The Relationship Between Men and Women Presented in the...

The relationship between men and women presented in the short story â€Å"The Story of an Hour†, is that men dominated society. A Woman’s freedom was nonexistent. Throughout this short story, women are presented as powerless and dependent while men were considered to be superior. Women were tied down through marriage, such as, having been expected of doing as the man pleased without having any say in the relationship. Through a feminist critical perspective, this short story supports a patriarchal society that is presented though marriage and women’s lack of freedom. During this period in time, men had dominated with power and control over women. Women were seen as weak and powerless, therefore it was assumed and expected of women to obey the†¦show more content†¦With this intention, men had power over the women. From a feminist critical perspective, it is clear to perceive that her husband’s death was a release of freedom from her marriage. The text describes that at times, she did and did not love her husband. However, love had not mattered anymore because she was now free. Whether they loved each other or not, she would have still been his property. This restriction of freedom was no longer her cross to bear. The death of her husband would pave her a path for a new life. Louise whispers, â€Å"Free! Body and soul free!†. Keeping the feminist critical perspective in mind, the idea is given that her â€Å"body† is the physical property and the â€Å"soul† is her emotional and mental freedom. Provided that Louise suffered from a heart condition, her sister begged her to open the door and relax because for fear that she would make herself ill. No; she was drinking in a very elixir of life through that open window. Through this open window, Louise cumulatively realized all the new opportunities, chances, and possibilities swarming in her mind. Applying the feminist critical perspective states that with a husband standing in the way of her freedom, these possibilities were just fantasies deemed as impossible. Men stood in the way of allowing women to live their own lives. Spring days, and summer days, and all sorts of days that would beShow MoreRelatedKate Chopin s The Yellow Wallpaper1415 Words   |  6 Pagesfamous women authors of the Victorian era were Kate Chopin and Charlotte Perkins Gilman. The Victorian era brought out many different themes of freedom, confinement, and inequity. The Victorian themes can be seen in Kate Chopin’s writing called, â€Å"The Story of an Hour† and Charlotte Perkins Gilman’s writing called, â€Å"The Yellow Wallpaper.† There are many similarities and differences between both Victorian women’s perspectives and writing. 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