19th and 20th Century Gender Expectations in Literature Essay

The late nineteenth century produced a myriad of successful antecedents, poets and bring in-writes that often co-ordinated the local customs, traditions and expectations of the condemnation (and mayhap their avouch experiences) into their work. A fact of the times, even into primal 20th century, is that wowork force were non equal to men and the expectations of women were non equal as well. This picture will be illustrated by relative analysis of two separate forms of writings Tristan Bernards killing function Im divergenceA funniness in mavin actuate, and Kate Chopins presently base The Story of an Hour. Authors muckle do plays, stories or poems to op epochte us into their world, and by dint of imagination we can connect with them, if however briefly, and enjoy their assign of view and what they be get winding to convey. Through their writing, they are in truth giving us a carriageing at at hi novel and through that catch of time we can see the differ ences mingled with societys expectations past and now. Tristan Bernards (1866-1947) Im GoingA Comedy in One Act (1915), (Clugston, 2010a), is a play roofy in Paris ab extinct a unite couple (Henri and Jeanne) who on a sunlight morning are trying to solve how they are going to come ab come forth their day. Henri wants to go to the races yet he wants Jeanne to stay base of operations base, though she wants to go with him, or to see her peer (Clugston, 2010a). The theme of the play is one of suspiciousness and opusipulation, as individually truly wants to sp turn back the day on their own, and at the end of the play that is exactly what they do (Clugston, 2010a). bet more Analysis of Starbucks coffee federation employees essayIn this play, Bernard uses the setting of the item and symbolism to convey to the auditory sense a sense of separate desires of the couple beginning with the opening scene when Henri and Jeanne enter and model on opposite sides of the path (Cl ugston, 2010a). Bernard, in fact, used symbolism in umpteen of his works, and exploited the psychoanalytical technique to deal his dramas together (Degasse, 2008). What one in reality has to look through the mist to see, however, is how Bernard structureds societys expectations (or double standard) of women inParis (and through step to the fore the world, unfeignedly), though in a humorous and dramatic style, into the play.One has to keep in mind that the male audience of that time probably had the same attitude and beliefs as the character Henri, and though it may live with been viewed as right or wrong, women were anticipate to be subservient and obedient mend the male was allowed merely granting immunitys. Henri wants to goes to the races alone, and ultimately, that is what he does epoch Jeanne stays home, but let us look deeper at the play and expose the nuances that show the in equivalence of the times and how Bernard conveys that conviction. later Henri and Jeanne s initial entrance and they set down, the first thing that happens is Henri makes a chin-wagging almost how every sunshine the prevail is nice until noon, then its cloudy and wet or there is an advancing thunderstorm (Clugston, 2010a). This verbal observation of the weather may be a metaphor and really provide two meanings one is that it is in fact rainy and Henri is setting a negative atmosphere for Jeanne who expects him to take her out for the day, and the another(prenominal) could be the weekly Sunday dilemma of Henri trying to go to the races without Jeanne.The rainy, or soon to be, day alike sets a nip of despair, but provides Henri with an excuse to go to the races alone and save him and his wife the spare bell of a carriage in order to avoid the rain, and additional cost of a ladies ticket (Clugston, 2010a). In truth, it is scantily a manipulation of the circumstances for Henri to try to dissuade Jeanne in joining him at the races (Clugston, 2010a).Then in Bernar ds Im Going, A Comedy in One Act (1915), Henri recommends a exhibit (a fling) with his wife instead of accompanying him to the races and Jeanne responds Yes, up the Champs-Elysees together And view you looking daggers at me all the time Whenever I do go with you, youre al appearances fashioning disagreeable remarks. Henri responds with Because you are in a bad humor youll never lay down me your arm. (Jeanne called him on his bluff, because he really doesnt want to take a walk either), (cited in Clugston, 2010a, 1. 1. 26-29).She has no real function of going for a walk with him as she did not intend to go to the races, but does not want to see him go alone to the races and enjoy himself alone, either. This is another exercise of manipulation her manipulating him and vice versa, and starts the back and frontward farce of both(prenominal) supposedly lacking(p) to spend the day together when they really do not (Clugston, 2010a). When Jeanne decides Henri can go to the races alone because she intends to go see a friend, Henri decides he will stay at home and not go to the races (Clugston, 2010a).This is an perspicuous representation of the conserve not rely the wife, and even though she has given self-confidence to him to proceed, he abandons all intentions to leave because of his hunch of her meeting with her friend and also perhaps meeting another man. The deception between both characters is obvious at this point in the play but not obviously clear as to why. though we know by this point that Henris intention has al authoritys been to go to the races alone, it is not yet clear why Jeanne reacts the way she does.Is it that she is abused, or expected to stay home alone while Henri goes to the races, or does she have her own nefarious agenda, or both? Finally, and aft(prenominal) much back and off ruse of both characters, Jeanne decides to stay at home alone and lets Henri leave for the races alone, but to delight in the fact that she can spend her laternoon working on hats and enjoying chocolate at home as detailed immediately after Henri departs for the races in Bernards Im Going A Comedy in One Act (1915), (cited by Clugston, 2010a, 1. 1. 81-185) (Waits for a moment, listens, and hears the out door close, then rises, and goes to the door at the back.She speaks to someone off-stage) Marie, dont go before you get me a king-sized cup of chocolate. Bring two rolls, too. Oh, and go at once to my dwell and bring me my box of ribbons and those old hats. (She comes down- stage, and says beaming) What fun Ill have trimming hats Throughout this play Jeanne is expected by Henri to stay at home while he enjoys the afternoon alone, and despite the opposition Jeanne gives him, she eventually desists and Henri has his way while she is left at home.This is an delicate example of how women were treated by their hubbys then as compared to how most men and women interact today. There was probably no other recourse for the character Jeanne but to dismiss herself to some enjoyment at home with her hats, and chocolate, and rolls. It could be argued that that is what she wanted all along, that she scarcely wanted a reassurance that her preserve love her, but probably not, more than probably she simply had no other excerption than to occupy her Sunday alone as best as she could and succumb to her preserves wishes.There stands some equivocalness as to whether they really love each other, or if Jeanne is simply stuck and cannot get out of the situation she is in. Sixteen years former than the play by Tristan Bernard discussed above, but in the same era of male dominance, Kate Chopin (1850-1904) wrote some(prenominal) diddle stories and novels which also depict the discriminatory plight of women in her time and the choices they had to endure in order to survive, including quite perhaps domestic violence in a time when no recourse was accessible (Tate, 2000).Unlike Bernard, who was a renowned generator at the age of 25, Chopin was considered a feminist, and as a young widow who had to force out six children alone when she lost her husband to swamp fever, she eventually succeeded by round to writing and was widely accepted in the southern United States literary circle (Tucker, 1996). Much of her writing incorporates her own behavior experiences and tribulations, such as The Awakening, (1899) which depicts a nineteenth century woman who is adulterous, but maintains her specialism and individuality despite of what society thinks about her (Tucker, 1996).It is of little doubt that Kate Chopin was of the same perspective and character of many of those characters in her stories. tally to Leary (1968), much of her writing Speaks of marital gloominess and of dangers which lie in wait for plenty who do as they want to do without concern for other people (p. 60). Kate Chopins The Story of an Hour (1894), (Clugston, 2010b), is written clear and succinctly leaving little room for ambig uity or misinterpretation.Chopins prepare style of writing draws the ref in quickly and gives immediate insight to what is hap and what the knowings of the characters are, thus increasing the understanding of what the author is trying to convey. Like Bernard, Chopin uses symbolism and calibre to enhance the (in this case) imaginary setting to further the readers experience. Unlike Bernard, Chopins form was short stories and novels instead of plays to be performed in front of live audiences.It is also important to look at Kate Chopin from a biographical/historical perspective to produce Chopin has also used life experiences as a basis for some of her characters in this story Mr. mallard has reportedly been killed in a train misadventure, while in reality Kate Chopins father really was killed in a train accident (Tucker, 1996).According to Seyersted, (cited in Kelly, 1994, p. 332), after critiquing Athenaise, he states that In spite of its happy ending, this humbug is, on a de eper level, a own against womans condition. Seyersted is undoubtedly referring to womens struggle at that time for equality with men. Closer comparison of this story with Bernards play will bring to the coat many similarities of the uphill struggle women of this era endured and how it is depicted and evident in our literature. In Chopins The Story of an Hour, the main character, Mrs. mallard receives word at home that her husband had been killed in a train accident, she was overwrought and crying, and when this subsided, she retires alone to a large armchair lining an open window in her room (Clugston, 2010b).This initial reaction to her loss seems plum normal up to this point in the story, but then the Narrator describes what Mrs. mallard sees, smells and hears from the open window, using symbolism and tone to describe a renewal in life, as described in Chopins Story of an Hour, (cited by Clugston, 2010b, para. 5) She could see in the open square before her kinfolk the tops o f trees that were all aquiver with the new restrain life. The delicious breath of rain was in the air.In the street below a peddler was crying his wares. The notes of a out-of-town song which some one was interpret reached her faintly, and countless sparrows were twittering in the eaves. As the story unfolds, Mrs. mallard feels an emotion coming to her which she initially cannot identify, but ultimately does identify it it is eternal rest and a sense of a new impoverisheddom (Clugston, 2010). But why would she feel this way now unless she felt laden or abused when her husband was liveborn? A better description of what Mrs.Mallard had endured under her Husbands receive and what she imagined the future to hold is stated in the story There would be no powerful will bending hers in that blind persistence with which men and women deliberate they have a right to reduce a private will upon a fellow-creature (cited in Clugston, 2010b, para. 14). The Author is speaking to the read er about this issue in 1894, a very bold and controversial contestation for a time in which women were not expected to behave this way.Nearing the end of the story Mrs. Mallard finally accepts her newfound independence and rejoices to herself Free Body and soul free (cited in Clugston, 2010b, para. 19), only to be persuaded out of her room by her sister and read downstairs just as her husband comes through the front door, he was in fact not dead after all (Clugston, 2010). Mrs. Mallard died upon seeing her husband though the doctors said it was heart affection (earlier in the story it does mention she had a weak heart), (Clugston, 2010). One has to wonder though, did Mrs. Mallard die from heart disease or is this another symbol the Author uses to pull Mrs. Mallard (or any oppressed woman) would or else die than give up her freedom and individuality?Tristan Bernards Im Going A Comedy in One Act is a play written by a man in France sixteen years after Kate Chopins The Story of an Hour, which is a short story written by a woman in the United States. though there are differences in the Authors, origin, form, audience or reader, some compelling similarities cost the time they were written (1915 & 1894, respectively), that both Authors incorporate issues of the time into their work, and perhaps most importantly, they both display the subservient, oppressive place which women are expected to take in the 19th and 20th centuries.