English Literature

Introduction
The attitude and thinking of an individual shapes an individuals reaction towards the various kinds of situations heshe faces in hisher life. When humans find themselves in oppressive situations, they either tend to revolt against the oppressive situation or accept it without any protest. The short stories A Jury of Her Peers by Susan Glaspell and Everyday Use by Alice Walker depict the different kind of responses of human beings, which are evoked by oppression. The characters of Mrs. Wright in A Jury of Her Peers and Mama in Everyday Use are presented as victims of oppression. Mrs. Wright is subjected to oppression by her husband whereas Mama is oppressed by the society. Although both Mrs. Wright and Mama find themselves in oppressive situations, their responses to oppression differ from each other in various aspects.

Mrs. Wright  Mama
The character of Mrs. Wright in the story A Jury of Her Peers is a victim of oppression and this is evident from the conversations of the women who have converged at Mrs. Wrights home. Mrs. Wrights was subjected to oppression by her husband. Even though it is never mentioned in the story, the discussion of Mrs. Hale and Mrs. Peters points towards the indifferent and abusive attitude of Mr. Wright. Mrs. Peters comments about the uncaring nature of Mr. Wright, But he was a hard man, Mrs. Peters. Just to pass the time of day with him. Like a raw wind that gets to the bone. (Glaspell). This comment and the killing of canary by Mr. Wright prove that he neglected the emotional needs of his wife. The broken cage and the dead bird suggest that Mrs. Wright abused her wife. As Mrs. Wright was leading a lonely life with a hardhearted husband, she succumbs to the negative influence of isolation and goes on to kill her husband. The findings of Mrs. Wrights neighbors reveal that Mrs. Wright had killed her husband. When Mrs. Hale searches for scissors in Mrs. Wrights sewing box, she finds a fancy box. Then the women notice that there is a dead bird wrapped in a piece of cloth in the box. But, Mrs. Peterslook at it. Its neck Look at its neck Its all--other side to. (Glaspell). When the women see that the birds neck was twisted by someone, they figure out who had killed the bird and Mr. Wright. The women understand that Mr. Wright had killed Mrs. Wrights canary by twisting her neck, her only companion in times of her solitude, and in retaliation Mrs. Wright had murdered her husband in a similar manner. The feelings of an isolated women caught in an oppressive marriage are very well depicted by the author through the symbols of quilt, broken cage and the dead bird.  Instead of yielding in to the oppressive circumstances in her life, Mrs. Wright brings an end to her oppression by killing her husband.

Similar to Mrs. Wright, the character of Mama in the story Everyday Use also faces oppression in her life but her response to oppressive situations differs from Mrs. Wright in various ways. As Mama tells about her life and her illiteracy, it becomes clear that she was oppressed by the society. Owing to the oppression of the society, Mama was unable to educate herself but she accepts her fate without any protest. I never had an education myself. After second grade the school was closed down. Dont ask me why in 1927 colored asked fewer questions than they do now. (Walker). Without any education, Mama was compelled to lead a life of poverty and hardships. She worked hard to earn a livelihood and lived in a plain house. It is three rooms, just like the one that burned, except the roof is tin they dont make shingle roofs any more. There are no real windows, just some holes cut in the sides, like the portholes in a ship, but not round and not square, with rawhide holding the shutters up on the outside. (Walker). Even for educating her daughter, Dee, Mama had to seek the aid of the Church. But that was before we raised money, the church and me, to send her to Augusta to school. (Walker). Mama allowed herself to be oppressed by the society, for she was afraid to stand up against the white people. Even now she avoids talking with white people owing to her fear of facing them. Who can even imagine me looking a strange white man in the eye It seems to me I have talked to them always with one foot raised in flight, with my head fumed in whichever way is farthest from them. (Walker). When Mama finds herself in oppressive situations, she accepts it and leads her life without holding any grudge against the society. Mrs. Wright kills her oppressor whereas Mama never mentions or complains about the oppression meted out to her by the society. The author emphasizes on the cheerful attitude of Mama while describing her nature and the influence of this attitude is evident in Mamas reaction towards the societys oppression. Although both Mrs. Wright and Mama are subjected to oppression in their lives, their response is in contrast to each other.

Conclusion
The characters of Mrs. Wright in A Jury of Her Peers and Mama in Everyday Use are depicted as victims of oppression. Both of them face oppression in their lives but they react differently to the oppressive situations. Mrs. Wright fights against the oppression and garners the courage to kill her oppressive husband whereas Mama allows herself to be oppressed by the society and leads a life of poverty. Susan Glaspell presents Mrs. Wright as a lonely person who stands up to the oppression while Alice Walker depicts Mama as a cheerful person who remains unaffected by the societys oppression.