Freedom
Life for women in the 19th and 20th century was nothing but expectation and rules. Men had complete control of their wifes entire life. Women were to support and serve their husbands. Men had such control that women could not even get a degree for awhile, this enabled women to get a job and be more independent. This meant woman could not live without a man. In A Rose for Emily and The Story of an Hour shows well formed examples of this. Emily and Mrs. Mallard wanted nothing more in life than to get some freedom and make a life for them; along with changing the view of how society looks at them.
In A Rose for Emily, Emily had always had her dad support her; and was nothing more than a shadow in his life. It was his money and his home. When her father passed all she had was the house, society then started feeling sorry for her but also feeling not so threatened by her. She was more humanized and not so much on her high horse. She went through pretty bad depression, but realistically who wouldnt when you feel that your whole life died when that person died? She then finds a new interest in town, Homer Barron; the everyday laborer. This also made an impression on the neighbors. She did not think she was too good for him and people could see she actually cared about him. People saw her marrying Homer, but it was said that Homer drank with young men. Homer was her one chance to make her own life and escape being under her fathers wing. She poisoned him to keep him in her life. For a woman to kill a man she loves and keep the body shows intense strive to gain her freedom and start her own life.
In the Story of an Hour, Mrs. Mallards husband is supposedly found dead. She had a heart condition so her family was scared the news would kill her. Of course, when she was told she was in shock and started sobbing. She went up to her room and looked out the window, the skies did not look gray or dull but instead blue skies were showing through and she could hear a faint song being sang on the streets. Free, Free, Free at last she calls out after fighting the feeling. She finally was free from the scrutiny of her husband, even though in that time period women knew they were supposed to serve their husbands. This was a opening to another door and could lead to a life without following a mans every footstep. Once she comes to realization she goes down stairs to find her husband standing there. Mrs. Mallards falls out and dies from not the shock of news that her husband had died but the shock of him being alive. Women in todays society would be more than happy to know their spouse was not dead, so could you imagine how bad it must have been for them to be relieved that their husbands were gone forever? Everyone needs an identity of their own.
Both of the stories consist of tragedy and hardship for women of the 19th century. Women had very little rights and could not be their own person. Today, life for women is way different. Yes, men are still supposed to be the provider for their family but women can contribute just as much. We have just as many rights or more than a man. Society changes with every generation.
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