Story of an Hour vs. Yellow Wallpaper
Lacen English II 22 January 2011 Differently Similar In the short stories “The Story of an Hour” by Kate Chopin and “The Yellow Wallpaper” by Charlotte Perkins Gilman, are stories about women who suffer from different conditions, but are very similar. In “The Story of an Hour” the main character suffers from an unknown heart condition, and becomes very detached from her husband. In “The Yellow Wallpaper” the main character suffers from a psychological condition, and is taken care of by her husband John but slowly grows away from his care.
While these women may have very different situations, they are very similar in the way they grow away from their husbands, feeling oppressed by society, and wanting to feel free. The first similarity between the two women is the way they slowly become detached from their husbands. The woman in “The Yellow Wallpaper” is very fond of her husband’s care and takes notice of it when she says “Dear John! He loves me very dearly and hates to have me sick. (Gilman)” This shows that she can clearly see he cares for her and appreciates what he does for her.
Even though she does appreciate his care, she truly believes that there is nothing wrong with her, and there is no need for his extensive supervision. Towards the end of the story she becomes very detached from John when she says “The fact is I am becoming a little afraid of John. (Gilman)” With this quote, she shows that her psychological condition has worsened as feels as if John is trying to hurt her with the rest and treatments he is prescribing. In “The Story of an Hour” the main character immediately feels detached from her husband with “And yet she had loved him—sometimes.
Often she had not. What did it matter! (Chopin)” With this she shows that she does not feel at all connected to her husband an shows no concern with trying to be. While these to women may have grown away from their husbands from different reason, it is still a strong similarity that the share. The two women are also similar in feeling oppressed by society and not being able to do the things they would like. In “The Yellow Wallpaper” the main character is constantly being told what she is and is not able to do such as But he said I wasn’t able to go, nor able to stand it after I got there;… (Gilman)” This is an excellent example of her feeling oppressed, because her husband feels that he knows her capabilities better than she does. Another example of this is “’What is it little girl? ’ he said. ‘Don’t go walking about like that—you’ll get cold. ’ (Gilman)” This is an example of John thinking that her condition is so bad, she has to be treated like a child, constantly telling her what and what not to do.
In “The Story of an Hour” the shows she has felt depressed with “There would be no one to live for during those coming years; she would live for herself. (Chopin)” After receiving news that her husband passed away in a train accident, she felt as if the burden of doing things for her husband was lifted, and that she could do the things she wants to do. The final similarity these two women share is the wanting to feel free. The woman in “The Yellow Wallpaper” feels that she is capable of doing what she wants to do when she says “Personally, I believe that congenial work, with excitement and change, would do me good. Gilman)” With this she shows that not being able to work and have excitement would help improve her condition more than rest and medicine would. She also shows she wants to be free, with multiple examples of her seeing a woman “trapped” behind a wallpaper pattern trying to get out, which shows a longing for her own freedom. In “The Story of an Hour” a key example of the main character’s want for freedom is “’Free! Body and soul free! ’ she kept whispering. Chopin)” Even though this is such a short quote, it is very important in showing her want for freedom and finally getting it. She feels that since her husband passed away she can live freely without having to answer to her husband. While these two women have very different situation, it is proven that they are in fact very similar in feelings and actions. Both women become detached from their husbands and their husbands’ care, both feel oppressed and have a longing to be free from their situations.
