The Yellow WallPaper - Perkin Gilma and Story Of An Hour -Kate chopin Choose two readings and focus on a singular aspect. Consider using the handout, “Tips for Identifying Themes.” A sample Compare
Everyone is an Individual
History tells us a lot; however, there are those who question whether we have learned
from our forefathers. Although in the late nineteenth century the country was trying to overcome
suffrage and repression, there were still many occurrences that were still happening among all
cultures and genders. There are a multitude of works written that express the hardships of
individuals in previous years. Two of literary pieces that were published are “A Jury of Her
Peers” by Susan Glaspell and “Bartleby, The Scrivener” by Herman Melville. Both stories
capture the economic hardship, suffrage, and repression of the era.
In the nineteenth century the economy was struggling. Most of the the country’s
economics depended on farming as an income. In “A Jury of Her Peers,” the events of the story
take place in a small farm town. The living conditions are described as poor conditions with the
broken stove, cabinets, and dilapidated clothing. Although “Bartleby, The Scrivener” was on
Wall Street, the employees in the story are described as poorly dressed. Bartleby lives in his
employer’s office. Although each story’s setting is different, it still captures that the farmer and
the employee – even one on Wall Street – are susceptible to economic hardships.
Both literary pieces capture the true suffrage on their time. In “Bartleby,” the employees
are entrapped with long working hours and little pay. “Jury of Her Peers,” by Glaspell, captures
the sense of traditional marriages in that era. During those times, women were considered
property and were not treated as equal partners. Although their imprisonment is not the same,
2
one is trapped in employment and no future; the other is trapped in marriage. What’s more,
during the nineteenth century there were not labor laws to protect the average person from being
mistreated as an employee. If one was lucky enough to obtain employment to provide for
yourself, the person was at the employer’s mercy. In addition, women’s rights were limited.
Marriage was a job for women. In traditional marriages, most women were treated as slaves.
They were supposed to be available if needed and were seldom allowed to improve themselves
with an education or employment.
Repression was common among the average individual during this era. Without the
encouragement and opportunity to better themselves, depression and anger could easily fester.
Both Bartleby and Minnie Foster are described as lonesome and existed in an environment that
could easily make a person depressed. However, they both react differently to their repression.
Bartleby acts in more self-pity with his reclusion and lack of desire to do anything. His
depression escalates to the point that he stops eating. However, in the case of Minnie Foster, she
her repression turns into anger. Her anger escalates to violence when her husband breaks the
neck of her canary. This action triggers her to kill her husband. Each character suffers repression
and respond differently to their situations.
Although we may not endure the same economic hardships, suffrage, and economic
hardships, these situations are still prevalent in today’s times. Historically, most issues that have
arisen can be traced to lack of respect for those who were not a part of an elite group of people.
However, a careful examination of current events might lead one to see that similar attitudes still
exist. Like Bartleby and Minnie Foster, individuals’ delicate situations can easily lead them to
commit grievous actions.
3
Works Cited
Glaspell, Susan. “A Jury of Her Peers.” The Norton Introduction to Literature. edited by Spencer
Richard Jones, W.W. Norton, 2016, pp.538-552.
Melville, Herman. "Bartleby, the scrivener: A Story of Wall-street." The Piazza. Originally
published in The Piazza, New York, Dix, Edwards, 1856, pp. 1-29. 6 vols.
