I really enjoyed both stories. I felt they both incorporated strong points regarding the portrayal of women compared to men in society. In Gilman's "The Yellow Wall-paper" the lead character is supposively suffering from a nervous breakdown. Her husband treats her almost like a child, telling her explicitly what she can and cannot do while recuperating. The whole time the woman wishes to be able to go outside but instead she has to sit and look at this ugly yellow wall-paper, eventually driving her insane. The husband makes the situation worse by forcing her to live in that room for so long. The way he acts as if he knew everything and she didn't, treating her as if she was his subordinate, causes him to disregard her opinions or knowledge on the matter totally, and she's the one that's sick. "I tried to have a real earnest reasonable talk...for I was crying before I had finished."
"Roman Fever" is about relationships involving women, yet instead between man and woman, Wharton's story focuses more on the relationships women have with each other. You can tell throughout the whole piece that both women are jealous of each other and though they are friends, they definitely have many negative things to say about each other. I really enjoyed the end when Mrs. Ansley revealed to Mrs. Slade, almost in full spite but coming off as innocent and nonchalant, that "'I had Barbara', she said, and began to move ahead of Mrs. Slade toward the stairway." While Mrs. Slade tried to trick Mrs. Ansley and write that note herself but sign it as her husband was extremely devious. Mrs. Ansley ends up getting back at her by telling her she had her daughter, who Mrs. Slade was actually jealous of her for, with Mrs. Slade's husband as a result of the letter. This happens after Mrs. Slade says Ansley and her husband had nothing compared to her and her husband. I found the emotion was really strong in this story and it really conveyed a lot.
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hello charles. i like how you brought up in "Roman Fever" how it was about the relationships between women. I totally agree. I also think that a lot of women have those types of relationships where they want to sabatoge the other one, all while acting all nice and happy. I think that a lot of women get jealous and do these kind of things. But the twist at the end was my favorite. it was like a slap in the face.
ReplyDeleteHey Charles. It was so cute that you burst into tear in The Yellow Wall Paper. I admit with you, I just did not felt right when I read it also. It is depressing, exactly how the author want us to feel for the lady. It is a lot of information we need to know in the story no wonder the lady go insane. About the Roman Fever, the two ladies are trying to be ugly to each other. It is also crazy but it is fun though. Do you think? there is nothing to be proud of here, the two woman just make a joke for every body to see their private life. if it was me, I was so embarras to tell anybody. Not in this case.
ReplyDeleteHey Charles
ReplyDeleteI agree with you. The way the husband treated the wife was ridiculous. Just sticking her in the room to stare at the yellow wall paper with nothing else to do was a brilliant idea. The way he treated her like a subordinate and would not even consider what she suggested probably was not the best approach.