The Theme of Opression in Marriage in "The Yellow Wallpaper" and "The Story of an Hour".
Oppression in Marriage In the 19th century, women were traditionally known as having less importance in marriage, while it was the norm for the male husbands to be in control. The women were expected to watch over the home and were thought to be the person who should take care of the children in a family. Throughout history, many remarkable characters in literature have been created from the tension women have had to face with men and society in general. Two noteworthy short stories, “The Yellow Wallpaper and “The Story of an Hour, “ take place in the 19th century, and focus on that tension. This specific era is very significant because it is a time when women were truly treated as second-class citizens. Both of the short stories criticize the male-dominated society and explore its oppression towards women. Oppression against women is key in the success of attaining freedom in both short stories. The husbands oppress the narrators in both stories, and while the narrators truly want to be happy in their lives, they find it impossible. The way they are treated by their spouses prevents them from being sincerely happy. In Gilman's "The Yellow Wallpaper," the narrator, who is never actually named in the story, is extremely suppressed by her husband. Her husband John is a man and a doctor, which truly makes him an even more powerful person in their marriage, especially
Henry V compared to the War Poets. Throughout 'Henry V' there are very strong references to God, sin and salvation. War is viewed as a moral and spiritual means of upholding the status quo.
There are many different attitudes to war: pacifists find it morally outrageous and unnecessary, others a necessity to protect and defend their own country and that of others. During the life of Shakespeare the security of the King on his throne was unstable. Defending the throne and social stability through war was imperative. This is reflected thematically in 'Henry V', with Shakespeare promoting the King as a divinely appointed ruler and encouraging acceptance of this. Throughout 'Henry V' there are very strong references to God, sin and salvation. War is viewed as a moral and spiritual means of upholding the status quo. With this in mind, 'Henry V' opens with the mature king, 'The mirror of all Christian kings', seeking justification for declaring war on France, with Henry asking the Archbishop if God is happy with his claim to the French throne. 'May I with right and conscience make this claim?' Henry, asking the Archbishop for support as King of England, demonstrates his desire to fight in the name of God, confirming that God's appointed monarch is bound by spiritual laws. Later on in the play we learn of Henry's other justification for war: honour. He says he is not interested in gold - he only wants honour and glory for his country. 'But if it be a sin to covet honour, then I am the most offending soul alive.' Henry will not proceed with war unless his decision to
The strength of Much Ado About Nothing lies in its balance of contrasting elements
The strength of Much Ado about Nothing lies in its balance of contrasting elements. Do you agree? Much Ado about Nothing is a romantic comedy which depicts a story of love, tragedy and mistaken identity. The story is told with a typical comic edge which incorporates witty wordplay with simple slapstick situations; however it also has contrasting elements of potential tragedy which completely contradict the otherwise romantic stance of the story. The balance of these contrasting elements certainly improves the overall effect of the play, adding viewing value in the form of interest and enjoyment. However, does the strength of the play lie in the balance of contrasting elements or the principal comic romanticism? In the sense of Comic Romanticism, Shakespeare takes the same route with Much Ado About Nothing as many modern comedy directors, using the same age old conventions to amuse the audience. However it is in the complex and articulate language he uses to invent and conduct the comic interplay, complex courtships and overall predictability of the story line that makes Much Ado About Nothing so successful in the terms of a romantic comedy. One of the main conventions of romantic comedy is the possibility for potential tragedy. Shakespeare achieves this to a very successful level, incorporating changing levels of tension and still managing to take a comic route. The
