Thursday, March 20, 2014

Jane Against Society: Societal or Historical Connections

Throughout the short story The Yellow Wallpaper, Gilman relates society and history. At the time that the story takes place, woman were considered not as intelligent as men and should just stay in the house and do woman tasks. Men don't take woman seriously and that's why John talked and treated Jane like a child. "Then he took me in his arms and called me a blessed little goose, and said he would go down to the cellar, if I wished, and have it whitewashed into the bargain"(3).  John called Jane a "blessed little goose" like the child story reference of mother goose. This means John looks at Jane as if she is a child. "What is it, little girl?" he said. "Don't go walking about like that-- you'll get cold"(6). In this statement John literally said to Jane she is a little girl. Also, John was concerned for her like she didn't have the ability to know she would get cold like a little kid. 


Society: an organized group of persons associated together for religious, benevolent,cultural, scientific, political, patriotic or other purposes.

http://m.dictionary.com/definition/society This source helped me understand what society meant.
http://www.loyno.edu/~kchopin/Women's%20Rights.htm This source helps me understand the rights and the way woman were treated in the time period The Yellow Wallpaper was written.


1 comment:

  1. I agree with you. I like how you quoted from the story, and explained the quotes. John obviously thought that Jane was unintelligent, and thinks she is a child. He is just like every man back then.

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