Gender Roles in The Yellow Wallpaper and A Streetcar...

Many different depictions of gender roles exist in all times throughout the history of American culture and society. Some are well received and some are not. When pitted against each other for all intents and purposes of opposition, the portrayal of the aspects and common traits of masculinity and femininity are separated in a normal manner. However, when one gender expects the other to do its part and they are not satisfied with the results and demand more, things can shift from normal to extreme fairly quickly. This demand is more commonly attributed by the men within literary works. Examples of this can be seen in Tennessee Williams â€Å"A Streetcar Named Desire†, where Stella is constantly being pushed around and being abused by her†¦show more content†¦The pattern of the wallpaper is also significant because in a manner of speaking, it symbolizes solitary confinement and it is almost like the room she is in is one resembling one seen in a mental institution, or could also be considered to be a jail cell and the woman had been put behind bars; both cases would involve desperately trying to find some way to escape and declare her freedom. Soon after her imprisonment, and soon after her convincing herself there is another woman lurking within who is behind the bars of the yellow wallpaper, the situation being seen as reminiscent of a would-be prisoners captivity. When she herself desires to get out, demonstrated by her â€Å"getting angry enough to do something desperate† (Gilman 1694), she shows strength and determination, which are typically very masculine traits. However, they are dismissed with her later display of her own expected feminine traits, such as codependency. When she tries to break free by opening the door, she cannot and keeps telling her husband John, â€Å"The key is under a plantain leaf!† (Gilman 1695), alerting him to retrieve it to unlock the door, and at long last when she breaks free, she celebrates, say ing â€Å"Ive got out at last† (Gilman 1695), declaring her victory over a force that kept her from the world.Show MoreRelatedLooking Back Upon Civil Rights, WomenS Campaign For Suffrage1250 Words   |  5 Pagesfrom all levels of society entering the public sphere and becoming self advocates. In 1892, Charlotte Perkins Gilman authored The Yellow Wallpaper, a piece that symbolically represented the era. By the 1940s women had gained the right to vote and had begun to work, much to the chagrin of men. In 1947 Tennessee Williams produced his classic play A Streetcar Named Desire. While similar in their quest to bring women’s struggles to the forefront, clashing eras resulted in different literary products.Read MoreA Streetcar Named Desire By Tennessee Williams1644 Words   |  7 Pagesa social life, and take care of my kids while being a supportive wife,† a modern woman would say. Throughout American literature and history, the role of a â€Å"traditional womanà ¢â‚¬  was vacuous- to stay at home, to cook, to clean, and to take care of the children. Today, that stereotypical role is no longer a strong foundation for their lifestyle. Women’s role in America has changed overtime because they are no longer dependent on men, discarded in the workforce, or seen as voiceless and depreciated.