Short Stories of Human Ignorance

Paper Summary:

A discussion regarding the theme of uncivilized behavior due to human ignorance, in "The Yellow Wallpaper" by Charlotte Perkins Gilman and "A Very Old Man with Enormous Wings" by Gabriel Garcia Marquez. According to the paper, in analyzing these short stories we are confronted with two unexplored possibilities in life, as interpreted by the authors and personified by their stories' protagonists.

From the Paper:

"As a woman struggling to free and define herself from society's oppressive nature against women, the female protagonist raises many issues which symbolically represents her oppression. Among these issues is the fact that she cannot work because of her condition: "...am absolutely forbidden to "work" until I am well again...Personally, I believe that congenial work, with excitement and change, would do me good." These lines of thought from the protagonist reflect the woman's disagreement on he husband's belief that she needs rest. As a housewife confined mostly at home, the woman yearned to develop herself, to function as an able individual not just in her home but in her society as well. Thus, work became a symbolic manifestation of the woman's yearning for freedom: freedom from the oppressive label of being a housewife, and freedom from being limited and dictated what she needs to do and not do."

Sample of Sources Used:

• Gilman, C. P. (1899). E-text of "The Yellow Wallpaper." Available at: http://www.storybites.com/gilmanwallpaper.htm.
• Marquez, G. G. E-text of "A Very Old Man with Enormous Wings." Available at: http://www.salvoblue.homestead.com/wings.html.

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