Exam

Part I

Protagonist: The narrator, woman, “Jane”

Plot: The narrator has been deemed mentally unwell, and must remain house/bed ridden until her “disease” is curable. She walks the reader through her day by day imprisonment, and her relationship with the yellow wallpaper. While being forced to stay in the house, she begins to hallucinate a woman inside the pattern of the old wallpaper in her bedroom. In the end, the woman trapped inside the pattern, represents her and many other women who have their problems silenced.

Character: The narrator of The Yellow Wallpaper is a very normal woman. Through her “prescription” to stay bed ridden, we see her morph into insanity. Her intense asphyxiation on the wallpaper engulfs her into obsession and the polite woman who laughed and joked and was in love, suddenly becomes a crazed individual creeping around her room.

Rising Action: The narrator discovers a woman/women moving within the pattern of the wallpaper. She wishes to free them.

Epiphany: She decides to release the women from the wallpaper when John is away. The narrator realizes that John and Jennie are distant from her and cannot see her sickness. She is going to try to prove that there are women trapped behind the wallpaper.

Resolution: The narrator no longer is trying to free the women from the wallpaper, but associates herself as being trapped within the pattern. She finds comfort in the wallpaper, as a new home, instead of fearing it.

The narrator’s sickness is overlooked because she is a woman. If we look back to the date in which this piece was written, 1899, women’s primary directive was to be seen and not heard. Women couldn’t even vote yet, until 1920, so who should listen to them? And their “made up problems.” Gilman definitely channeled the ignorance most displayed to women at the time. Even today, men can put down women in the same sense. Women are seen not to have any real problems, if we’re sad or angry it’s because we’re on our period. Gilman created a voice and a scenario for the silenced women suffering from a sickness paralleled with the narrator’s.

Part II

I go down.

Rung after rung and still

The oxygen immerses me

The blue light

The clear atoms

Of our human air.

I go down.

My flippers cripple me,

I crawl like an insect down the ladder

And there is no one

To tell me when the ocean

Will begin.

            The narrator clearly expresses that she has to do this alone. Yet, when the oxygen immerses her, she describes the air as belonging to more than one person. Our air. This stanza represents her struggle to discover the wreck. She is shrouded with fear, comparing herself to a lone insect and being without the knowledge or compassion of others. No one is by her side, and she starts to feel out of place. Her flippers “cripple” her, and her journey down the ladder seems torturous. “Rung after rung and still” is discussing how the narrator continues to descend, continues to search, yet her realization of being alone frightens her.

            The narrator of this poem is expressing this part of her journey as if she does not have a choice. She keeps repeating that she is alone, that she is in awkward equipment, that the place she is searching for is empty, like her. For example, why would she compare herself to an insect? Bugs aren’t the most pleasant thing to think of, and many people dislike them. Most insects will drown in water. Is she considering this journey to be her fate? The narrator is hesitant to continue down the ladder, comparing herself to an insect, and noting once more that she is alone. Through this stanza we can determine that the narrator is nervous about her journey and finds herself second-guessing the dive into the wreck.

Girl Response

Wear your hair down, unload the dishwasher, Can you make dinner? You're not making it right!, Use this lotion, Pluck your eyebrows, You look best in pink, Stop dying your hair, I think you'd look better if you lost some wait; you were so pretty when you did ballet; stop sleeping with guys, stop sleeping with guys who don't love you; stop selling yourself short; don't go into that career, but do what you want; let your nails grow; stop bringing strays home; don't smoke, don't don't don't But I do well then, fine; I'm sorry; vaccuum, feed the dog; listen to me and not your father; listen to your father; don't be out too late; call me; I'm so glad you're not like your brother; and why can't you be more like your brother? You eat too much; You never eat; Have faith; this is how you make bleenies; this is how you make artichoke sauce; this is how you decorate a tree; This is why I love you; have fun, be safe; Where the hell were you?; Don't talk back to me; grab a coat; This is how you make ambrosia; this is how it's supposed to be; those jeans are too tight; clean your room. clean your room. You need to clean your room; be the strong capable woman I know you are now, not like how you used to be years ago; Break up with him, keep him; call your brother; water the plants, don't drown them!; this is how you do laundry; my cookies are better than yours; I'm so proud of you; what are you doing with your life?; you need to help out more around the house; I'm so glad you're starting to look like me; you are so smart; don't talk like that; This is what happened last night and why i'm so mad; do your homework; do your best, always; I love you; I love you too Mom.

Final Paper

Kimberly Rolin

English 1B

Knapp

10/5/10

The Gender Roles of Women in The Flowers

                        In Dagoberto Gilb’s novel, The Flowers, all of the female characters are objectified as property under the control of the men in their lives. The three main female roles, Cindy, Nica and Sylvia are scrutinized not only by their male counterparts, but by sociological factors and themselves. As different as the women are, all of them are commonly bound by their dependence on men. It’s the reasons why that individualize the women under the same male dominance.

                        Cindy for example, is a lonely, unhappily married woman. She got married too young, and craves the attention of other men. She is ignored by her husband, yet completely isolated in her own apartment day in and day out. Her constant need for physical attention is most likely stemmed from the fact that she believes she is much more of a sexual object, than a woman or wife to her husband. Paradoxically, she needs emotional support, but seeks it through casual encounters with various men. Being objectified as a lonely young housewife fuels her desire to be with other men. Her physical prow lace ironically stems from the fact that she is seen as a physical object by her husband. And yet, her dependence on men is just as strong as all the other women. Cindy is needy, alone, and scared. She is in an emotional trap that she is well aware she’s placed herself in. Even though she has a husband, she needs the constant approval of other men. For example, accidentally walking outside in her white bikini and begging Sonny, who is younger, to stay and make her happy. As damaged as her relationship is with men, she needs them to feel worthy.

                        This is apparent as well with Sylvia. Sylvia is portrayed as a beautiful Latina housewife, surrendered to her husband. Sylvia isn’t emotionally needy like Cindy, but her dependence on men stems from her financial instability. She married Clloyd for support, but desires freedom from her tyrannical husband. Sylvia would be very sufficient on her own. She’s young, beautiful, and a hard worker. Yet the benefits of being financed by her husband and having to go through less of a struggle to support her family, keep her tied to Clloyd. Sylvia is controlled by fear. Although she is Latina, she is not the stereotype that Clloyd thinks she is. Her “homemade salsa” is in fact store-bought, but she is too cowardice to tell him. Maybe it’s because she fears he will leave her, but she desperately wants freedom from him. So it could be the fact that she has developed the lowly woman role that all her fellow women seem to be under.

                        Then there’s Nica. Nica is much younger than the other women, but is experiencing the same reign of male dominance. There is no physical desire or financial need for men, but her tepidness comes from her own father. Her father expects her to take care of her younger brother, like a mother she isn’t ready to be. He often scolds her, ignores her, and doesn’t ever appreciate all she does for him and her family. At a young age she is expected to care and somewhat provide for her family, and does not object because of the fear she has of her father, and the love she has for her younger brother. She is trapped by her own family, who she cares deeply about, yet can’t seem to shake. She is controlled by a man just as Sylvia and Cindy are, but can’t even imagine a different life.

                        The Flowers is a place of low income families, odd characters, and beaten down women. Primarily located in a Mexican heritage neighborhood, perhaps it’s the cultural aspect that has these women trapped. Dagoberto Gilb illustrates the hardships of these women through their common prison. Single moms, unhappily married women, neglected children, and lonely old women are all seen in this familiar run down low income place called “home.” Yet obviously the males run The Flowers and their dominance places the females in a position where they might as well be slaves. After all, they entrust men to carry their burdens, when men are the primary source of their troubles. As the “enslavement” of these women continues, the women fall into a role. Without the men, they may be emancipated, yet their gender, culture, and status remain as a warning to what their lives would be without the men. In The Flowers, it is better to be seen as inferior than not to be seen at all. This is the role these women face, and their subservient nature towards men is only the better option of the two. In conclusion, Female dependence on men is strongly stemmed by the economic pressures and cultural stereotyping present in The Flowers; a place for submissive women.

Rough Draft

Kimberly Rolin

English 1B

Knapp

10/5/10

The Gender Roles of Women in The Flowers

                In Dagoberto Gilb’s novel, The Flowers, all of the female characters are objectified as property under the control of the men in their lives. The three main female roles, Cindy, Nica and Sylvia are scrutinized not only by their male counterparts, but by sociological factors and themselves. As different as the women are, all of them are commonly bound by their dependence on men. It’s the reasons why that individualize the women under the same male dominance.

                Cindy for example, is a lonely, unhappily married woman. She got married too young, and craves the attention of other men. She is ignored by her husband, yet completely isolated in her own apartment day in and day out. Her constant need for physical attention is most likely stemmed from the fact that she believes she is much more of a sexual object, than a woman or wife to her husband. Paradoxically, she needs emotional support, but seeks it through casual encounters with various men. Being objectified as a lonely young housewife fuels her desire to be with other men. Her physical prow lace ironically stems from the fact that she is seen as a physical object by her husband. And yet, her dependence on men is just as strong as all the other women. Cindy is needy, alone, and scared. She is in an emotional trap that she is well aware she’s placed herself in. Even though she has a husband, she needs the constant approval of other men. For example, accidentally walking outside in her white bikini and begging Sonny, who is younger, to stay and make her happy. As damaged as her relationship is with men, she needs them to feel worthy.

                This is apparent as well with Sylvia. Sylvia is portrayed as a beautiful Latina housewife, surrendered to her husband. Sylvia isn’t emotionally needy like Cindy, but her dependence on men stems from her financial instability. She married Clloyd for support, but desires freedom from her tyrannical husband. Sylvia would be very sufficient on her own. She’s young, beautiful, and a hard worker. Yet the benefits of being financed by her husband and having to go through less of a struggle to support her family, keep her tied to Clloyd. Sylvia is controlled by fear. Although she is Latina, she is not the stereotype that Clloyd thinks she is. Her “homemade salsa” is in fact store-bought, but she is too cowardice to tell him. Maybe it’s because she fears he will leave her, but she desperately wants freedom from him. So it could be the fact that she has developed the lowly woman role that all her fellow women seem to be under.

                Then there’s Nica. Nica is much younger than the other women, but is experiencing the same reign of male dominance. There is no physical desire or financial need for men, but her tepidness comes from her own father. Her father expects her to take care of her younger brother, like a mother she isn’t ready t o be. He often scolds her, ignores her, and doesn’t ever appreciate all she does for him and her family. At a young age she is expected to care and somewhat provide for her family, and does not object because of the fear she has of her father, and the love she has for her younger brother. She is trapped by her own family, who she cares deeply about, yet can’t seem to shake. She is controlled by a man just as Sylvia and Cindy are, but can’t even imagine a different life.

                The Flowers is a place of low income families, odd characters, and beaten down women. Primarily located in a Mexican heritage neighborhood, perhaps it’s the cultural aspect that has these women trapped. Dagoberto Gilb illustrates the hardships of these women through their common prison. Single moms, unhappily married women, neglected children, and lonely old women are all seen in this familiar run down low income place called “home.” Yet obviously the males run The Flowers and their dominance places the females in a position where they might as well be slaves. Female dependence on men is strongly stemmed by the economic pressures and cultural stereotyping present in The Flowers; a place for submissive women.

Sylvia Feminist Criticism.

Sylvia is the most dynamic character in The Flowers to me. I noticed a dichotomy between Sylvia as Sylvia and Sylvia with Clloyd. Sylvia still has many issues and insecurities, but less than the other women in the novel. For one, Sylvia knows she is beautiful. She was struggling supporting a family, but she was confident in herself. Just like Cindy, men made her feel appreciated, and the amount of attention she received from men definitely boosted her ego. Until financial stability became a more pressing issue, and she married Clloyd; who could provide for her and her family. As soon as she married Clloyd, her independence fell drastically. She was being objectified, and more stereotypically subjected by her husband. Clloyd desires control, but Sylvia desires freedom, and the once happy marriage starts to dissolve because of the mistrust and treatment of themselves. Sylvia who once started out fairly capable and strong, now is a trophy wife and desires the life she once had. Even though difficult, she realizes that Clloyd's control issues branch out to everyone around him.
Fear comes in to play as well. Before Clloyd, Sylvia didn't fear much about her own life. Granted, she wasn't the best mother, Sylvia didn't worry about her own well-being. Post Clloyd, fear has driven Sylvia into more of a reserved woman. She's definitely under the reigns of Clloyd, not just because of his demands, but because she now feels she needs him to live and be happy. Yet she's not happy at all and sneaks off from him. Yet, Clloyd feels like the big strong hero, the man of the house, but his insecurities on how important he really was to Sylvia begins to break him down. Typically in fragile relationships, we think of the woman as being the groveling one. Begging the man to come back into her life, being pushed around for not "doing the right thing," but clearly this is beginning to show in Clloyd. Clloyd realizes his demeanor around Sylvia is weaker. He tries to play up his manliness, but you can see him expressing worry and concern  when he is unaware of Sylvia's location. He is out of control, and will easily grovel back to her. More in an angry controlling matter, but still, Sylvia has an effect on Clloyd that she doesn't seem to see. The other women are basically weaker than Sylvia, which is why I like Sylvia as the female model. Sure, she isn't the best example of a dignified woman, but she has respect for herself. Her gender, status, and culture work against her however. She is a Mexican housewife by definition, but clearly she has no desire or capability to be one. And although her status effects her, we see that she can clearly be equal to her male counterpart by the way she chooses to harness that status and in turn, spin it around on him.