Mason Labash
English 48B
March 4, 2011
Journal: Analysis of Kate Chopin's works

"Yet this sensual side to her nature is one that her husband has clearly not seen, or has chosen not to see. He has seen her only in the roles which she is expected to fulfill in marriage, roles of service to him, roles true to nineteenth century ideals of womanhood. He has inscribed this identity upon her."

“Women are the only oppressed group in our society that lives in intimate association with their oppressors.”  -Evelyn Cunningham

              Kate creates some sympathy for the male character in power because he too is confined to the perceptions of convention. He can only perceive characteristics of his wife which are made apparent to him. He can’t see every aspect of her personality because her physical actions and what she says are all censored by what is expected of her. If she were to express her deepest thoughts on how she should have equal opportunities as her husband he would seriously take her concerns into consideration. At the same time he must tell her to maintain the feminine image thought to be acceptable by friends and others in society who judge their marriage. He has put a lot of effort into building a respectable reputation and can’t have a wife who makes her want for independence known to the public. The double standard for genders in marriage at that time created a reason for countless women to desire a bigger sense of independence. He may have chosen not to or not been able to see the sensual side of her nature but it is only because the wife doesn’t express it. The wife seems to never be able to reveal her passionate side because if she were to the man would have the ability of understanding every aspect of her and therefore possessing her. Even though Kate’s stories begin with the husbands possessing their wives the women always break free of this possession. She always follows through with her theme of the men’s eventual inability to possess their wives so that she can subvert the patriarchy.

              The wife’s sensual side is camouflaged to her husband and can only be viewed from the first person perspective because of the way men only view women from their point of view. He inscribes his identity upon her so that he can feel like he is dominant but it is not his fault as an individual. We can still feel sympathetic towards him because it is simply how he was raised to treat women. Because Chopin understands this she never makes her male character in the relationship particularly cruel. They are all equally unfair in their treatment of women.

              It is very understandable why the husband’s interpretation of his wife’s personality is obscured by her roles. When she is in a position where she must submit to his every desire and suppress her own she is constantly forced to take the role of a follower. As a follower she rarely voices her opinions for fear that they might clash with her husband’s.  Chopin openly expresses the female’s awareness of their repressed situation making it obvious that they resent it.

             Feminism Quotes, Sayings about Women's Rights, Sexism, Gender Liberation." The Quote Garden - Quotes, Sayings, Quotations, Verses. Web. 04 Mar. 2011. <http://www.quotegarden.com/feminism.html>.