Feminism During 19th Century American Short Stories

Kaylee Gould Ms. Henderson 3rd period Feminism in Late 19th Century American Short Stories Research Question: How is feminism revealed through the divergence of women’s roles in society and their own personal desires in the American short stories â€Å"The Yellow Wall-Paper,† â€Å"The Story of an Hour,† â€Å"The Storm,† and â€Å"Life in the Iron Mills†? Introduction Literature changes as current events change and as the structure of society begins to shift. American feminist literature started to become prevalent during the Victorian era, or around the latter part of the 19th century. This is the time when the first wave of feminism in the United States hit. The Seneca Falls Convention - the first women’s rights convention - and the emergence of Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Susan B. Anthony’s American Equal Rights Association in the middle of the 19th century are among some of the noteable events that sparked this movement in literature. Women across America were inspired by the changing of the times, and that is reflected in many American female authors’ writings. Some of these authors include Charlotte Perkins Gilman, Kate Chopin, and Rebecca Harding-Davis, whose short stories speak volumes about the thoughts and emotions of women during this time period. â€Å"Life in the Iron Mills† was written in 1861, â€Å"The Yellow Wall-Paper† in 1892, â€Å"The Story of an Hour† in 1894, and finally â€Å"The Storm† in 1898. Every story was written during the Victorian era; every author had personally experienced lifeShow MoreRelatedThe Storm And The Story Of An Hour Comparison Essay847 Words   |  4 Pagesâ€Å"The Story of an Hour† Katherine O’Flaherty was born in St.Louis, Missouri on February 8,1850. Katherine was considered one of the first 20th century feminist authors. Katherine evolved most of her work as being an American novelist and a short story writer, also a feminist literary movement artist. When her husband died was really a profound writer. By the age of 49 Flaherty was best known for her novel (The Awakening) also a feminine role book. In 1894 she wrote a short story (The Story of anRead MoreThe Feminist Message : Edith Wharton, Sojourner Truth, And Kate Chopin1184 Words   |  5 PagesPrior to the late 19th and early 20th century, women were often criticized for deviating from what society deemed as normal. Women authors, as an attempt to avoid judgemental comments, often changed their name to resemble a male’s in order to get their books published. As a result of this action, many Americans were beginning to witness what females had to offer in the world of literature through t heir ideals of Feminism. 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