The stories I read are the following:
“Story of an Hour” by Kate Chopin
“Lust” by Susan Minot
“Planet of the Amazon Women” by David Moles
“Even The Queen” by Connie Williams
For this assignment, I will be discussing “Story of an Hour” and “Even the Queen” because those were my favorite stories of the four.
Are there any female characters in the work that you identify with?
I could identify with Mrs. Mallard from “Story of an Hour” and Traci from “Even The Queen”. Both characters are in less-than-desirable circumstances being misunderstood, as well as not being given the freedom to explore their options in life. While I never felt controlled by my family, I have experienced several relationships where external people tried to hinder my choices, or control me for self serving reasons. In those circumstances, I refused to give up control of my choices and give away my power, and the relationships ended. In a way, Mrs. Mallard represents the consequence of giving another person that kind of power. Traci, on the other hand, represents an alternative situation. After a childhood of being controlled, Traci attempts to give her own daughters more freedom, but offers no explanations. Traci's daughter, Perdita, is resentful of this because the lack of discussion demonstrates little concern for her feelings and concerns.
How are relationships between men and women (or characters assuming male/female roles) portrayed in the story?
In “Story of an Hour”, the male characters are more symbolic than representative of actual people. The husband represents lost opportunities for Mrs. Mallard, and how she might have made foolish decisions leading to being with her husband. As for Traci in “Even The Queen”, she is observing women being controlled by men for their feminine attributes, including their menstrual cycles. For some reviewing this story, the idea that women could be content with being controlled in this way is astonishing. Some characters act as if it is completely normal. Those women are either young enough to feel comforted with that kind of control over their lives, or experienced it long enough to have become complacent, and the idea of independence is now frightening.
What are the power relationships between men and women in the text? How are male and female roles defined?
In both stories, men are expected to have the majority of power and control in society, and women are expected to obey them without a desire for independence. In Mrs. Mallard’s case, it is presumed her husband has died, and she is now widowed. The reaction to this news isn’t that of concern for Mrs. Mallard's well being, but rather a lack of confidence she can support herself without her husband.
In “Even the Queen”, the men are in positions of political and social power over large groups of women as opposed to one man controlling one woman. They are not represented by an individual character in this instance. Men are conveyed more as a conceptual idea of authority rather than a human manifestation. Because this control is nameless and faceless, it feels more ominous and oppressive than if depicted by one singular character. The societal consensus over who maintains control implies greater helplessness on the part of these women. The idea that they are expected to surrender their control willingly, to me, is intensely more frightening.
What constitutes masculinity and femininity in the world of the story? Do characters take on traits from opposite genders in the story? How so? Does this change others reactions to them?
In both stories, the more feminine you are, the less control over your circumstances. Both Traci and Mrs. Mallard are in circumstances where other people have control over their lives, whether it be a parent or a spouse. Men are expected to be in control regardless of whether or not they seek it. Traci’s mother believed that women should not promote femininity, and should conceal it at every opportunity. This included taking medicines that altered hormonal balance and hindered the menstrual cycle. For some people reading this story, the idea that someone might suppress something as natural as a menstrual cycle would be considered invasive, if not downright oppressive.
What does the work reveal about the operations (economically, politically, socially, or psychologically) of patriarchy?
In both stories, women are expected to stay under the care of men, even if some find it less than a desirable choice. In most cases, women have no control over what happens to them, and this societal expectation gives them very little room to explore life, or determine what they really want. Even if the women determine what they want, or find themselves free to choose, and it is often too late in their lives for them to salvage their choice. The effect of oppression becomes so great that the idea of independence becomes overwhelming. In “Even The Queen”, most women succumb to the numbing effects of being controlled, and even surrender the power over their bodily functions to men. Some will even side against their own gender to avoid being chastised by men. Because of the lack of power balance, women give away their independence reluctantly, or sometimes willingly, as a means of survival to avoid the mistreatment for not being men.
What does the work express or imply about the possibilities of sisterhood as a mode of resisting patriarchy?
There is a chance for female bonding in “Even The Queen”, but it only exists in the younger generations. This is due to the fact that the younger girls have been given more opportunities to explore life as the social and political landscapes becomes more progressive. For instance, Perdita is more willing to join the Cyclists, a progressive menstruation group, despite the women in her family objecting to it. The older women don’t realize the potential of uniting to resist being controlling and punished for merely existing. In this instance, the generational divide makes forging a “sisterhood” a missed opportunity for change, and settling for outdated traditional ideals with limited choices.
What does the work say about the history of women in literature or the arts or about women's creativity?
The writings of these women could be seen as an observation of their own standing in society for audiences outside their situation to understand and empathize. In some cases, I believe these stories are meant to educate women about their worth, and what they could do to improve their station in life. These stories could also be seen as a cautionary tale of oppression, and what women could do to resist and avoid it in the future.
I read “Story of An Hour” when I was 14, and now again as a 22 year old woman. At age 14, I was astonished that Mrs. Mallard could be relieved her husband was gone. I found that to be a heartless perspective at age 14. It did not occur to me that she had spent much of her life being unhappy under his control, and his death was her only path to freedom. My perspective greatly changed re-reading the story at age 22 because of my social experiences. I was being pressured to give up my educational pursuits by someone who had self serving motives. I worked exceptionally hard for many years to gain acceptance to my first choice of college, and was unwilling to sacrifice pursuing my career. Had I given in, my reaction to this story might be one of regret that I didn't fight harder for myself. Luckily, my perspective is that of relief that I didn't give up on my goals, and joy I did the right thing.
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