Comparing Chopin And Stetson Essay

Published only 7 years apart, the novel, The Awakening by Kate Chopin and the short story, The Yellow Wallpaper by Charlotte Perkins Stetson are considered landmark works of early feminism. Both depict female characters and their struggles to discover their true identities and embrace individuality in a time where this was widely unacceptable. Chopin and Stetson used these pieces of literature to make a bold statement and inspire women to empower themselves. Even though there are obvious similarities between the novel and the short story, there are some distinct differences in how the antagonists desire to express themselves. The are similar in that they both portray the subordination of women in marriage. They are different considering Stetson focuses on the importance of self-expression through independent thought and Chopin highlights the importance of sexual expression. The Awakening follows the story of Edna Pontellier who experiences a sexual awakening due to her displeasure with the current status of marriage and how women are marginalized in society. Edna longs to be able to express herself however she pleases without being cast as an outsider. Edna wants to feel passion for another person without having to be in love or be forced to be married. After Robert, the one she thought she could have …show more content…
She wants to be able to think and express herself through her writing. In the short story, the narrator’s husband, a physician of the time, diagnoses her with “nervous depression.” He prescribes a “rest cure” where the narrator is restricted from doing anything other than sitting in an old nursery until she is rehabilitated. She believes that if she were able to do things to stimulate herself such as write and experience the world, she would be cured much faster. Ultimately, the narrator gives in to this desire and begins to write in her journal in