Gender and femininity is an important aspect of both Daisy Miller by Henry James and The Yellow Wallpaper by Charlotte Perkins Gilman. This representation of gender and femininity gives an idea of what it was like to be an American Women at the end of the nineteenth century.
In Daisy Miller, the main character, Daisy Miller is a young girl from a small town in upstate New York, Schenectady, who is traveling abroad to Switzerland and Italy. Gender roles in Daisy Miller can be clearly seen in the differences in the ways that Daisy and her brother are treated for their behavior. Randolph Miller, Daisy’s brother, is ill-mannered and not well behaved, but he can do whatever he pleases without any sort of scolding, people seem to have the attitude …show more content…
When Winterbourne first meets Daisy, this is the description of her, “She was dressed in white muslin, with hundred frills and flounces and knots of pale-colored ribbon. Bareheaded, she balanced in her hand a large parasol with a deep border of embroidery; and she was strikingly, admirably pretty” (p 1559). Daisy Miller is the perfect example of femininity in the late nineteenth century, which becomes very clear as she is able to attract both Winterbourne and Mr. Giovanelli, both are enamored with Daisy’s beauty and …show more content…
The Yellow Wallpaper is about Jane, a woman suffering from postpartum depression. Jane moves into a new house with her husband and new baby. There she and her husband move into the attic, where Jane begins to drastically go down hill. Gender is very apparent from the beginning of the story, Jane discusses how both her husband and her brother are doctors, prestigious jobs, and strictly for men in the story and very commonly of the time period. The story looks at the ideal women of the time by looking to Jennie, John’s sister, the story says of her, “She is a perfect and enthusiastic housekeeper, and hopes for no better profession. I verily believe she thinks it is the writing which made me sick!” (p 1738). This shows what is idealized of women at the time, they are desired to be housekeepers and pleased with just doing that. The fact that John believed that Jane is too weak to do anything but stay in the attic room with the yellow wallpaper also demonstrates that women are considered to be weak and unable to both heal and go for a walk or greet
In Daisy Miller, the main character, Daisy Miller is a young girl from a small town in upstate New York, Schenectady, who is traveling abroad to Switzerland and Italy. Gender roles in Daisy Miller can be clearly seen in the differences in the ways that Daisy and her brother are treated for their behavior. Randolph Miller, Daisy’s brother, is ill-mannered and not well behaved, but he can do whatever he pleases without any sort of scolding, people seem to have the attitude …show more content…
When Winterbourne first meets Daisy, this is the description of her, “She was dressed in white muslin, with hundred frills and flounces and knots of pale-colored ribbon. Bareheaded, she balanced in her hand a large parasol with a deep border of embroidery; and she was strikingly, admirably pretty” (p 1559). Daisy Miller is the perfect example of femininity in the late nineteenth century, which becomes very clear as she is able to attract both Winterbourne and Mr. Giovanelli, both are enamored with Daisy’s beauty and …show more content…
The Yellow Wallpaper is about Jane, a woman suffering from postpartum depression. Jane moves into a new house with her husband and new baby. There she and her husband move into the attic, where Jane begins to drastically go down hill. Gender is very apparent from the beginning of the story, Jane discusses how both her husband and her brother are doctors, prestigious jobs, and strictly for men in the story and very commonly of the time period. The story looks at the ideal women of the time by looking to Jennie, John’s sister, the story says of her, “She is a perfect and enthusiastic housekeeper, and hopes for no better profession. I verily believe she thinks it is the writing which made me sick!” (p 1738). This shows what is idealized of women at the time, they are desired to be housekeepers and pleased with just doing that. The fact that John believed that Jane is too weak to do anything but stay in the attic room with the yellow wallpaper also demonstrates that women are considered to be weak and unable to both heal and go for a walk or greet