Revolutionary Road by Richard Yates is amongst literary works an explorative piece into the life of the typical suburban family in the 1950’s. The story focuses on the relationship between a couple, April and Frank Wheeler, and their interactions and immersion within the suburban setting that they reside. This is where the up’s and down’s of their marriage is laid bare and the reader gets a glimpse into the impact of the social pressures that are forced upon them to affect their suburban lives and marriage in different ways. Amongst the characters in the book, April Wheeler stands out above all for her relentless and powerful character which strives to defy social norms. For a woman, her actions were deemed unconventional and delusional at
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April is taking part in a community play as an actress which distant her from the responsibilities at home. Her action describes the “the housewife syndrome” mentioned by Betty Freidan in The Feminine Mystique which denotes her intentions to escape the desperation and frustration she feels being contained as a housewife. However, such actions characterized by seeking fulfillment and happiness in social spaces other than the home typically result in the woman facing the social burden of being seen as neurotic or unfeminine. This is illustrated by the consequent failure of the play where April “played the heroine” (Yates 7). As the play turns into failure, Yates illustrates the inevitability of confinement that April faces as a woman in her suburban setting. This is the consequence of her attempt to break out of her role and she is forced to face the reality of her life. When Frank comes to visit April from backstage, we see a pitiful image of his wife: she “change into the graceless, suffering creature whose existence he tried every day of his life to deny but whom he knew as well and as painfully as he knew himself, a gaunt constricted woman whose red eyes flashed reproach, whose false smile in the curtain call was as homely as his own sore feet” (13). Frank seems to recognize April’s unhappiness although he …show more content…
Yet, it is not her fault that she does not recognize this due to the constant signs in her surroundings suggesting that she is at fault for desiring change. Her husband, who by conforming to the middle-class men stereotype, disregards her stance in marriage matters and encourages her to seek professional help instead of attempting to understand her unhappiness. Finding no hope in her stifling situation, April views death as the only way to end her containment. April’s suicide at the end of the book reflects the alarming aspects of the conformity that persisted America for years that was the cause of many women’s unhappiness. Her suicide, which is staged as the consequence of her attempted abortion, puts a powerful end to the chain of abortions throughout the story. From “an aborted play, several aborted careers, any number of aborted ambitions and aborted plans and aborted dream – all leading up to a real, physical abortion, and a death at the end” all come to show the inevitability of containment
April is taking part in a community play as an actress which distant her from the responsibilities at home. Her action describes the “the housewife syndrome” mentioned by Betty Freidan in The Feminine Mystique which denotes her intentions to escape the desperation and frustration she feels being contained as a housewife. However, such actions characterized by seeking fulfillment and happiness in social spaces other than the home typically result in the woman facing the social burden of being seen as neurotic or unfeminine. This is illustrated by the consequent failure of the play where April “played the heroine” (Yates 7). As the play turns into failure, Yates illustrates the inevitability of confinement that April faces as a woman in her suburban setting. This is the consequence of her attempt to break out of her role and she is forced to face the reality of her life. When Frank comes to visit April from backstage, we see a pitiful image of his wife: she “change into the graceless, suffering creature whose existence he tried every day of his life to deny but whom he knew as well and as painfully as he knew himself, a gaunt constricted woman whose red eyes flashed reproach, whose false smile in the curtain call was as homely as his own sore feet” (13). Frank seems to recognize April’s unhappiness although he …show more content…
Yet, it is not her fault that she does not recognize this due to the constant signs in her surroundings suggesting that she is at fault for desiring change. Her husband, who by conforming to the middle-class men stereotype, disregards her stance in marriage matters and encourages her to seek professional help instead of attempting to understand her unhappiness. Finding no hope in her stifling situation, April views death as the only way to end her containment. April’s suicide at the end of the book reflects the alarming aspects of the conformity that persisted America for years that was the cause of many women’s unhappiness. Her suicide, which is staged as the consequence of her attempted abortion, puts a powerful end to the chain of abortions throughout the story. From “an aborted play, several aborted careers, any number of aborted ambitions and aborted plans and aborted dream – all leading up to a real, physical abortion, and a death at the end” all come to show the inevitability of containment