2. First
published in Vogue in 1894.
The location is not given, but most of her
works take place in the United States, so we
can assume that it happens in America.
Wasn’t
originally considered a feminist story,
but in the 1960’s, the Women’s Movement
adopted the story as one of the “Great
feminist texts.”
3. Women
Women
could not vote
could not own property, or control her
own money.
Once a woman married, anything she owned
became her husband’s.
It was very unusual for a women to go to
college.
Women were discouraged from pursuing a
career, although many lower class women
had to work. (They mostly had jobs as
servants, working for the upper class.)
4. Divorce
If
was socially unacceptable.
a woman wanted to divorce her husband
on any grounds, her husband was granted
all property, money, and care of the
children. A woman was left with nothing.
5. As
you may have noticed, women had
virtually no control over her life, her family,
or her future.
6. Except
If
one: The widow
a woman’s husband died, she suddenly
gained the social rights over her time and
future, and also the legal right over her
money, property, and children.
7. Now
that you know all of this, how does it
change your view of:
• Louise Mallard
• Brantley Mallard
• Their marriage
• The ending of the story?
