Marriage and Gender Roles
Draft Paper: Marriage and Gender Roles
in Three Literary Works
Moniek L. James-Eldridge
ENG125
R. Nowak
April 18, 2011
Marriage is an institution. A happy wife makes for a happy life. Love and marriage go together like a horse and carriage. From the beginning of creation, these common schools of thought have contributed to the gender roles of men and women in relationships. Adam went out during the day to name all the animals that God created on the Earth, and Eve stayed home and had engaging conversations with reptiles. In any union the roles of each participant are either defined or assumed over time. In literature, gender roles and marriage are portrayed in a wide variety of ways, ranging from the meek, silent wife to the husband who stops just short of breaking his back to provide for his family. This spectrum is evident in such short stories as The Secret Life of Walter MItty, I’m Going!: A Comedy in One Act, and The Story of an Hour. Women have traditionally been considered the weaker sex in marriage, and it is rare to have a fair and equitable relationship worth reading about. In the case of these stories, when women do possess, or attempt to hold more influence in the relationship, it does not always make for a happier coexistence. Eve’s desire to gain wisdom ultimately led to the fall of man, so if the woman happens to be the more dominant partner, will that lead to the failure of her relationship?
Mitty’s Meekness
In The Secret Life of Walter Mitty, Walter is a hapless, uncomfortable, spineless man who escapes to his daydreams to be the hero. It is assumed that he has been married for several years, yet he is so unhappy in his marriage and his life that he gets lost in his daydreams. His wife has no clue about what he is feeling, she just thinks he’s sick, telling him “I wish you’d let Dr. Renshaw look you over” and I’m going to take your temperature when we get home.” (Clugston, 2010).
in Three Literary Works
Moniek L. James-Eldridge
ENG125
R. Nowak
April 18, 2011
Marriage is an institution. A happy wife makes for a happy life. Love and marriage go together like a horse and carriage. From the beginning of creation, these common schools of thought have contributed to the gender roles of men and women in relationships. Adam went out during the day to name all the animals that God created on the Earth, and Eve stayed home and had engaging conversations with reptiles. In any union the roles of each participant are either defined or assumed over time. In literature, gender roles and marriage are portrayed in a wide variety of ways, ranging from the meek, silent wife to the husband who stops just short of breaking his back to provide for his family. This spectrum is evident in such short stories as The Secret Life of Walter MItty, I’m Going!: A Comedy in One Act, and The Story of an Hour. Women have traditionally been considered the weaker sex in marriage, and it is rare to have a fair and equitable relationship worth reading about. In the case of these stories, when women do possess, or attempt to hold more influence in the relationship, it does not always make for a happier coexistence. Eve’s desire to gain wisdom ultimately led to the fall of man, so if the woman happens to be the more dominant partner, will that lead to the failure of her relationship?
Mitty’s Meekness
In The Secret Life of Walter Mitty, Walter is a hapless, uncomfortable, spineless man who escapes to his daydreams to be the hero. It is assumed that he has been married for several years, yet he is so unhappy in his marriage and his life that he gets lost in his daydreams. His wife has no clue about what he is feeling, she just thinks he’s sick, telling him “I wish you’d let Dr. Renshaw look you over” and I’m going to take your temperature when we get home.” (Clugston, 2010).
References: Clugston, R. W. (2010). Journey into Literature. Various. (n.d.). The Holy Bible: King James Version.