Mary Wilkins Freeman's The Revolt of Mothe

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Recommended: The role of the nineteenth-century female in literature

A Modern Woman in a Not so Modern Time Mary Wilkins Freeman's, "The Revolt of Mother" first appeared in Harper's Bazaar in 1890, as a short story. The story is laden with conflict throughout. Sarah Penn's (Mother's) conflict is driven by her strong conviction for fair treatment by her husband. She is in conflict with her husband, the community and the gender role defined by the social conventions of that era. Sarah's conflict with her husband begins immediately upon the opening sentences of the story. Mother is asking a question that Father doesn't want to answer. Mother confronts her husband by saying, "Look here, father, I want to know what them men are diggin' over in the field for, an' I'm goin' to know." Father tries to ignore Mother by not acknowledging her question. When he figures that she will not accept his silence as an answer, Father replies, "I wish you'd go into the house, mother, an' 'tend to your own affairs." Father's actions sets a clear tone for the reader that men are supposed to be in charge of making the decisions and the woman's role is to go along with whatever decision he thinks is best for the family. Sarah continues to daunt her husband until he tells her about the barn. Sarah replies, "A barn? You ain't goin' to build a barn over there where we was goin' to have a house, father?" Conflict arises again between Sarah and her husband when she demands that her husband come over and talks with her. Sarah starts by saying, "I want to know what you're buildin' that new barn for, father?" Father's quick response is, "I 'ain't got nothin' to say about it." Sarah continues her dialogue by saying, "I'm goin' to talk real plain to you: I never have sense I married you, but I'm goin' to now. I 'ain't never complained, an' I ain't goin' to complain now, but I'm goin' to talk plain. Sarah begins to complain about how Farther is putting barns and cows in front of taking care of his family obligations. Her husband responds by saying, "I 'ain't got nothin' to say." Adoniram went back to work. Sarah was mad as ever. She goes into her room and proceeds to cry. Adoniram goes to Vermont to buy a new horse he had always wanted. Again he makes decisions for the family without consulting Sarah.

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