Women´s Role in Kate Chopins Literature The Yellow Paper...

The average size of an American fashion model? Four. The average size of an American woman? Fourteen. Throughout history, more and more American women have claimed to be unsatisfied with their physical appearances. This is due to the constant presence of thin, perfectly proportioned models in media. The image of women in media creates a standard of beauty that cannot even be reached by the models themselves. Based on the image of them portrayed in media, American women have been expected to try to reach unattainable roles. Though the expectations set for women have changed over time, women have always been expected to fulfill whatever role society created for them. This idea was even expressed in novels written in the distant past. In†¦show more content†¦Then there were the single women. People believed that since they didn’t have husbands or children to look after, that they were lonely and miserable women. In reality they could have been very friendly and loving women. But since they didn’t fill their roles in society, there had to be something wrong with them. They were often ostracized unless they had a â€Å"useful talent†. Then there were women like Edna. Edna Pontellier was the main character of The Awakening. Edna completely rebelled against all of the standards set for her by society. When the novel took place, Edna already had a husband and kids to take care of. After a long period of time of simply thinking about her life, Edna decided to do what not many women around her ever had the courage to do. Edna decided to leave her husband and kids to live a life as an independent woman. This was completely against what she was supposed to do. Edna was one of many women who began to decide that she was no longer willing to accept the role that society attempted to force her into. (Chopin) There were many other women in the United States during the 1800s who wanted to fight for their rights to be free, just as Edna did. These women were part of the women’s suffrage movement during this time. Women such as Lucretia Mott and Elizabeth Cady Stanton decided that they would no longer sit around and have their independence and freedom stripped away from them. They were motivated to holdShow MoreRelatedWomen s Self Discovery Through Literary Text1902 Words   |  8 Pagescreated a controversy. The literature in that time brought emphasis to the social and ideological changes. Women were always seen as wanting to have a family and not seen as intellectual beings. Authors like Kate Chopin presented her views on sex, marriage, and women during that period. While authors like Charlotte Perkins Gilman highlighted women’s desire to me more than just a wife. Chopin uses the self-awareness journey in The Awakening to reveal how difficult it was for women to be liber ating throughRead More Theme of Isolation in Gilman’s The Yellow Wallpaper, Steinbeck’s The Chrysanthemums and Chopin’s The Awakening1619 Words   |  7 Pagesdiffering story lines, Charlotte Gilman’s The Yellow Wallpaper, John Steinbeck’s The Chrysanthemums and Kate Chopin’s The Awakening, depict the same suffering; the isolation that women have been forced to endure throughout history. In the time period that all three characters were placed, it was culturally acceptable for wives to be dominated by their husbands; their responsibility revolving around the needs of their children and those of their spouse. Most women simply did not have a means or an idea ofRead More Women’s Self-Discovery During Late American Romanticism / Early Realism3300 Words   |  14 Pages When we think of women writers today we see successful, gifted and talented women. Although these women writers have been established for sometime their sta tus of contributions to society has only been recognized way too late. During the late romantic/early realism period numerous women found success in writing despite the fact that they may have encountered numerous obstacles in their path. The characters these women wrote about almost have a kinship with themselves bringing outRead MoreThe True Meaning Of Madness2862 Words   |  12 PagesAdrian Olivas Mrs. Loeb AP Literature September 22, 2014 The True Meaning of Madness 1. Madness is a tool and when used correctly one can escape one’s true reality. Authors use madness to explain eccentric behavior in characters and the reason madness occurs is due to society’s expectations. People are not forced to follow society’s expectations but, if one choses to break away and be themselves, society will look at them with a scornful eye. Social standards bind women and don’t allow them from