Essay #2

Tate 1

Student Tate

Professor Vicki Lague

LIT 2120 REF.#XXXXXX

December 11, 2014

Gender: The Emancipation of Women

The Realism and Naturalism movements in literature are distinguished by their straight

forwarded messages about social issues that encourage an audience to action. Two American

female writers, Kate Chopin and Edith Wharton, form a great breakthrough in the history of

literature by exposing the miserable existence of the 19th century woman. In “The Story of an

Hour,” Kate Chopin pronounces the deep feelings of an unhappy housewife; whereas, Edith

Wharton, in her story “The Other Two,” highlights the strength of a cosmopolitan woman of that

time. Both Kate Chopin and Edith Wharton raise the social question about women’s

emancipation.

Kate Chopin’s “The Story of An Hour” is an incredibly written story describing the

controversial feelings of Mrs. Mallard during a seemingly tragic event when she receives a

message of her husband’s death. The author exposes the intelligent woman of the 19th century

who has been trapped in the tradition of a proper marriage and has no chance to make her own

choices or pursue her own dreams. Chopin emphasizes Mrs. Mallard’s feelings of coming

freedom by describing the view outside of her window, a window into her new life. Chopin

writes,” She could see in the open square before her house the tops of trees that were all aquiver

with the new spring life. The delicious breath of rain was in the air”(1). The author applies the

symbolic comparisons, such us the open square with its limitless perspectives, the spring with a

new birth, and the scent of rain that would wash her past away, as new life possibilities for Mrs.

Tate 2

Mallard’s vision of life in her future. Being deeply oppressed by her current life’s situation, Mrs.

Mallard’s desire to live her own life surpasses the grief of seemingly losing her husband. Chopin

explicitly conveys the thoughts of her protagonist and she writes, ”Her fancy was running riot

along those days ahead of her. Spring days, and summer days, and all sorts of days that would be

her own. She breathed a quick prayer that life might be long. It was only yesterday she had

thought with a shudder that life might be long” (2). The meaning of the phrase “life might be

long” has crucially different meanings as it is repeated in the sentence. Day by day, season by

season, Mrs. Mallard will be enjoying her life where just a day ago she was frightened to think

about her miserable future. The story’s tragedy lies in Mrs. Mallard’s overjoyed feelings of

sudden happiness that lead to her untimely death when they are abruptly withdrawn, revealing

the author’s hidden message. While Louise, whose first name is revealed only after she has

embraced her new life (2), dies a physical death, the author also suggests that no woman can

truly live without being in control of her own life. Louise died that metaphorical death a long

time ago.

In Edith Wharton’s “The Other Two,” Mrs. Waythorn is a woman who has seemingly

rebelled against old-fashioned moral values and society’s prejudices; she is a woman with a

strength and “ability to justify herself”(1, para. 6). And, the author fully exposes Mrs.

Waythorn’s willingness to pursue happiness and defend her life choices through her two divorces

and third marriage. Along with moral issues, the story points out that the legal system’s flaws

created considerable difficulties for any women of that time who went through divorce

procedures. They were not protected by law and were ignored by society. Wharton points out the

problem through Mr. Waythorn's perspective when the narrator says that he “knew that society

has not yet adapted itself to the consequences of divorce, and that till the adaptation takes place

Tate 3

every woman who uses the freedom the law accords her must be her own social

justification”(1.6). To be able to rebuild her reputation and be accepted by the society, Mrs.

Waythorn has to pretend to be a victim and advocate for herself against the traditional social

morals. Besides, living an upscale life in New Your City, Mrs. Waythorn has no choice but to

have discovered “the solution of the newest social problem”(5.1). She is able to employ a

cosmopolitan approach to her current status of third time married woman as she turns an

embarrassing communication with her ex-husbands into a common sense action. Through Mrs.

Waythorn’s example, the author gives fresh perspective on women’s emancipation in society

when they are capable of defending themselves and making their own choices. Mrs. Waythorn

moves forward in life, with grace and clarity, unlike Mrs. Mallard who is unable to maintain the

strength she has just found when faced with her living husband, the symbol of her suppression.

The 19th century was a crucial time where women clearly realized that they understood

their socially repressed station in society and were expected to conform to it. In Kate Chopin’s

story, Mrs. Mallard conforms and simply waits for upcoming changes to be able enjoying life

again. That willingness to wait is what kills her emotionally and physically in the end. In

contrast, in Edith Wharton’s story, “The Other Two,” Mrs. Waythorn is a free spirit who takes

matters into her own hands. The two stories highlight two different paths for women in the 19th

century: One path of conforming tradition and another path of modern independence to pursue

happiness and freedom.

Tate 4

Works Cited

Chopin, Kate. “The Story of an Hour.” KateChopin.Org. The Kate Chopin International Society.

n.d. Web. 3 Dec. 2014.

Wharton, Edith. “The Other Two.” The Descent of Man and other Stores. University of

Adelaide, eBooks @ Adelaide. n.d. Web. 5 Dec. 2014.

Honor Code: I, Student Tate, confirm that this assignment is my own work and that I have

documented all sources that were used in this essay