I believe the theme in the nineteenth century Emily Dickson’s poem “The Wife” echos in “The Story of An Hour” by Kate Chopin by showing how women use to or were put to depend on their husbands back in the day. And also maybe their desire for freedom. For instance for Ms Mallard, it was clear as day. Especially when she was saying “free, free, free!”. Ms Mallard was only given her name when she entered the room by herself, so already she never had any self identity. I believe Ms Mallard felt immense relief after learning of her husbands death, and in that instant her life became her own again. Ms Mallard only died at the end of the story when her husband walks in. “When the doctors came they said she died of heart disease — of the joy that kills.” (Chopin,1894) In the poem “The Wife” it just shows how society was back in the day, when women had to bow down to their husbands. No sense of freedom or dependency. “She rose to his requirement, dropped The playthings of her life To take the honorable work Of woman and of wife” (Dickson, 1890).
Fainelis Alicea
C.S. Lewis’s quote about literature is embodied in The Lesson by Toni Cade Bambara by giving us a glimpse of how Sylvia see’s and feels about her world in tje 1960’s living in poverty as a black child. Bambara introduces us to Ms Moore who is a black educated women, which was looked upon in the “ghetto” at those times. Looked upon for speaking proper english, or just simply dressing in a professional way. In the story Ms Moore takes Sylvia and her cousins to a fancy toy story, which Sylvia doesn’t seem interested by. Until they get to the store and see the toys from the window and there “ridiculous” prices. Sylvia starts to feel ashamed and gets frustrated. “And I’m jealous and want to hit her. Maybe not her, but punch somebody in the mouth”. (Bambara, 1972) Ms Moore’s lesson over all was to show these kids how others live, and if they could do it they could to. The story gave us a feeling of some of our day to day life struggles that some of us faced in the 60s and even now in 2023. “That this is not much of a democracy if you ask me. Equal chance to pursue happiness means and equal crack at the dough, don’t it?” (Bambara, 1972)
