A woman represented beauty, tenderness, purity, and grace. Traditionally, a role of women in society was only to do household work and to raise children, unfortunately, at the same time, they were viewed as physically and mentally fragile. Throughout the 1800’s, many people perceived women to be delicate and unable to provide for their needs greatly as men. Charlotte Perkins Gilman was writer and a social activist during the 1800’s who expressed her ideas on women’s issues and on social reform. Both Charlotte Perkins Gilman and Kate Chopin, another writer, wanted to reveal the repression of women in the Victorian Era. In addition, Sojourner Truth was an abolitionist who advocated for civil and women’s rights. These authors addressed the struggle of women’s role in society by revealing the hardships and the adversity they were expected to endure.
In the short story, “The Yellow Wallpaper” by Charlotte Perkins Gilman, she displays how women need a voice to express themselves, an opportunity to work, and an ability to control their own lives. She uses literary devices especially irony, to depict a character who was forced to live in a house by her husband in order to cure her depression. The story unfolds and at the end of the first entry, the narrator was forbidden to write by her husband, John, “There comes John and I must put this away,— he hates to have me write word” (Gilman 316). The narrator was prohibited to utilize her ability of writing because her husband believed that this could worsen her condition. Essentially, Charlotte Perkins Gilman elaborates that women were not permitted to perform any work that people especially men, believed to be a strenuous activity. Furthermore, the author describes the narrator’s husband as, “..very careful and loving, and hardly lets me stir without special direction” (Gilman 315). Although she still considered him a solicitous husband and he had good intentions, the narrator was forced to be dependent and gave her husband the capability to control every aspect of her life. Charlotte Perkins Gilman continues to reiterate that women were expected to obey everything men presumed were best for their lives. As the story progresses, the narrator attempts to explain the figure she has been seeing in the wallpaper to her husband however he says, “‘Of course if you were in any danger, I could and would, but you really are better, dear, whether you can see it or not’” (Gilman 322). John negated and ignored his wife’s concerns to try and control how his wife should think. He continues to make decisions for her based on his assumptions and completely oppressed his wife. As the narrator’s condition gradually worsened and eventually led to insanity, she found the only freedom by believing that she was the woman in the wallpaper who escaped by tearing it apart. Charlotte Perkins Gilman concludes the story with the use of symbolism and irony, to display how women’s opinions are restrained by society and how women’s inability to communicate their voice effectively when needed the most, furthered their suppression.
Similarly in the story, “A Pair of Silk Stockings” by Kate Chopin, she uses tools including a setting and conflict to convey that women need a break from their traditional role and an identity outside of their domestic life. Mrs. Sommers was a devoted mother and used every second of her time to live in the present and for the future. As she was bargaining clothes for her children, it says, “But that day she was a little faint and tired…between getting the children fed and the place righted, and preparing herself for the shopping bout, she had actually forgotten to eat any luncheon at all!” (Chopin 505). Kate Chopin describes that Mrs. Sommers had forgotten to eat lunch as she was too focused to ensure that her children were fed and was preparing for shopping. In addition, she establishes the idea how women are selfless and are willing to put everyone else first before themselves as it is part of their role that they are expected to be responsible of. As Mrs. Sommers disregarded the needs for her children and decided to spend the money for herself, it says, “Her stockings and boots and well-fitting gloves had worked worked marvels in her bearing—had given her a feeling of assurance, a sense of belonging to the well-dressed multitude” (Chopin 508). The author illustrates how a woman’s style of dress can significantly impact their social class and sense of conformity. Besides the rich social class, many women never had the time to prioritize themselves first over anyone. They were deemed to be only mothers or housewives that must take care of their family more importantly than anything else instead of spending items for themselves. As the story ends, it says, “It was like a dream ended…unless he were wizard enough to detect a poignant wish, a powerful longing that the cable car would ever stop anywhere, but go and on with her forever” (Chopin 508). Kate Chopin concludes the story by Mrs. Sommers entering the cable car to return back home to the reality and the yearning for the day to never stop as she only has items filled with nothing but unfulfilled desires until they wear out. She enunciates that women need freedom for even just a day, to provide and indulge for themselves, and to experience a temporary feeling of control.
In addition, a short speech, “Ain’t I a Woman?” by Sojourner Truth shows a similar point when she argues that all women were not treated fairly and equally and all women have the same capability in intellect, hardships, and work just as men. In her speech, she asserts, “That man over there says that women need to be helped into carriages, and lifted over ditches, and to have the best place everywhere. Nobody ever helps me into carriages, or over mudpuddles, or gives me any best place! And ain’t I a woman?” (Truth 331). Sojourner Truth questions the idea why men do not treat all women the same. She insists that every women should treated with respect by men, no matter the color of their skin. Towards the middle of her speech, she uses an emotional appeal to persuade the audience as she says, “And ain’t I a woman? I have borne thirteen children, and seen them most all sold off to slavery, and when I cried out with my mother’s grief, none but Jesus heard me!” (Truth 331). She asserts that women have endured pain and misery and it should be enough to understand what they are capable of for what they have been through. She proceeds to challenge the general idea of womanhood and believed that every aspect of womanhood must be treated with respect.
These authors advocated the role of a woman in society by the challenges and opposition they were demanded to face. Charlotte Perkins Gilman displayed with the used of literary devices, how women need to express their own voice and have the potential to work. Similarly, Kate Chopin, who raised six children all by herself, illustrated the idea that women need more than just living in their traditional role with the use literary devices. Lastly, Sojourner Truth argued with the used of persuasive appeals and rhetorical devices, the idea for all women to be treated equal and perform the same abilities as men. These authors impacted the society and the ways the struggle for freedom changed with history.