Curley’s Wife has no name and is initially seen as the possession of her husband. She is also a good-looking lady who wears quite a bit of makeup, form-fitting dresses, and ostrich feathered-high heels. As the only woman on the ranch, Curley’s wife is lonely and sad – something her marriage to Curley only makes worse. She reveals throughout the course of the story that she is unhappy in her marriage because her husband seems to care little for her, and is really more interested in talking about himself than anything else. She’s just self-obsessed, and unable to judge herself and her position honestly.
With only having the job as a “happy homemaker” woman in the 1950’s felt dissatisfaction and needed fulfillment in their life other than staying home, and taking care of their families. Consequently, in the play The Crucible by Arthur Miller women were portrayed almost the same way. They both were treated poorly and held a position of that inferior to men. Because, women in the Crucible held no real power or independence they were forced to follow the negative stereotypes of the 1950’s. Women in the 1950’s were expected to stay home, and were more or less left out of everything that were to be of importance.
Yousef. N Mr. Thomas ENG4U1 March, 25, 2013 A Women’s life, from a Feminist Approach, “The Painted Door” In the story by Sinclair Ross “The Painted Door” the main character, Anne, represents a weak, unhappy, selfish and insecure woman who is not pleased with her husband’s life choices. Employing the Feminist approach to “The Painted Door” reveals striking aspects that would otherwise be imperceptible. In society, often times a woman is shown as a person who is incapable of being alone; she will always need someone with her too keep her satisfied. Firstly, one can see this when it shows how Anne feels about being alone and what she does to make sure she is not alone for the night.
This results in the evident theme of belonging and abandonment. Throughout this novel, the characters of Rayona, Christine, and Ida bring to life this recurring theme. Left behind by her Mom, dad, Father Tom, Aunt Ida and her peers, Rayona, the youngest of the three main women in the novel, experiences abandonment. During Rayona’s whole life, her father Elgin is barely there, pooping in and out whenever convenient for him. Feeling like she is not good enough, Rayona goes out of her way to get his attention and make him want to be with her.
They were also anticipated to marry into a good family with money, most likely arranged ahead of time by the parents. Upper class women were forbidden from work and were strictly protected by their spouse. Middle class women in the same region during the same period were frequently housewives with no probable education. They were often the wives of mill operators and merchants. Depending on the lower or upper level of the middle class, women were able to be work as school mistresses, or not work at all and only take care of the house.
In the case of Connie’s mother, she rejected Connie’s attitudes because it often went against the patriarchal society's code of conduct. For example, when Connie glanced into a mirror, her mother always scolds: “Stop gawking at yourself, who are you? You think you’re so pretty?” (Oates 270). However, her mother treated June differently, by praising June all the time, “June did this, June did that, she saved money and helped clean the house and cooked” (Oates 271). June is another victim of patriarchal oppression just like Connie’s mother, a typical “house wife”.
She did not find that a marriage service generated love; she did not enable her husband to recapture his youth through hers; nor could she compensate for that by running his home in the manner of an experienced housekeeper.” This quote illustrates that Elias Strorm was very cruel to her that she died after her second child was born. She was a beautiful, young woman who Elias turned into a very dull person. She always wanted him to be happy and be a good person, but that did not happen, he was just unfair and unpleasant to everyone. To conclude Elias Strorm’s wife is a good supporter of her husband as well as Emily Strorm. The role of women does demonstrate bystanders and supporters of their husbands and family member.
The Awakening During the time in which “The Awakening” was written, the expectations of women and the limitations of law allowed them little or no independence. Women were expected to perform the social role of a doting wife and mother. As one of these women, Edna has little or no opportunity to express herself in the ways that she wanted to. It’s as though she is trapped in world where she doesn’t belong and can’t find any escape. She feels obligated to her husband and children.
Blanche Dubois’ arrival at her sister, Stella’s apartment in New Orleans generates complex relationships and anxieties among Blanche, Stella, and her husband, Stanley Kowalski. Although Blanche seems to be broke, she disdains the Kowalskis’ crude abode and criticizes their lifestyle. Brought up as a southern belle, Blanche lived in an elegant estate entitled Belle Reve, married a man she truly loved, and became an English teacher. She lost everything she owned and loved to desire, which eventually “brought her” to New Orleans (70). Blanche, however, still attempts to preserve her appearance through deception, lies, and rejection of reality.
Sommers is a static character. In the beginning, she is a caring and loving mother. During the climax, her id conquers her superego and she becomes self-centered, but at the end of the story, she is back to where she was, being a devoted mother and wife to her family. Mrs. Sommers represents a woman who has been oppressed by the world of marriage. She is forced to fit in the social norm of being a proper mother and ‘woman’ that she has no time to explore her individuality because she lives in a patriarchal society.