Victoria Chen Discussion 9

The theme of Emily Dickinson’s poem “The Wife” relates to Mrs. Mallard’s emotional state because both women lack freedom to be themselves. Becoming a wife meant that their own aspirations and interests had to take a backseat to their husband’s and  now he has the autonomy to dictate their destiny. The way the society was set up  is that there were certain expectations that a woman and a good wife had to follow and there were no exceptions to those rules. “It lay unmentioned, as the sea develops pearl and weed, But only to himself is known, The fathoms they abide”. It went without saying that women would be forced to follow the same set of rules once they are married in order to be perceived as a “good woman and wife” and not bring a disgrace to their family. Mrs. Mallard couldn’t help but feel relieved at the thought that she now has the freedom to be herself:”There would be no powerful will bending hers in that blind persistence with which men and women believe they have a right to impose a private will upon a fellow-creature”.