him. In The Story of An Hour, I believe the assumptions are a bit more sinister when compared to Trifles. Mrs. Mallard knew breaking the news about her husband's death was to be handled very carefully. The assumption here being that a women should love her husband and the death of her loved one would put her in a state of tremendous grief. We find out after a bit of reflection that this is not the case. Outside of the context of the story, I view the assumption that some women are treated badly in marriages, and even the death of the husband can be seen as a new awakening; a new chance to begin again. Of course, this is purely according to the story, but it's a very sinister idea. "Free, free, free" says Mrs. Mallard, voicing her excitement. There is an shared underlying theme between both texts and that is the cruelty of a husband, the indifference of a husband, is enough to cause a significant reaction in women. In Trifles, the women empathize with Mrs. Wright, even though she killed her husband, and in The Story of An Hour, Mrs. Mallard celebrates the husband's death. In both cases, the women are trying to get free. They are shackled by the men, and killed slowly inside until they manage to break free. So the most important assumption I found is that some women might be going through stress because of a husband, and might not feel free.
ReplyDeleteVery thoughtful rant Julio--strategic to focus on assumptions and I admire the ways you link the two texts; you are right that it seems somewhat "sinister" to think of death of husband as a moment of rebirth, awakening. The questions Chopin poses about marriage and its implicit/explicit denial of individual freedom could apply to both men and women, but she certainly got into trouble for giving her women thoughts and voices that went against the assumptions you outline here!
DeleteHow is setting symbolic in each story? In what spaces do women find freedom, find themselves?
ReplyDeleteThe place where a story takes place is always a very important part of the story; though the setting can be easily overlooked, there is always some kind of symbolism behind it. I found it quite interesting how in both Susan Glaspell’s “Trifles” and in Kate Chopin’s “The Story of An Hour” the plot takes place inside of the women’s homes. For women their homes are their place of comfort and peace, at least for some. In both stories however, we are able to see that both these women were unhappy in their homes, not because of anything physical of the environment itself but because of the person they had to share their environment with, their husbands. It has been said that “A wise woman edifies her house”, men are known to be the “bread-getters”, the ones who are out all day working to put food on the table, while women stay home to cook, clean and raise children. So it is obvious that women spend the most time and are a lot more attached to their homes than men are. In “Trifles” the character Mrs. Hale says “Well, I don’t see any signs of anger around here... You know it seems kind of sneaking. Locking her up in town and then coming out here and trying to get her own house to turn against her.” Which shows us how Mrs. Wright had made this house her own; this was her ambiance, her atmosphere.
We are able to see the same similarity in “The Story of An hour” when after receiving the news of her husbands death Mrs. Mallard goes to her room and that story says that she “There stood, facing the open window, a comfortable, roomy armchair. Into this she sank, she pressed down by the physical exhaustion that haunted her body and seemed to reach into her soul”. So all the details Chopin mentions like Comfort, roomy, open window, soul and physical exhaustion all have a symbolic as well as a literal meaning. Hearing the news of her husband’s death was sort of relieving for her and the fact that she was in the comfort of her four walls, she felt in complete freedom. Women tend to make themselves comfortable in that which is known, we adapt, we make the place our own, and in that place we are able to really just relax, think out-loud, be ourselves with no limits, that is what having a home is all about.
Franchesca--Very powerful and precise focus on setting and you neatly identify the common problem--that the women were unhappy because they had to share space with their husbands! Beginning of a good essay!
DeleteIn the nineteenth century, gender roles were huge. Woman were housewife’s and the males where the breadwinners. In my culture its still a little like this. I’m Hispanic from the Dominican Republic and the real old timers believe in that a women’s only place is in the kitchen, and raising the children. The male ego is very overpowering in general. Now in the 21st century things have changed I guess we can say women are seem more outside of the home and in the work force but, yet still have to go home and take care of the house as well. Its as if they work 2 jobs 24 hours a day. In the first scene of Trifles, the presence of the women isn’t really knowledge if anything its as if they weren’t even their. The male point of view of the so called “crime scene” showed how easily males over look thing that us females would pay closer attention to because it says a lot about a person. For example at the end of page 16 when the county attorney said “ I guess we’ll go upstairs first-and then out to the barn and around there.” That under estimating there could be evidence where women should spend most of her time. As well as in page 17 when the Sheriff says “nothing Here but the kitchen things” why not look everywhere at least in my understanding about police work you have to search everywhere. But like I said before the women didn’t even bother to go upstairs because everything they need to know about the crime and why it was committed would be found in the kitchen. Why? Because that’s where women spent most of there time cooking and cleaning. If a kitchen seem out of place back on those day its because something was happening to push her to show there emotions in places they spend more time in. There is also another example on page 20 when Mrs. Hale notices the mess up on the quilting “ Mrs. Peters, look at this one. Here, this is the one she was working on, and look at the sewing! All the rest of it has been so nice and even. And look at this! It’s all over the place! Why, it looks as if she didn’t know what she was about! “ Its funny how the women noticed that the sewing was out of place and why it was, when the men simply brushed it off and thought nothing of it. The women knew it was something because all that she did and knew was how to quilt. It takes men a little longer at least in my understanding to notice things like that. Unfortunately, women were still viewed as nobodies back in those days. I am very happy that times have changed and everything is more equal. And that everyone have noticed that women are useful in other places and not just the household.
ReplyDeleteStefany--you effectively identify the irony in Trifles through your examples--the fact that the women keep finding things while the men are the supposed detectives and they keep missing things! So if you were pushing for a thesis, what is Glaspell saying about women, their insights?
DeleteWomen had no power or voice back in the 1800's. It's only after the 1920's that women started to have a voice and have rights and have some kind of equality like the men. Women had to take orders from men and listen to what they say. Women were treated very differently compared to men. The typical role of women was to stay home and have a place in the kitchen and not be free while men do the dirty work.
ReplyDeleteWhatever women would day, no one will believe and listen to them. For example in "Desirees Baby", when Desiree says shes not black her husband doesn't believe her and claims that she is. Setting also plays a role on how the character is feeling and what mood and what they going to say. In the stories that we read the setting contribute to the mood of what women are feeling. For example in "Triffles" when Mrs. Wright was sitting in her rocking chair after saying her husband was dead. They described that she was sitting there all relaxed. In the story "Story of an hour" Mrs. Mallard got the news that her husband has died, so she went to a room and was near a window where she noticed she was free. In "Desiree's baby", she confronted her husband if she should leave, and he said yes so she ended up leaving and then found a letter revealing that her husband was actually black.
In order for women to be heard the husbands have to be less demanding and so they wouldn't be scared of them. Women choose not to speak because they are afraid of what men would do to them for opening there mouth. the majority of the stories were written in the 1800s, women's voice was not heard. Each story shows how in the beginning the women have no say in anything, have no power and no voice but then something turns around and all of a sudden the story changes and women have some sort of voice and become more dominant. But over the years women's voice is heard.
Yelena--I especially like your conclusion where you mention that something turns around--this seems to be key to analytic reading of texts--what makes women change, what does change reveal; is violence, death, necessary for women to have a voice??
DeleteThe assumptions made about women in these texts are that they don’t have a voice of their own, that they basically live in the shadows of their family. These women obviously played the role of housewife and didn’t have much freedom. In the story, “The Story of An Hour” Mrs. Mallard was given the news that her husband passed away in an accident and she was devastated because all she knew was him. Everything she did involved him; she was not an individual at all. Once she found out about his death she took a moment to realize that she finally had freedom and she can be herself. as she said, " Free! Body and soul free! She didn’t have to worry about living in someone’s shadow. This story is very similar to Trifles because Mrs. Wright was a woman who had no freedom either. She had such a joyful spirit until apparently her husband had taken that away from her. And that is the main motive why she would have killed him. As for how the setting is symbolic in these stories, well Mrs. Wright found sewing and singing her freedom. And that was destroyed when her husband killed her bird. Mrs. Mallard found herself when she found out her husband who is a major obstacle to her freedom, " died".
ReplyDeleteYaritza--you make precise connections between the two texts--good phrase about living in shadow of family--a claim you might explore would be how do they acquire voice/freedom--what kind of act/thought is necessary?
DeleteThe assumptions are made about women in each text clearly shows the lack of respect men in that society had for women. In the story "Trifle" men were blind to the fact that the crime took place in the kitchen. mainly because a woman's place was only in the kitchen so there would be no hard evidence. But the women for example the sheriffs wife picked up to the clues as soon as she got on the scene. In "The Story of an Hour" Mrs. Mallard had no individuality. When she had received the bad news that her husband had passed away in a terrible accident she was shocked and hurt at the moment. this was because all she knew was her husband. No real friends and no connections to the people out side of her home. when she had went up to her room for time to her self she embarrassed her knew found freedom. Woman at that time only knew there husbands and there where subjected to such roles such as cooking, cleaning and having children.
ReplyDeleteRomerson--are the men blind to the fact that the crime took place in the kitchen (your words) or that there might be important evidence there? Try to use the text (quote) to help you zero in on the text and support your claims. If this were the beginning of an essay, your last sentence should go earlier (after your first) because you are moving from men's assumptions to women's reactions...
DeleteIn Trifles, The Story of An Hour and Desiree’s Baby, the women all have similar qualities. Each women seem to be fighting for something. In Trifles The women noticed the little things like the quilt. “All the rest of it has been so nice and even”; “It’s all over the place!” They noticed the quilt was getting knitted wrong. They knew something wrong was going gone since this lady usually knitted the quilt perfect. As the men they thought the women were worrying about something silly something that didn’t matter to the investigation. The women especially were getting more clues in the kitchen because back then that was where the women would and should be. In The Story of An Hour Mrs. Mallard was excited to know her husband was dead. She kept saying “Free! Body and soul free!”. It had seemed that Mrs. Mallard had been getting abuse and rape. It seemed like her wish had come true. She was so overjoy but she did not show her joy with everyone else. She kept it as a secret. I guess she wanted her friends and family to believe he was a good man. Her overjoy was soon ended; even though she had a heart condition she was very happy and it didn’t bother her, but when she saw her husband it was like a slap in the face. Her family didn’t understand they thought she was overjoy but she was really just in shock because she knew she wouldn’t have any freedom. In Desiree’s Baby, Armand the husband didn’t care to talk to his wife Desiree about her racial background. She didn’t care about that. She would write letters but he didn’t read them until she had died. He then realizes that it was him all along that he was half black and he blames it all on his wife. He was naive for not giving her a chance. He had it all, but he treated her and their son like they were nothing to him. All these women just wanted a bit of freedom or explanation as of why me, why now.
ReplyDeleteElizabeth--in the first part of your blog you have an interesting idea about secrets--good connection between things hidden in kitchen and Mrs Mallard not sharing her private joy...secrets might also be connected to voice--voices unheard? That idea might link all three texts...
DeleteThe woman’s role in marriage is a very important and significant aspect in keeping the bond strong just as it is for a man. Throughout time women have been portrayed as keeping balance in a family and flourishing their loved ones with life. In Kate Chopin, “The Story of An Hour” and “Desiree’s Baby” we see many examples of this love and persistence that women withhold. In the beginning of each story Chopin gives a well formed description of how loving and respectful each of the women characters are only to be changed from what later takes place. In “The Story of An Hour” the change of character occurs when Chopin gives the main character her true feelings, “She did not hear the story as many women have heard the same, with a paralyzed inability to accept its significance”Pg.30. This short sentence changed the course of the story and showed the character true feelings that before were never shown nor understood. From a sudden sick and heart troubled lonely woman Mrs. Mallard turns into a bright happy rational soul. Another example of the characters true feelings being showed but yet they are still ignored can be examined in “Desiree’s Baby”. Desiree was obviously tremendously in love with her husband Armand who vaguely made the decision to remove her from his house with their child. He ignored her love and honesty for something that he was himself and this gave Desiree at the end a prestige character trait that every woman has which is dignity and honor towards their loved ones. In both stories most of what occurs is within a household. This is a clear symbol of how a life of a woman was lived during the late 19th century. Confined within and hidden from society from any point of views. We see how these views are taken away by the more patriarchal atmosphere that lives in each of these houses. In “The story of an hour” the presence of this patriarchy ended the life of a woman who was filled with her last joy. In “Desiree’s Baby” the hardheadedness of this patriarch gave an end to what was once true love, “She disappeared among the reeds and willows that grew thick along the banks of the deep, sluggish bayou; and she did not come back again.” Pg.35.
ReplyDeleteOceanlab! (name?) I like the way you identify precisely the phrase that changes the course of the story and shows Mrs Mallard's true feelings. You also allude effectively to Desiree's dignity, honor, prestige. However there is a tension between your support, admiration, for women's loyalty and the female characters' situations and feelings. What do you think Chopin wants to communicate about women's predicaments? That they should remain loyal? Or that they should find their voices?
DeleteWithin all three readings the role of each woman is the focal point of the story even though each is muted vocally or emotionally in the relationship with their husbands. Taking on the position of the quiet wife, these women fall into the background of their relationships and their own lives as well. In all three stories it is a prevalent theme that the women loose their own autonomy through duration of the marriage and that once they embrace their voice or independence they suffer as a result. In “Desiree’s Baby,” Desiree is dismissed by her husband after his wrongful assumption about her race. In “The Story of an Hour,” the heroine dies upon seeing that her husband is still alive after feeling an intense relief that he had died. Finally in Trifles though the main character herself never appears to us, it is inferred that murdering her husband came as a result of making a desperate choice in order to regain her voice.
ReplyDeleteThere is a consistent assumption made about these women, that they are all fragile and pure. In “The Story of an Hour,” “Mrs. Mallard was afflicted with a heart trouble, great care was taken to break to her as gently as possible the news of her husband's death.” (Chopin) Though through the story we see great strength and resolve in the relief she feels. In “Desiree’s Baby,” Desiree, though described as “beautiful and gentle” she shows her strength. She mournfully leaves on her own with her child once she is rejected by her husband. The absolute purity of Minnie Foster is shown in the dialogue of the other women in the story when Mrs. Hales says, “I wish you'd seen Minnie Foster when she wore a white dress with blue ribbons and stood up there in the choir and sang.” (Glaspell)
The setting of each story is always within the home of the focal woman character, which is done intentionally to exhibit the image of a homemaker. Or a wife’s place which is presumed to be in the home, a presumption which leads back to the idea that these women are voiceless homemakers that are fragile and pure.
Simultaneously, each woman’s fate is determined by that of their husband’s. This notion re-enforces the concept of a patriarchal society as the women are going to have their lives determined based on those of there husbands.
Akolker--I admire the way you identify muted voices and the actions required to gain a voice; your discussion of fragility and purity is very well supported--seems you have several possible essay topics here!
DeleteIn a man’s eyes a women will always be fragile or weak. This idea has been passed on since as early as the 19th century. Women have always been known to stay home and take care of the house hold and children. Although this is the role many women play does not mean they enjoy it, many would want be liberal and do as their hearts desire. In the short story “The Story of An Hour” by Kate Chopin, Mrs. Mallard is described as a woman with health complications, also a women going through several confusions as the story evolves. In the short story Mrs. Mallard is informed that her husband is fatally killed in a train wreck, after she received the horrific news something happen to her inside that she had no clue if it was rite to feel at the moment. In life many times people think they know what the other person may feel but that may not always be true. In my opinion, in “The Story of An Hour” Mrs. Mallard voice is nonexistent because the people around her didn’t seem to care if she was happy with her late husband Mr. Mallard. Furthermore, freedom within yourself can be found anywhere you feel at peace or the most comfortable in. In Kate Chopin’s “The Story of An Hour” setting is very symbolic because it helped guide me through how Mrs. Mallard was feeling. In the short story Chopin states, “She could see in the open square before her house the tops of trees that were all aquiver with new spring life. The delicious breath of rain was in the air” (p 30). In my opinion I think that “new spring life” is a sign of freedom within her after the horrific news. Mrs. Mallard found freedom by looking outside the window where she saw life in a different point of view than she ever saw it. Lastly, I feel like this story, other stories and real life situations all prove the same point; many women choose not to speak because that is their loudest cry. A women that is always quiet is because more emotions are happing to her than she can even explain to anyone.
ReplyDeleteSharina--I admire the way you describe Mrs Mallard's confusions as the story evolves. I wonder if it is true, however, that her voice is non-existent. Would it be possible to think about her private thoughts in her room as a kind of voice? Can we have a voice that is private? Is that voice important?
DeleteFrom my perspective I believe that the three texts have very similar assumptions about women, which I believe are: Woman are oppressed by the force of man, woman ideas are not important as men’s and the oppression of woman is hidden in culture and extremist beliefs. In Trifles, I felt that the women didn’t have the power (even thought they had it) because they were questioning their findings and their intelligence. Besides this, men kept making fun of them and made the women feel unwise. There’s a very strong emphasis on who’s in charge, who is right and who is wrong. In this case, is men who possess all this power which ironically doesn’t help them solve the mystery, but the women do. In the story of story of an hour, Mrs. Mallad was defined as an oppressed woman in the hands of her husband. Women’s image as sweet, fragile, vulnerable, honest and most of all lovely makes Mrs. Mallad the saddest woman from the perspective of her relatives (or society!). However, a strong paradox occurs when Mrs. Mallad’s true feelings reel out. She was actually happy because the oppression provoked by her husband had finally terminated. The story makes a remarkable point that women are dependent of men, and everybody’s expectation was to see her basically dead. However, this is the happiest she been during her whole life and this definitely defies the status quo. Last but not least, the story Desiree’s baby explains how woman can be taken advantage of to climb up hierarchy. Desiree was a woman who married a very wealthy white man and loved him with all her heart. However, after having their first kid, Armand’s love for Desiree diminishes rapidly. We later discover that the child’s ethnicity is black and Armand seems to take advantage of this. I believe he thinks that he has the power because he is the man therefore he blames Desiree for being of black descent. However, at the end of the story we discover that he is the one whose blood is black. Armand however hides this and sends Desiree far away to still keep his power and hierarchy among his slaves.
ReplyDeleteI believe when men are being oppressed it suddenly becomes a problem, but when women are oppressed we tend it to call it culture.
-Carolina Steele
thanks for posting Carolina--good analysis of Mrs Mallard--a little confusion at end of post because Armand sends Desiree away before reading the letter, leaving his feelings hidden? ambiguous?
DeleteIn 1900 women were supposed to please their husbands and took care of their children, forgetting about their desires. Living in this constantly repression of who you are, force women to escape from their reality, maybe not physically but mentally hiding their true feelings. A clear example of this silence is Mrs. Mallard in the “Story of an Hour” where she hides her emotions in front of her sister. Even that the reason of her joy was her husband’s death, I totally understand her. At the moment that Mrs. Mallard’s husband died, she gained the control of her life, her freedom and the power to be herself for herself “"Free! Body and soul free!" she kept whispering”. But she covers her internal thoughts and acts like any other women in this situation so no one will judge her for her “monstrous joy”. Actually what matter in this story is not the silence that she use to survive in society where women were suppose to follow rules without asking anything, but that she never silence her internal voice; Even that she lived in a cage her mind travel without limitation.
ReplyDeleteGaby--I like your point that women have to escape mentally when they can't esdape physically!
DeleteSusan Glaspell's play, "Trifles" demonstrates hidden knowledge of women over looked by men. Glaspell's play takes place in the most domestic of places, the kitchen. Similar to the wifes of the husbands who were investigating Mr.Wright's death, Minnie Wright always used to manage her household. The women had many things in common like making perfect quilts, keeping everything clean, and keeping preservatives. What the women notice that the men did not is what Minnie's incompleted work, the broken jar of cherries and the bird symbolized. To the men, the mess in the kitchen displayed Minnie as a housekeeper who lacked aptitude in her job. However, the wifes of the men established that the incompleted work were signs of an emotionally unstable congnitve state Minnie was in. As a result of missing these details, the men are portrated as simple minded. The women saw problems within something that does not seem wrong while the men were looking for a peice of evidence to wrap up the investigation. The way we view reality can be based on what we assume. When the men enter the kitchen in the beginning of the play, the Sherrif says, "Nothing here but kitchen things." The Sheriff had not thought to analyze what ever that was in the kitchen. Obviously, he implies that a kitchen is a place for only a woman to cook in. These housewives are being belittled by their own husbands. This is part of the reason why they say nothing about what they have witnessed. The crazy stitching in one of Minnie's quilts, jar of cherries breaking from the coldness and the dead bird Minnie's husband killed. All were signs of a distrought wife. In, "The Story of an Hour" by Kate Chopin it says that "Mrs.Mallard was afflicted with heart trouble." This could mean either she was physically or mentally depressed. In the beginning Mrs.Mallared seem fragile and vulnerable. She had thought that her husband died and sat by a window in a chair "pressed down by a physical exhaustion that haunted her body and seemed to reach into her." Mrs.Mallard felt guilty for feeling happy that her husband was dead. She thought she was free, for this man probably never gave Mrs.Mallard a chance to breath. Appearantly she was relieved of his death, it was "a monstrous joy." Mrs.Mallard had a sense of liberation and sought for a new life. At the end of all the mixed emotions. it turned out that her husband was alive. Chopin also wrote, "Desiree's Baby" which was a story about husband and wife having a baby that was 1/4 black. Desiree had moved into her husband, Armound's house a proud man all about his business. Armoud read a letter from his mother to his father saying that he was black. Desiree's husband was too proud to accept this news. Being black was terrible back then and he began to deny the words in the letter. Instead, he took his pain out on his wife. Desiree was told to leave Armoud's house and return to her mother. She had loved him with all her heart, "when he frowned, she trembled but loved him. When he smiled, she asked no greater blessing from God." Desiree had done what Armoud said to do, she went away. But, she took the baby and walked across a field filled with thorns and bushes. Desiree was not a smart woman who took charge. In Chopin's "The Story of an Hour," there was a sense that Mrs.Mallard was also being controlled by her husband and she had absolutley no say in her relationship with her husband. In the play, "Trifles," the women of the husbands who were investigating the murder were smarter than the men. Sometimes women have the choice to speak and sometimes they are just being controlled by their husbands.
ReplyDeleteI admire your focus on the hidden knowledge of women at beginning of this post and the idea that the women are smarter than the men--sometimes. Why do you think Chopin chooses to give us a passive woman who accepts her fate--at least by her actions?
DeleteWomen's roles in marriage really depends on the setting. The more present the setting is the more woman are to oppose marital norms and speak their mind. For example Desirees baby was published in the late 1800s, before womens suffrage movements, when women didn't have rights and equality. Desiree's happiness depended on her husband and when he didn't want her she killed herself, as if she lived for him. She had no opposition to anything he said and was basically anything he wanted her to be. When he told her he wanted her to leave, she left even though he was wrong, but she didn't question his authority. Today in a similar situation I feel that women have the power to make her husband leave the house and depending on the situation some men would even leave without being told to do so. In Trifles there's only about a 20 year difference, right before women's equality, and the women are already questioning men's authority and show them up. By that I mean they find what the men were looking for, reason for committing the crime, before them and they weren't even trying to. Mrs. Hale defended her own and Mrs. Wright's ground as women without giving into the County Attorney and although it seemed Mrs. Peter's was defending the men, she was really defending the law and what is right but both women had their own points with reason and stood by it. The assumptions that were made about the women was that generally they are inferior. Armand didn't consider having any possible responsibility for the baby not being light skinned and it was all Desiree's fault. In Trifles the women are assumed to be wasting their time with "trifles" and are made fun of for paying attention to quilts and fruits meanwhile the clues were all in the kitchen, usually considered the "woman's place" which is symbolic in the story. Sometimes w ok men, like in Desiree's case do not speak up because they feel they're powerless and too scared of the men's reaction to speak up. Each story exposes patriarchy by limiting the women's freedom. Story of an Hour shows Louise gaining her freedom after the presumed death of her husband and losing it to death the second her husband is shown alive. Mrs. Wright basically loses her whole identity as cheerful, singing Minnie Foster to Mr. Wright who isolates and silences her; Desiree's baby shows Armand driving Desiree to suicide after devaluing her completely as a human because of her supposed ethnically roots.
ReplyDelete