Wealth and Happiness in Sense and Sensibility, by Jane Austen Essay

In the novel Sense and Sensibility, by Jane Austen, the Dashwood family is left with much less money after their father dies. When their cousin takes them in, they move to a new home and start their new life. In this time period money and social rank were the most important things. For most marriage has nothing to do with love, it is about gaining property, money or rank. This is why Elinor and Marianne’s, two of the Dashwood sisters, answers to the question: â€Å"what have wealth or grandeur to do with happiness?† (122) are so important. Elinor, the eldest Dashwood sister has all the characteristics of sense and responds, â€Å"grandeur has but little . . . but wealth has much to do with it† (122). She is implying that to be happy in life one must have money. Marianne seems to be the opposite of Elinor and embodies sensibility; she disagrees and claims that money â€Å"gives no real satisfaction† (122). This theme is seen throughout the novels wi th many characters specifically with the characters of the two Dashwood sisters, Edward, Mr. Willoughby and Colonel Brandon. These ideas influence the characters’ decisions and have many consequences. Elinor is said to be the character that has the most sense. She sharply contrasts her mother and her other sisters who are much more open with their feelings. Elinor is said to follow all the rules of society. Her beliefs and attitude are what makes it so surprising that she decides to marry a man such as Edward. Edward’s fortune depends entirely on his mother and he must stay in her good grace to inherit any money. At first Elinor’s belief that money has much to do with happiness makes sense. She has feelings for Edward who is the eldest son and therefore should inherit all the money. Ho... ...oose wealth she shows that the consequences are not always expected. Wealth and happiness was the common debate for most people at the time, and usually wealth would conquer happiness. Women, and even men, always wanted to â€Å"marry up† and climb the social ladder. Austen seems to convey the idea that one should marry someone for love but does put importance on money. Although most of her main characters marry for love she makes sure they have an income. Even the characters who claim that happiness is most important, such as Marianne, have a subconscious desire for men of wealth; and sensible characters such as Elinor hesitate at the idea of a marriage that would be made impossible by a lack of fortune. In the end love and happiness triumph over wealth and grandeur as Willoughby and Lucy lose the people they love and Marianne, Edward and Elinor live contently.

Middle Class Women in 19th Century American Society Essay

Women were always faced specifically in history by men until they became equal to them. In the story â€Å"The yellow wallpaper† the author Charlotte Perkins Gilman says some things about the way women were treated by men back then in the 19th century. Women’s roles and place in the 19th century American society are very humiliating, rational for this society and weird. Women back then were treated as â€Å"something† not as â€Å"someone† that is to say useless beings, that do not have brains. The yellow wallpaper symbolizes something that impacts her instantly. Through the yellow wallpaper we can see that the woman is soiled and ripped just like the dirty yellow wallpaper â€Å"It is the strangest yellow, that wall-paper! It makes me think of all the yellow things I ever saw – not beautiful ones like buttercups, but old foul, bad yellow things† (Charlotte Perkins Gilman, part 6, page 11). Moreover Gilman uses the woman who is affected by the yellow wallpaper to show that women in that time were trapped an inner world, which was the main reason for their insanity â€Å"I didn’t realize for a long time what the thing was that showed behind, that dim sub-pattern, but I now I am quite sure it is a woman.† (Charlotte Perkins Gilman, part 6, page 10). The yellow wallpaper also shows that were oppressed by their husband so much that in order to escape from this reality, they devised situations and things that later would make them worse â€Å"At nigh t in any kind of light, in twilight, candle light, lamplight, and worst of all by moonlight, it becomes bars! The outside pattern I mean, and the woman behind it is as plain as can be† (ibid). There are three themes in the story â€Å"The yellow wallpaper†. The first theme is the subordination of women in marriage. From this theme the author is trying to show to the reader the way women were treated back then. Women were treated and seen from men as brainless children that needed supervision and special care â€Å"He is very careful and loving, and hardly lets me stir without special direction. I have a schedule prescription for each hour in the day† (Charlotte Perkins Gilman, part 1, page 2). Moreover Gilman uses the conventional marriage in the 19th century to ensure that women remained second-class citizens. â€Å"John laughs at me, of course, but one expects that in marriage† (Charlotte Perkins Gilman, part 1, page 1). Furthermore men kept women in a childish state of ignorance and didn’t let them fully develop â€Å"I have a schedule prescription for each hour in the day†(Charlotte Perkins Gilman, part 1, page 2) and â€Å"There comes John, and I must put this away, — he hates to have me write a word† (Charlotte Perkins Gilman, part 1, page 3). Finally men assumed that because of their superior wisdom and maturity, which led to misjudgment, patronization and domination of their women, they were the right people that could help their ‘sick’ wives â€Å"John does not know how much I really suffer. He knows there is no reason to suffer, and that satisfies him† (Charlotte Perkins Gilman, part 2, page 3) and â€Å" But John says if I feel so, I shall neglect proper self-control; so I take pains to control myself – before him, at least, and that makes me very tired† (Charlotte Perkins Gilman, part 1, page 2). The second theme that the author Charlotte Perkins Gilman uses to show the position of women in 19th century American society is the importance of self-expression. The mental restrictions upon the women are the reason for driving them insane â€Å"There comes John, and I must put this away, — he hates to have me write a word â€Å" (Charlotte Perkins Gilman, part 1, page 3) and â€Å"So I take phosphates or phospites – whichever it is, and tonics, and journeys, and air, and exercise, and am absolutely forbidden to â€Å"work† until I am well again† (Charlotte Perkins Gilman, part 1, page 1). Middle class women most of the times are forced to hide their fears and anxieties and try to maintain the faà §ade of a successful marriage in order to feel that they are winning the fight against depression â€Å"He is very careful and loving, and hardly lets me stir without special direction† (Charlotte Perkins Gilman, part 1, page 2) and â€Å"No wonder t he children hated it! I should hate it myself if I had to live in this room long. There comes John, and I must put this away, — he hates to have me write a word† (Charlotte Perkins Gilman, part 1, page 3). What is more is that men are forcing women to become totally passive by forbidding them to exercise their mind â€Å"So I take phosphates or phospites – whichever it is, and tonics, and journeys, and air, and exercise, and am absolutely forbidden to â€Å"work† until I am well again† (Charlotte Perkins Gilman, part 1, page 1). As a Gilman says â€Å"a mind that is kept in a state of forced inactivity is doomed to self-destruction†. The third theme that the author Charlotte Perkins Gilman uses in order to show the role of women in the 19th century American society is the evils of the â€Å"resting cure†. Gilman wanted to illustrate through the story â€Å"The Yellow Wallpaper† the way a mind, which is already poisoned with anxiety and fear can deteriorate when it is forced into inactivity and it is kept from healthy work. Mitchell took seriously Gilman’s criticism and stopped the â€Å"resting cure†. Gilman criticizes any form of medical treatment that is done to the patient by ignoring his concerns, considering also herself as a passive object of treatment â€Å"So I take phosphates or phospites – whichever it is, and tonics, and journeys, and air, and exercise, and am absolutely forbidden to â€Å"work† until I am well again† (Charlotte Perkins Gilman, part 1, page 1) and â€Å"John says I mustn’t lose my strength, and has me take cod liver oil and lots of tonics and things, to say nothing of ale and wine and rare meat† (Charlotte Perkins Gilman, part 3, page 7). Women in the 19th century American society often remain silent when the man talks â€Å"Better in body perhaps – â€Å"I began, and stopped short, for he sat up straight and looked at me with such a stern, reproachful look that I could not say another word† (Charlotte Perkins Gilman, part 3, page 9). Finally men mostly infantilize women, because they think women are children and brainless â€Å"Then he took me in his arms and called me a blessed little goose† (Charlotte Perkins Gilman, part 2, page 3). All in all women are seen by men as children that don’t have a brain and need help and supervision from a smart person (man). Women’s role in 19th century American society is not the same with men, who are the ones that control and hear to whatever men say. Men used their smartness in order to help â€Å"sick† women overcome their sickness, but this led to the misjudgment, patronization and domination of women. Finally women weren’t let to write nor read anything that looked like a book, in order to not smart and educated and get away from the control of men.

The Awakening By Kate Chopin - 1218 Words

Dharshini Saravanan English II A Mr. Pasqua March 28, 2017 Sophomore Paper Outline Pigsy, Rib of man, Piece of goods, Frail, Scupper are some of the many words that were used to describe over the last millennium, some of the words which are very offensive today. According to dictionary.com, Feminism means the advocacy of women’s right on the basis of the equality of the sexes. In The Awakening by Kate Chopin, Chopin expressed female oppression and feminism through Edna’s life, her choices and the people in her community. Chopin had many examples of female oppression and feminism in her novel, such as Adele Ratignolle’s life, how women were stereotyped in the society at that time, why women in the 1800s fought for their feminist rights,†¦show more content†¦In this quote, â€Å"‘You are burnt beyond recognition,’ he added, looking at his wife as one looks at a valuable piece of personal property which has suffered some damage.† (Chopin 4), Mr. Pontellier remarks about Mrs. Pontellier’s sun burn when she came back from the beach. Mr. Pontellier vires his wife as nothing more than a piece of property and not as equal partners. Men in the 1800s, viewed women as someone they can control and rule over. They except women to obey ever wish and command and not have a problem with it. Additionally, Chopin shows how women were stereotyped as a mother-woman and etc. Many women in the last 1800s and early 1900s were viewed as a mother-woman, a person who’s job is to only to worship their husbands and carry children and idolize them. Many women during that time, did not like the stereotypes that the society put on them. In this quote, â€Å"In short, Mrs. Pontellier was not a mother-woman. The mother-women seemed to prevail that summer at Grand Isle. It was easy to know them, fluttering about with extended, protecting wings when any harm, real or imaginary, threatened their precious brood. They were women who idolized their children, worshiped their husbands, and esteemed it a holy privilege to efface themselves as individuals and grow wings as ministering angels.† (Chopin 19), shows how women were stereotyped in their society. This shows what Edna thinks. She does not want to be a typical woman in the society and follow the rulesShow MoreRelatedThe Awakening By Kate Chopin1479 Words   |  6 PagesKate Chopin’s controversial novel, The Awakening, ignited turmoil because of her blatant disregard of the established 19th century perspective of women upholding strictly maternal and matrimonial responsibilities. Edna’s candid exploration of the restrictions on women through her liberal behavior in a conservative Victorian society makes her a literary symbol for feminist ideals. Despite denunciation from other people, Edna chooses individuality over conformity through her veering from traditionalRead MoreThe Awakening by Kate Chopin1102 Words   |  5 Pagesveracity of this quote as both find their independence by boldly exceeding the norm. Their stori es were fashioned during a period of great change and both characters are hallmarks of the hope and power women were unearthing at the time. The Awakening by Kate Chopin and Tess of the D’Urbervilles by Thomas Hardy are novels concerned with the transformation of women’s roles in society. Their protagonists, Tess and Edna, are not outright feminists, but they are acutely aware of the limitations imposed uponRead MoreThe Awakening By Kate Chopin1919 Words   |  8 PagesIn the novel, The Awakening, by Kate Chopin, we see how much of an importance the men in Edna’s life serve as a purpose to her awakening. Chopin is known to write stories about women who are unsatisfied with their lives while living in a life that is dominated by men. Other than Edna, the main men characters are typical men of the late 19th century era. Chopin shows how these three men are diverse from one another. The Creole men are Là ©once Pontellier, Edna’s husband, Robert, Ednaâ€⠄¢s mystery man numberRead MoreThe Awakening By Kate Chopin901 Words   |  4 Pagescandidly. Kate Chopin is honorably amongst this group of authors. Her works divinely portrayed the culture of New Orleans and the lives of Louisiana s Creole and Cajun residents. Chopin openly express her views on sex, marriage, and the injustices of women during the time. Kate Chopin’s novel, The Awakening, best exemplifies the contextual achievement of realism through the rejection of conformity, the exploration of love, and the weight of social opinion on individual choices. The Awakening is publishedRead MoreThe Awakening By Kate Chopin1222 Words   |  5 Pages The Awakening By: Kate Chopin Emely Maldonado AP LIT Period 3 Topic 3 Maldonado 1 Displacement The late 1800s and the 1900s was a prison for woman’s individuality. During this time period, stereotypical views of women were commenced by society and men. In the era that the novel, The Awakening by Kate Chopin was published, the gender roles were graved in stone, men would work to maintain their family and women would adhere to the house-hold duties. Dissatisfaction with theRead MoreThe Awakening By Kate Chopin1193 Words   |  5 PagesDavian Hart The Awakening By: Kate Chopin AP Literature Topic 3 Hart 1 Over the course of time the male species has always been the gender to attain the more favorable conditions. Numerous cultures heed to the belief that the man is the provider and head of his family. This machismo nature can condition the mind to believe that a man should feel superior to a woman. The continuous cycle of male superiority flows down from father to son subconsciously. Do to this unceasingRead MoreThe Awakening, By Kate Chopin887 Words   |  4 Pages Feminism has been a term used by many authors and writers for centuries, symbolizing women being able to use freedom the way they want to, not the way others want them to use it. Edna Pontellier, the main character in Kate Chopin’s novel The Awakening, experiences an â€Å"awakening† in her life, where she discovers her position in the universe and goes in this direction instead of what others like her husband Leonce tell her to take, similar to the style of feminism. â€Å"In short, Mrs. Pontellier was beg inningRead MoreThe Awakening By Kate Chopin1427 Words   |  6 Pagessuffering an imposition (Moderata). Throughout history, the inherent inferiority of women to men has often been cited as a way to deter women from becoming an individual and pursuing more in life. This notion is a prevalent issue in The Awakening by Kate Chopin; in which Edna fights to live her own way and is ultimately unable to survive in the cage of society. Not only has this supposed inferiority effected women for generations, but it has created inequality in our society today; especially inRead MoreThe Awakening By Kate Chopin1633 Words   |  7 Pages1. Title of text (underline novels/plays) author’s name The Awakening by Kate Chopin 2. Characterization Character Development (a) 1.Edna Pontellier- Edna is the main character of the novel who is married to a businessman. Edna is a dynamic character because at the beginning of the novel, she conforms to society by being the â€Å"perfect† mother and wife; however, Edna suddenly realizes that she is no longer happy with the way she was living her life and began to become independent only for herRead MoreThe Awakening By Kate Chopin915 Words   |  4 PagesMany of Kate Chopin’s writings are trademarked by her unique, deliberate word choices. Chopin uses phrases that do not make sense and seem to contradict themselves to get across a point. In two of her stories, â€Å"The Story of an Hour† and â€Å"The Awakening,† Chopin’s word usage highlights the idea of self-discovery. â€Å"The Awakening† and â€Å"The Story of an Hour† share similar themes. â€Å"The Awakening† is the story of a woman in the late 1800s discovering her apathy for her traditional female role as a wife