Charlotte Perkins Gilman's 'The Yellow Wall-Paper, And A Rose For Emily'

Male Domination of Women

What is it about a woman that defines them, by default, as the weakest gender? Whether it is by a father, boyfriend, or husband, there have been many accounts of women being overshadowed by men in literature and history. In many cases, men feel obligated to protect females, which makes them think they are superior or have power over women. However, men are not aware of the negative effects their "superiority" can have on women: alienation, low self-esteem, incompetence, and even insanity. Two women, from two different short stories, are classic examples of what can happen when women become victims of a patriarchal society. Although these women have their differences, both Emily Grierson, from William Faulkner 's "A Rose for Emily", and the narrator, from Charlotte Perkins Gilman 's "The Yellow Wall-Paper," are related as they are both held back by their dominant patriarchal societies, and in turn are forced into insanity.

In “A Rose for Emily, Emily suffers from multiple heart crushing events and in “The Yellow Wall-Paper,” the narrator due to the husband not listening insanity sets in. Both Emily Grierson and the narrator from

While comparing both stories it is clear that madness has been caused due to the male roles throughout the stories. Whether it’s the lover, husband, or men in the community all have shown male dominance against women. At the end of "The Yellow Wallpaper," the narrator 's husband has pushed her towards "insanity." Gilman does not even give the narrator a name. At the end of "A Rose for Emily,” Emily simply dies and her society lives on. Even though Emily Grierson, from William Faulkner 's "A Rose for Emily,” and the narrator, from Charlotte Perkins Gilman 's "The Yellow Wall-Paper," has their differences, it is evident that they are both victims of their overbearing men and society, as they are forced into