English Literature

Marriage, as an institution, facilitates the union of man and woman enabling them to raise a family. The wellbeing and happiness of the family depends equally on the man and the woman. But this equality is imperceptible in married relations, as married women are forced to lead their lives according to the desire of their husbands. The theme of repression of women in marriage is depicted in various short stories. Two such stories are The Yellow Wallpaper by Charlotte Perkins Gilman and The Storm by Kate Chopin. 

The protagonist in the story, The Story of an Hour, Mrs. Louise Mallard is subjected to repression after her marriage and this is evident from her reaction upon hearing the news of her husbands death. First she mourns, as pointed out by Kate Chopin (2000) She wept at once, with sudden, wild abandonment, in her sisters arms. (pg.260). But when she realizes that she is free to lead her life according to her wishes, she feels relieved and looks forward to her new found freedom. Kate Chopin (2000) mentions, There would be no powerful will bending hers in that blind persistence with which men and women believe they have a right to impose a private will upon a fellow-creature. (pg.261). Initially, her sister is concerned whether to tell her the news of Mr. Mallards death or not, as she has a heart problem. But on the contrary, Mrs. Mallard after a very brief moment of sadness exults with the thought of a life free from the will of her husband on hearing about her husbands death. Kate Chopin (2000) writes that Free Body and soul free she kept whispering. (pg.260). Mrs. Mallard always felt that her life is burdened by the views and desires of her husband but she lacked the courage to revolt against the situation. It is only after the death of her husband that she thinks of a free life. Kate Chopin (2000) depicts her thoughts There would be no one to live for during those coming years she would live for herself. (pg.260). The feeling of Mrs. Mallard that she is being trapped in her marriage is so intense that when she hears the news of her husbands death, she feels joyous for being liberated from that trap.
   
The protagonist in the story The Yellow Wallpaper also faces repression in her married life, for her husband fails to understand her mental problems. The protagonist is a married woman, who is going through post-natal depression after the birth of her child, but her husband fails to realize that his wife is suffering from depression. Gilman (1990) writes, You see he does not believe I am sick (pg.3). He thinks that his wife is behaving strangely owing to hysteria, and therefore imprisons his wife in the bedroom. Gilman (1990) writes that the young woman questions what she can do when ones own husband, assures friends and relatives that there is really nothing the matter with one but temporary nervous depression--a slight hysterical tendency. (pg.3). Even though the narrators husband is a physician, he refuses to believe that his wife is sick, and can be cured if she is allowed to work and interact with the society. As Gilman (1990) points out, the young woman thinks, Personally, I believe that congenial work, with excitement and change, would do me good.  (pg.3). Instead of helping her, the treatment results in suffering and severe depression for the young woman. Gilman (1990) mentions, But these nervous troubles are dreadfully depressing. John does not know how much I really suffer. (pg.5). Being alone in her room day and night, the mental health of the young woman deteriorates leading to a situation where she loses her sanity.
   
The experiences and feelings of the protagonists in the stories The Story of an Hour and The Yellow Wallpaper prove that they are subjected to repression in their married lives. Even in the present times, women are facing repression in their married lives, as they are being compelled to lead their lives according to the desires and wishes of their husbands. The society also expects married women to lead a subservient life. Owing to this attitude of the society, women are treated as secondary members by their husbands. Unless and until, the society gives up its biased attitude towards women, the oppression of married women by their husbands will continue, and married women will be subjected to the same distress which is experienced by the title characters, Mrs. Louise Mallard in the story The Story of an Hour and the unnamed narrator in the story The Yellow Wallpaper.