Kathleen Norris Dakota :: Kathleen Norris Dakota

Kathleen Norris' Dakota Kathleen Norris uses small town society to illustrate a much larger phenomenon that occurs in America: The obstruction of truth in the name of progress and patriotism. Norris makes an example of a small Dakota town, the old families ingrained in local society who act as somewhat of a censorship committee, silently fixing the past's blunders and bad dreams so not to discourage themselves or the younger generation: A good story is one that isn't demanding, that proceeds from A to B, and above all doesn't remind us of the bad times, the cardboard patches we used to wear in our shoes, the failed farms, the way people you love just up and die. It tells us instead that hard work and perseverance can overcome all obstacles; it tells lie after lie, and the happy ending is the happiest lie of all. (85) Norris mentions the "progress model" and "linear narrative" used in the telling of history. People in Dakota don't want to hear about the countless generations before them who also failed at farming, the once thriving town that are now abandoned completely. They don't want to hear about anybody who failed, or anything bad that happened at all unless things turned out OK in the end. People have a need to hear fixed history to give them a false sense of hope. Even though many of them know it's false, they're willing to accept the fable as truth before facing a painful past. The larger repercussions of this form of history, is that it misses out on the larger purpose of history. The most important part of history to be told truthfully is the bad part. Imagine our history glazing over Hitler as a crazy guy who acted alone, and forced everybody in Germany to go along with his plan. We need to hear the story that regular people were pulled into his mentality, that random Joe's were converted into Jew-hating murderers. Unfortunately, American history does have a habit of covering up its history for the sake of offering its younger generations a progress model. In a book titled Lies My Teacher Told Me, James Loewen shows how the progress model mode of history telling has covered up many important events in American history to the point that children in public education are graduating high school with extremely warped views of history.

Leadership Reflection

Personal Leadership Reflection My whole life I’ve been fascinated with great leaders and had been fortunate to be in close proximity with some of the people leaders of my country at a very young age. You see, my family’s business is politics or public service as it is often referred to in the United States. My grandfather was among the very few that had the opportunity to get a college education in the U. K. in the 1940s before we gained independence in 1961. They were trained as leaders to run the country when the British left.As a kid growing up I watched many of the leaders in my country including my mother and father, uncle and aunts, interact, nurture, motivate and empower their people. All these people have had an important role in shaping my life and helped me develop my own unique leadership style. Leadership is define as â€Å"the process by which individual exerts influence over other people and inspires, motivates and directs their activities to help achieve group or organizational goals. (Contemporary Management P317) When I think of great leaders that I try to emulate, I always think of people like Nelson Mandela, Mahatma Gandhi, and Colin Powell to name a few. These three are not only transformational leaders but they transcends race, culture and boundaries in their leadership roles. I would characterize my leadership style as that of transformational leader, because I nurture, inspire, motivate and empower my people not only to get the best out of them but to also put them in positions to achieve self-actualization according to Maslow’s hierarchy of needs.I have had some leadership role working with a diverse group in terms of age, race and gender, and they appreciate my down to earth and very approachable style with everyone I deal with. I engage in transformational leadership by being attune with our industry and leading my people with a bold vision that inspires and challenge them to be creative and bold while nurturing t heir talents. I would not be the kind of leader I am today without the help of aforementioned individuals.Whenever I see someone in a leadership position, I try to learn from him or her. Whether the example is positive or negative, there are lessons I can learn and apply (or not apply) to my own leadership style. I will build upon this foundation by listening and staying attune with the rank and file even as the organization grows. I am currently working on improving my communication of expectations for my working relationships.I will ask specific questions to best understand the working environment within the organization. Leaders set the example. I will be honest with myself and with others. I will seek feedback and utilize this information for personal improvement. Leaders are also dedicated and hardworking and I will continue to work hard because my people deserves it. These are all influenced in some way by my ethnicity, national culture and maybe my gender as well.I am remembe red by people I worked with previously as someone who is knowledgeable and who cares, someone who always did his best. I will not accept the status quo when the status quo can be improved. I will continuously push myself to learn and observe so that I can remain a highly effective leader who supports others and myself in all that I do. My leadership style will continue to evolve and show up in who I am and how I am in both personal and professional relationships.

Poverty in the United States - 893 Words

It certainly seems peculiar how so much disparity exists among the haves and have-nots in the country that leads the free world. The high level of poverty in the United States coupled with the disparaging rates of income are at times hard to comprehend. How can a country of such great wealth and power also be a country of vast poverty? Poverty will always be evident in the United States to some extent. However, minimizing poverty and income inequality will be conducive to the well being of the United States. Numerous organizations are assisting those in need. Then why does the United States have so many people poverty stricken? Some blame the impoverished themselves while others blame the wealthy, the economic system, and other†¦show more content†¦What children learn at a young age greatly affects who they become later in life. Hence, an emphasis needs placing on educating young children. Programs that promote staying in high school and furthering education also need emphasizing. Students through all levels of schooling need teaching that the more educated they become, the greater quality of life they will be able to achieve. By dropping out of high school or by not pursuing further education, these individuals are capping their potential. However, the programs and organizations developed need to be more oriented on the individual. Instead of making decisions based on large groups of people, which lacks individualistic detail, the impoverished need to be looked at as individuals so that they can receive the best help for their specific problems. While one person could benefit from furthering their education, another person might be more apt to work at a trade. Therefore, the organizations that the government has in place need to work more closely with those in poverty, allowing those to succeed in furthering their studies or learning a trade. Impoverished individuals need more encouragement, support, and resources to try to reach their potential and break their cycle of poverty. The government needs to focus on each individual, rather than the impoverished in mass, to give him or her the best opportunity to get out ofShow MoreRelatedThe Poverty Of The United States1727 Words   |  7 PagesPoverty defined by the A merican Heritage Dictionary is â€Å"lack of the means of providing material needs or comforts† (Hirokazu Yoshikawa, 2012). Poverty in the United States is an issue that is often times overlooked because the focus of poverty is on developing and struggling countries. People often think America does not experience poverty because it is such a thriving country. The problem with this is that America is indeed struggling with poverty: â€Å"there are currently 488 counties in America whereRead MoreThe Poverty Of The United States1548 Words   |  7 Pagescitizens in poverty has risen. Several organizations have been set up to help those who suffer from poverty and provide their everyday needs. There are always ways where a community can help eliminate the amount of people suffering poverty. Government has an influence on how much money flow there is in the United States such as the FED, which was created to help maintain a stable monetary and financial system and control the money supply. People themselves can also help from falling into poverty, butRead MorePoverty Of The United States1408 Words   |  6 PagesWhen people hear the word poverty many people think of the bad connotations that come with it like, smelly homeless people that are crackheads and disease holders. Some people may even think they are uneducated or not hard working enough and rather ask for money instead of trying to get a job. Although a small portion of that may be true to some homeless people due to addictions on drugs and the toll it takes on their lives. The majority of homeless people are either veterans or immigrants, who findRead MorePoverty in the United States755 Words   |  4 PagesPoverty in the United States is getting in inferior quality every day and nothing is being done about it. Many people who want to help the poor, but no one knows exactly how to help them. A primary reason for people not taking action is because of lack of information that is provided abo ut issues on poverty. Poverty is defined as the state of one who lacks a usual or socially acceptable amount of money or material possessions. According to the U.S. Census Bureau data released Tuesday September 13thRead MorePoverty Of The United States Essay1369 Words   |  6 PagesPoverty within the United States is defined as â€Å"having an income below a federally determined poverty threshold. † Poverty thresholds were developed by the United States government in the 60s. Over time these thresholds are adjusted to account for inflation; it is typical to adjust the poverty threshold levels annually. They represent the government’s estimate of the point below which a family has insufficient resources to meet their basic needs. Any family with less income than that establishedRead MoreThe Poverty Of The United States1531 Words   |  7 Pagessuch dialog, topics on the increasing and rather consistent levels of poverty in some regions in America are touched on as well. Poverty is defined as a condition where one’s basics needs for food, clothing, and shelter are not being met (What Is Poverty? â€Å"). From sea to shining sea, more than 15 percent of the American population live in poverty, a total of people over 46 million. Many who live in poverty within the United States live in areas that were once thriving from the country’s economic growthRead MoreThe Poverty Of The United States Essay1385 Words   |  6 Pages The Character of Poverty in America Poverty has always been a key factor in United States History. Ever sense Americas birth there have been groups affected by poverty, but the forms of the poverty that affected these groups have changed as well as the nature of poverty itself in the USA. The abolition of slavery, the forced assimilation of native Americans, and mass immigration changed character of poverty within the united states change due to an evolution from agriculture to industry and a changeRead MoreThe Poverty Of The United States1746 Words   |  7 PagesWhat is poverty? A question most Americans will not have to think twice before answering. Poverty is, of course, simply a lack of money. The views of a specific person will defer when politics or morals are introduced, however, the idea stays the same. Those in poverty are there because they have less money than what has been decided to be livable. Poverty has changed significantly over the last two hundred years in the United States, and yet, the measuremen t has hardly changed since it was createdRead MorePoverty in the United States1061 Words   |  5 PagesThe Background of Poverty in America In the United States, there are about more than forty-six million people living in impoverished conditions today. Poverty is a major conflict issue in this country amongst people who are part of the lower class because American families always had a hard time making ends meet, even before the Great Recession began. Living in poverty puts them at a disadvantage because they have to choose between necessitates like health care, child care, and food in order toRead MorePoverty Of The United States1475 Words   |  6 Pages â€Æ' Poverty in the United States is defined as a social problem. As outlined in the text, a social problem is â€Å"a condition that undermines the well-being of some or all members of a society and is usually a matter of public controversy†. It is easy to see that there is a large economic divide in the United States, but with only a small percentage of people in the highest income stratification and the vast majority struggling to get by, the majority of United States citizens agree that there is too

Meursault The Stranger By Albert Camus - 2065 Words

Meursault Meursault is the main character from the Novel The Stranger by Albert Camus. Meursault is psychologically detached from everything around him. He does not have strongly attached emotions connected to anyone or thing. As for people in his life he does not feel any sentimental emotions towards. In his mind his actions are neither good or bad when it comes to his morality. He does as he pleases because he has the ability to do so without realizing the consequences. The Mother The novel starts out with Meursault’s mother dying and him traveling to the home where she lives. Meursault settled his mother in an old person’s home because that’s where she would be the happiest. Living at home with Meursault was neither enjoyable for either of them since they did not talk. When he comes to the funeral he finds out that there were many people that cared for his mother at the home including a boyfriend. The travel to the funeral is seen as a nuisance because he has to take off from work and take a bus two kilometers from the village. The death of his mother is not an emotional time for Meursault because he has no level of bond with his mother. Not having feelings of grief is seen to others as something very strange, even monstrous to some. At the funeral, he does not wish to see his mother one last time and even has a cigarette with the caretaker in front of his mother’s coffin. The next day instead of grieving or spending tim e close to his mother like most people would afterShow MoreRelatedThe Personality Of Meursault In The Stranger By Albert Camus1218 Words   |  5 Pagesbeing and that we should use it as long as it doesn’t affect anyone negatively. In his novel, â€Å"The Stranger†, Albert Camus introduces his audience with an unusual main character, Monsieur Meursault. Camus describes Meursault as a man who â€Å"doesn’t play the game†, meaning that he does not participate in the social game of lying in order to be accepted by society. Many of Camus’ readers would describe Meursault as a piece â€Å"social wreckage† as he could be seen as a person without morals. Nevertheless, manyRead MoreMeursault as Sisyphus in Albert Camus,The Stranger687 Words   |  3 Pagesbegins.† Meursault is not unlike Sisyphus. In the novel, The Stranger, by Albert Camus, we watch this character change from a carefree man who loves being alive and free to a man who is i mprisoned for a meaningless murder he commits but who eventually finds happiness in his fate. During the first half of the novel, we see many examples of Meursault’s freedom and how he exercises it. He does what he wants, when he wants to with no regard to how he affects the people around him. Meursault livesRead More Is Meursault Heroic in Albert Camus The Stranger? Essay1544 Words   |  7 PagesIs Meursault Heroic in The Outsider?       When Meursault is described to us in the early stages of The Outsider we see that he does not obey societys codes therefore is it fair for us to assess him using societies interpretation of heroic?    If we are to judge him by them then we are given ample examples throughout the novel of his having no compassion or even of his thinking of the consequences of his actions, hardly heroic, but the converse is also demonstratedRead MoreAlbert Camus the Stranger: Meursault Is Aloof, Detached, and Unemotio854 Words   |  4 PagesAlbert Camus The Stranger: Meursault Is Aloof, Detached, and Unemotional In The Stranger, Albert Camus portrays Meursault, the books narrator and main character, as aloof, detached, and unemotional. He does not think much about events or their consequences, nor does he express much feeling in relationships or during emotional times. He displays an impassiveness throughout the book in his reactions to the people and events described in the book. After his mothers death he sheds no tears; seemsRead MoreChanges in Reader Opinion on Meursault Throughout Albert Camus’ The Stranger653 Words   |  3 PagesIn Albert Camus’ The Stranger, Meursault is seen as a very unique character, but not in a good way. Throughout the novel, he continually fails to show normal human emotions to things like his mother’s death, Marie’s love, and the man he killed. Most people in his town, along with the reader at first, are not able to reason out his actions but as the final events of the novel unfold, the reader begins to see Meursault in a different light. The novel starts out with Meursault getting a telegramRead MoreLiterary Analysis: How Meursault Is Indifferent in the Stranger, by Albert Camus874 Words   |  4 PagesLiterary analysis: How Meursault is indifferent in The Stranger, by Albert Camus Although Meursault is the title character and narrator of Albert Camus’ short novel The Stranger, he is also a somewhat flat character. His apparent indifferent demeanor may be a convenience to Camus, who mainly wanted to display his ideas of absurdism. And as a flat character, Meursault is not fully delineated: he lacks deep thought and significant change. His purpose is that of a first-person narrator whose actionsRead MoreAbsurd Actions of Meursault in The Stranger by Albert Camus538 Words   |  2 PagesIn â€Å"The Stranger† by Camus, Meursault’s actions throughout the story can be summed up in one word, absurd. From the start of the story Meursault showed no regard to human life. Life to him was meaningless. His action toward his mother’s death was the 1st encounter into how emotionless, cold, untouched unmoved Meursault was. Although he attended her funeral he was only there in the physical. Natures’ element and the environment around him was more of concern to him than the death of his motherRead MoreAlberts Aimless Absurdity898 Words   |  4 PagesIn Albert Camus’ novella, The Stranger, he exposes his beliefs on absurdism through the narration of Meursault. Camus’ definition of absurdism is a philosophy based on the belief that the universe is illogical and meaningless. Camus, founder of absurdism and French Nobel Prize winning author, sends the reader his underlying theme that life is meaningless and has no ulti-mate significance. This underlying theme of life’s absurdity is extremely personal to Camus through his own individual experiencesRead Mo reAnalysis Of Meursault A Stranger To Society1026 Words   |  5 PagesMeursault, a man living in Algiers, takes a bus to Marengo to attend his mother’s funeral after receiving a telegram. After the funeral, he seems unaffected by her death and he briefly describes his outing with Marie, his co-worker. Later on, he meets Raymond, an abuser of women, and agrees to go with him to his friend’s beach house. There, he gets entangled in a ruthless murder, and is ultimately sentenced to death. During his last hours, Meursault realizes how meaningless and pointless life isRead MoreEssay Theory of the Absurd1667 Words   |  7 Pagesâ€Å"logic.† Albert Camus, a major writer of the â€Å"Theatre of the Absurd†, construes the â€Å"Absurd† by completely varying this concept through the human personality, exemplified by The Stranger and â€Å"The Myth of Sisyphus.† Camus redefines the absurd by envisioning the â€Å"absurd† as a world consi sting of â€Å"the struggle to find meaning where none exists† (Albert). In The Stranger, Camus writes about a man named Meursault, who one day is notified that his mother passed away. Shockingly, Meursault does not

`` Requiem `` By Robert Louis Stevenson Essay - 1534 Words

Requiem’s† existence as an Epitaphic fiction, a contrast to life What do you think of when one brings up Robert Louis Stevenson? Perhaps his great works, Treasure Island or Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. Maybe his successful and adventurous life, full of travel and fame (Editors). What one may not think of is the areas of his life that were wrought with disease, struggle and homesickness. Stevenson’s life was full of adventure, but much of it was as a result of him attempting to escape his tubercular existence (Bosch). The themes presented in Robert Louis Stevenson’s lesser known poem, Requiem, contains what is known as an Epitaphic fiction, a testament of one’s life which contrasts the way in which it was actually lived, a wish of how it should have gone, so to speak. Robert Louis Stevenson’s poem Requiem displays the writer’s wishes to escape from his constant illness and wish return home, in the form of an Epitaphic fiction, an Epitaph con trary to how reality treated its recipient. To begin, Robert Louis Stevenson was born into a middle class family in Edinburgh, Scotland in 1850. He was the middle child of the family who gained most of his attention through his frequent illness (â€Å"Robert†). During the 1800s, a typical means to cure illness was travel, the Stevenson family attempted to cure roberts sickness by traveling Europe (â€Å"Timeline†). These European adventures by the Stevensons led them to many iconic European cities, from Naples to Genoa and from Rome to Innsbruck.Show MoreRelatedThe Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll Mr. Hyde1200 Words   |  5 PagesBiography: Robert Louis Stevenson Robert Louis Stevenson was born on November 13th, 1850 to (father) Thomas Stevenson and (mother) Margaret Isabella Balfour. Stevenson grew up in Edinburgh. At the age of 17, he enrolled at Edinburgh University where he planned on studying engineering. He instead took courses to study law, and passed all of them in 1875, but he later abandoned this because he wanted to be a writer. His first published work was an essay entitled â€Å"Roads.† Stevenson met his wife

To Wear a Hat free essay sample

In the fading light, the old man looked at his son. â€Å"You think Id lie to you? Son, all you need to wear a hat is attitude. And you got that. You think Id tell you you looked good if you didnt? You look real sharp. You dont believe me?† – Neil Gaiman, Anansi Boys Washington winters arent that cold, but I have a half-hour walk from Starbucks home, and I need to be warm. I have my fuzzy brown jacket and an umbrella in case it rains, but, as everyone knows, most body heat escapes through the head. Recently in New York I bought a penguin hat with ear flaps that extend to my waist, ending in mitten-pockets for my hands. I tentatively packed it into my bag today, and now I take it out and finger the seams. My mom has told me multiple times that I do have to clothe myself with a certain amount of dignity because of my responsibilities. We will write a custom essay sample on To Wear a Hat or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page A debate president, orchestra council member, and who-knows-what-else shouldnt dress like a five-year-old. Shes probably right. Looking at my penguin hat, I give myself a moment to chicken out. There is no doubt that wearing a hat like this in public will cause a potentially embarrassing stir. But I like it, and I will wear it if I want to. After quickly shaking it out, I pull it over my ears and put my hands in the mitten-pockets. It is warm, but already out of the corner of my eye, I see the barista smothering a giggle. I push open the door and start walking, past glittering storefronts and cozy restaurants. Initially, Im not sure whether to pretend to be on the phone or just look at the ground to avoid eye contact, but instead I keep my eyes in front of me and my chin level. People curiously look at me through the windows, as if Im a strange animal specimen. As I reach the main street, I feel more people staring. One man waiting at a bus stop quacks at me. A young girl tugs on her mothers hand and gleefully points out â€Å"the penguin costume.† I raise my eyebrows at her, grin, and walk by with all the poise of a concertmaster. In the wicked winter air, a little penguin breathes like a dragon and swaggers like an emperor. I do believe in me. I believe in all that is good and adorable in this world, and I believe that I can be mature whether I wear a tam-o-shanter or a toque. I believe that embarrassment stems not from the hat itself, but from hiding my face or wearing it half-heartedly. Luckily, I do neither; I walk contently across streets, under low-hanging tree branches, and up the hill to my house. I reach my front door with my dignity intact.

The Yellow Wallpaper Essay Thesis Example For Students

The Yellow Wallpaper Essay Thesis American Gothic literature of the late nineteenth century can generally be characterized by its interest in Psychology. Rather than incorporate the supernatural or science fiction, which is the foci in other Gothic works at the time, authors such as Edgar Allen Poe and Charlotte Perkins Gilman use this mental condition of their protagonist in order to achieve the expected Gothic reaction. Specifically, in Gilmans the Yellow Wallpaper, the protagonist, a white, middle class housewife diagnosed with depression, sinks into insanity right before the readers eyes; her psychology unfolds and produces that horrific reaction appropriate for the American Gothic. This, however, in not the only product of Gilmans work. Through literary style, unusual characterization, and a haunting (and knowledgeable) account of madness, Gilman makes her intended statement effectively: nineteenth century women were not only repressed, but practically driven to inhumanity by the men who overprotected and undere stimated them. Both traditional Gothic elements and productive special position are laced throughout Gilmans short story. We will write a custom essay on The Yellow Wallpaper Thesis specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now To first look at a piece of fiction, one must examine its technical aspects, that is, the literary style with which it is written. In the Gothic tradition, the Yellow Wallpaper is written using a unique narrative technique. The narrator is also the protagonist, whose actions and thoughts the reader learns about through her journal. This tool brings the narrator to life and gives the reader a sense of trust in the main character, Jane. In the beginning of the story, the narrator describes the setting, the other characters, and her feelings. Because she is in a position of weakness, the reader sympathasizes with her melancholy and shares her resentment for her physician husband, John, who does not believe that she is sick! (Gilman 249). Telling the story in first person also exemplifies Gilmans feminist ideology: by giving the central of the story telling to the female protagonist, she joins other prolific Victorian writers. In the tradition of Charlotte Brante and Jane Auster, Gilman places a woman at the core of the story. Therby thumbing her nose at the majority that more often chase men as literal focal points. Another literary choice that hinges the meaning to the story is Gilmans diction; she weanes normalcy and lunacy together so well that they blend to produce a realistic account of insanity. When the reader meets Jane, she is personable and she feels sympathy towards her plight. Her husband seems the irrational one, as he cannot she her plainly stated need for congenial work, with excitement and charge(249). But, soon, the reader notices the harshness and violence of Janes thoughts that mix with calm, feminine words: the floor is scratched and gonged and splintered, the plaster itself is dug out here and there, and this great heavy bedlooks as if it had been through the wars. But I dont mind it a bit (253). Another notable example is the use of the word creep. At the finale, Jane sees creeping women out the window, she sees the woman in the wallpaper cre eping, and finally, when Jane faints, she had to creep over him every time! (263). the repetition of the word to her adds swirling and incoherent thoughts, as well as links Jane to the woman whom she eventually becomes. Gilman certainly uses the word creepily. By choosing the short story as her medium of expression, Gilman increases the Gothic effect: the reader is drawn in quickly, tossed about in the womans spiraling lunacy, and left hanging on a strange and (un) interpretable finale. Were this tale told in another style, it would be dsumpened by the inability to feature short and personal phrases that could only represent ones thought patterns: personally, I disagree with their ideasbut, what is one to do? (249). Also, because the Yellow Wallpaper must be read as a social statement and not simply as a Gothic tale, a significant part of Gilmans strategy, then, in writing short fiction was to demonstrate viable alternatives to long-ingrained an oppressive social habits (Knight 25). One may presume that critic Denise Knight speaks here about the novel form. Clearly, Gilman chooses to hit the reader hard and fast, sending her message in an abbreviated and yet, powerful package. .ua2a8227e6e2fb1bea60171c65df0af6f , .ua2a8227e6e2fb1bea60171c65df0af6f .postImageUrl , .ua2a8227e6e2fb1bea60171c65df0af6f .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .ua2a8227e6e2fb1bea60171c65df0af6f , .ua2a8227e6e2fb1bea60171c65df0af6f:hover , .ua2a8227e6e2fb1bea60171c65df0af6f:visited , .ua2a8227e6e2fb1bea60171c65df0af6f:active { border:0!important; } .ua2a8227e6e2fb1bea60171c65df0af6f .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .ua2a8227e6e2fb1bea60171c65df0af6f { display: block; transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; width: 100%; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #95A5A6; } .ua2a8227e6e2fb1bea60171c65df0af6f:active , .ua2a8227e6e2fb1bea60171c65df0af6f:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .ua2a8227e6e2fb1bea60171c65df0af6f .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .ua2a8227e6e2fb1bea60171c65df0af6f .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .ua2a8227e6e2fb1bea60171c65df0af6f .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .ua2a8227e6e2fb1bea60171c65df0af6f .ctaButton { background-color: #7F8C8D!important; color: #2980B9; border: none; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px; moz-border-radius: 3px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-height: 80px; background: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/plugins/intelly-related-posts/assets/images/simple-arrow.png)no-repeat; position: absolute; right: 0; top: 0; } .ua2a8227e6e2fb1bea60171c65df0af6f:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .ua2a8227e6e2fb1bea60171c65df0af6f .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .ua2a8227e6e2fb1bea60171c65df0af6f .ua2a8227e6e2fb1bea60171c65df0af6f-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .ua2a8227e6e2fb1bea60171c65df0af6f:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: Anne frank EssayAnother aspect of the Yellow Wallpaper that lends to its overall Gothic impression and feminist assertion is a characterization, that is, the regression of the main characters personality. She begins as an obedient, but sad, housewife, and slowly devalues to a rebel (at least in her own mind) and finally, to a pseudo-animal. The reader meets a timid woman who gives hints of her repressed anger, although she follows her medical orders and allows herself to be treated as a child: John laughs at me, of course, but expects that in marriageso I take phosphates or phosphates-whichever it is, and tonic, and journeys, and air and exercise, and am absolutely forbidd en to work until I am well again (Gilman 249). In the second phase or regression, the woman becomes excited and hides her knowledge that another woman lives in the wallpaper: life is very much more exciting now than it used to beI had no intention of telling him her improvement was because of the wall-paper (258). This sneaky attitude is new to her, as she has not thus far, deceived John. Finally, the womans rationality totally fails, and she tears the wallpaper apart saying, I am getting angry enough to do something desperate. To jump out the window would be an admirable excuse, but the bars are too strong to even try (262). Jane rationalizes suicide, which is frightening enough, when she seems to be completely overtakes by another personality; she becomes the woman she sees behind the pattern in the wallpaper: Ive got out at lastin spite of you and Jane (263). Gilmans extreme treatment of the three personalities in the character leaps over any furnished cliche; the three phases of Janes regression symbolize a mural for women. the Yellow Wallpaper strives not only to evoke sympathy for the woman of the nineteenth century who were coddled and at the same time, mistreated, but to show the sort of triumph in the narrators understanding of her situation, andher heroism that resides in her perceptivity and in her resistance. To a significant degree that resistance takes the form of anger (Hedges 228), and the character is indeed angry. It is noteworthy that her insanity manifests itself in a violent form. Gilman also shocks the reader when the insane Jane makes light of her outrageous behavior by taunting, it is no use, young man, you cant open the door! (Gilman 262). The moral is clear: before this poor character realizes the detriment of her treatment by her doctor husband, it is too late. To forbid a woman to use her own mind and make her own decisions is to, fundamentally, destroy her sanity. To read the short story as one of success does not seem to take into account Janes dehumanization. According to Elaine Hedges, this is the narrative of a womans efforts to free herself from the confining social and psychic structures of her world, but unfortunately, her efforts are futile. (Hedges 223). The decent into madness is a failure to outwit or win the male dominance in the womans (and in all womens) nineteenth century environment. Janes transition to dementia should not be considered a creative act and a successful defiance, as Gilmans language clearly depicts her heroine as an animal: I tried to hit it and push it until I was lame, and then I got so angry I bit off a little piece at one corner- but it hurt my mouth (Hedges 223, Gilman 262). Her creeping also lends greatly to the animalistic imagery. The protagonists depravity is extreme: the repugnant body to which the narrator is reduced becomes a figure for the repressions imposed on women (Hedges 230). In its Gothic horror, however, the Yellow Wallpaper leaves one detail up for interpretation: because John faints when he encounters the crazed Jane, Gilman presents the reader with a no-win situation. Jane has lost her wits and her identity as a woman (and a person), but John has not maintained his traditional Victorian male control. The authors moral expands here for all people, not only women: freedom is freedom, regardless of sex. Repression, in the end, affects just as harshly, the repressor. Apart from its literary style, and characterization, the most effective element of Gilman short story is her unnervingly realistic account of madness. The portrayal of Janes insanity works well for three reasons: first, it conforms to the popular American Gothic tradition. Second, it is an easily recognizable metaphor for Victorian women, and third, the Yellow Wallpaper is largely autobiographical. Nineteenth century Gothic literature in the United States was interested in psychology, and Gilmans story is an apt example of the psychological horror story. By placing the reader so close to the narrator, Gilman has both beginning to believe there is actually a women in the wallpaper, and Janes madness comes alive: I think that woman gets out in the daytime! And Ill tell you why-privately- Ive seen her! (Gilman 262). Insanity is an intriguing subject, and because it is not imaginary (like the supernatural or science fiction), it makes of a more horrific Gothic experience. Also, in this c ase, the insanity functions in two ways: madness manifested as progressive incipient insanity and madness manifested as extreme and repressed anger at female bondage become dichotomous components of the protagonists condition (Knight 16). .u249fa6d8fdc98e840d5c352a0d22681e , .u249fa6d8fdc98e840d5c352a0d22681e .postImageUrl , .u249fa6d8fdc98e840d5c352a0d22681e .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .u249fa6d8fdc98e840d5c352a0d22681e , .u249fa6d8fdc98e840d5c352a0d22681e:hover , .u249fa6d8fdc98e840d5c352a0d22681e:visited , .u249fa6d8fdc98e840d5c352a0d22681e:active { border:0!important; } .u249fa6d8fdc98e840d5c352a0d22681e .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .u249fa6d8fdc98e840d5c352a0d22681e { display: block; transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; width: 100%; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #95A5A6; } .u249fa6d8fdc98e840d5c352a0d22681e:active , .u249fa6d8fdc98e840d5c352a0d22681e:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .u249fa6d8fdc98e840d5c352a0d22681e .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .u249fa6d8fdc98e840d5c352a0d22681e .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .u249fa6d8fdc98e840d5c352a0d22681e .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .u249fa6d8fdc98e840d5c352a0d22681e .ctaButton { background-color: #7F8C8D!important; color: #2980B9; border: none; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px; moz-border-radius: 3px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-height: 80px; background: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/plugins/intelly-related-posts/assets/images/simple-arrow.png)no-repeat; position: absolute; right: 0; top: 0; } .u249fa6d8fdc98e840d5c352a0d22681e:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .u249fa6d8fdc98e840d5c352a0d22681e .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .u249fa6d8fdc98e840d5c352a0d22681e .u249fa6d8fdc98e840d5c352a0d22681e-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .u249fa6d8fdc98e840d5c352a0d22681e:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: The Diary Of Anne Frank EssayThe tool of an extreme psychological condition only loosely masks the metaphor (and moral) of the Yellow Wallpaper. Reading this story easily incites independence and puts repression into harsh, yet understandable terms. Gilman once justified her reasoning behind writing the Yellow Wallpaper : It has, to my knowledge, saved one woman from a similar fate- so terrifying her family that they let her out into normal activity and she recovered (Gilman). Whether the short story was intended as a longer feminist ideal or as a catalyst for immediate action, the Yellow Wallpaper certainly opens ones eyes to the dire circumstances under which it was con ceived. Gilmans success in literature is compled with a personal triumph: But the best result is this- many years later I was that the great specialist that had treated Gilman had admitted to friends of his that he had since altered his treatment of neurasthenia since reading the Yellow Wallpaper (Gilman). The final reason why Gilman so effectively paints a portrait of the mentally disturbed Jane is because the story is based on a portion of the authors life. During a bout of a post-partum depression, Gilman suffered as, the treatment her doctor prescribed required Charlotte to love as domestic as possible, to have the baby with her at all times, and to never touch a pen, a paintbrush, or a pencil for the remainder of her life (Knight 15). This is almost identical to Janes orders. the Yellow Wallpaper also serves as a platform through which Gilman voices her innate independence: Charlotte was exceedingly wary of relinquishing her own identity and being forced into an obseqniores role. Again and againsheexpressed her fear of subjugation (Knight 12). Although it is a simple interpretation of the story, the autobiographical component is important because it accurately records a womans suffering and Victorian treatment, and because Gilman uses her own experience as a metaphor for the repre ssion she felt, even outside of sickness. the Yellow Wallpaper, although packed with legitimate feminist commentary, is an extremely effective Gothic tale: like her contemporaries, Gilman wanted her literature to produce an effect upon the reader (Knight 23). Through her choices in narrative style, form, and diction, a progressive (or regressive) character, and a true-to-life version of an insanity story, Gilman brings to the reader both effects of the Yellow Wallpaper: a strong reaction and a special moral: this is story about a nineteenth century white, middle-class woman, but it addresses womans situation in so far as a group must contend with male power in medicine, marriage, and indeed most, if not all, of culture (Hedges 231). Works CitedGilman, Charlotte Perkins. the Yellow WallpaperThe Oxford Book of Gothic Tales. Chris Baldrick, ed. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1992Gilman, Charlotte Perkins. Why I Wrote the Yellow Wallpaper. Online http://www.cwrl.utexas.edu. 24 July 2000Hedges, Elaine R. Out at last? the Yellow Wallpaper after Two Decades of Feminist Criticism. Critical Essays on Charlotte Perkins Gilman. Joanne B. Rarpinski, ed. New York: G.K. Hall and Co,. 1992Knight, Denise D. the Yellow Wallpaper and Selected Stories of Charlotte Perkins Gilman. Newark, New Jersey: University of Delaware Press, 1994Masse, Michelle. In the Name of Love-Women, Masochism, and the Gothic. Ithaca, New York: Cornell University Press, 1992