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Discussing the Social Constraints
In discussing the various social constraints experienced
by the principle character in "The Yellow
Wallpaper", one which perhaps best serves
as evidence is found in the advice of the neurosurgeon
to the antagonist of the story. Since the principle
character was suffering from the so-called nervous
ailments, the medical advice given by the neurosurgeon
comprised of extended and complete bed rest; isolation
from family and familiar surroundings; overfeeding,
especially with cream with the assumption that
increased body volume was the source of new energy;
and massage including electric therapy for muscular
excitation. These were more than a profound set
of evidences depicting the patriarchal beliefs,
practices, and thinking of the then male society
against the women of the era. The advice of the
doctor also convincingly proved the dominant nature
of men, and attempts at subduing women through
various measures including medical advice, all
of which aimed at forcing the women to stay indoors
and refrain from any social activities outside
their homes.
The wording of the author of "The Yellow
Wallpaper" also provide sufficient evidence
on this typical patriarchal attitude which kept
the women of pre-21st century era submissive.
For example in Gilman's "The Forerunner",
Gilman notes that the advice of the doctor was
"not intended to drive people crazy, but
to save people from being driven crazy, and it
worked". (20)
The second work which also depicts a woman's
struggle against the odds of a patriarchal society
is "I Stand Here Ironing" by Tillie
Olsen, duly published as part of her collection
of stories titled "Tell Me a Riddle",
in 1961.
Though somewhat different from "The Yellow
Wallpaper", the Olsen's story presents sagas
of a working mother, as she cares for her children
in the absence of her husband, who has left the
family alone to bear the difficulties and hardships
of life all by themselves. The similarities with
the first discussed story, "The Yellow Wallpaper"
are found in the fact that here too, the woes
and stigmas of social deprivation of a woman were
rarely heard, and addressing them was an altogether
impossible. Thus, left on her own, the principle
character of the story, depicting the working
class women of the 1960s era, duly takes care
of the job, her children, as well as handling
the feelings of being betrayed by her husband.
Affects
A brief on the affects of each story on the lives
of the women, as well as the women of the later
era reveal that the author of "The Yellow
Wallpaper" succeeds in portraying her stance,
one which proved that she was not insane, as had
been diagnosed by her neurosurgeon. In similar
context, the author of "I Stand Here Ironing"
also accomplishes her objective, as she convincingly
brings out the woes and dilemmas of a working
mother, the responsibilities of caring for children
in the absence of her husband, and the burden
of being both the mother and father for her children.
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