marge piercy woman on the edge of time sparknotes

These challenges include issues such as peer cruelty and societal pressure to conform to its normal and keep a certain kind of image of a woman which that society deems ‘ideal image of a woman’. A girl faces some serious social problems as she grows up in the community. In the poem “Barbie Doll”, author Marge Piercy makes use of four paragraphs to scornfully describe the cultural and societal expectations of the girl child from her birth, the bringing up, life and death. This will eventually deny her the freedom she has been longing for (Ostman 6).

She is unable to bare the drastic change of emotion on learning that her husband was actually not dead. On seeing him, she is shocked and dies because of the reality that strikes her. As she begins to savor the sweet sense of freedom, her husband shows up at their house still breathing. She anticipates for her new life in the future and how she would live as a free woman enjoying absolute freedom. Though she is saddened by her husband’s death, she at once gets delighted by the reflection of her awaiting freedom. She gets upset by the sad news of the death of a loved one but when she comes out of the room she seem to have already accepted the situation and adapting to the new situation. Louise Mallard’s emotions changes from one state to another within an hour.

There were a lot of things that she did that were considered contrary to the societal norms of that period. She writes many controversial stories on abusive relationship and unhappy marriage. Chopin grew up in a male dominated environment. In the event that as divorce was necessary, the man would automatically have the legal of controlling of all of the property and children that he had with his woman (Hicks 1). Their opinions were not regarded since women were meant to be seen, but not heard.ĭuring those days, marriage was considered a sacred institution making divorce a rare thing. During this era women were required to be very submissive to their husbands. They both lived during the period when women had very limited rights and privileged, prejudiced based on their gender. Kate Chopin seems to have a lot of things in common with her husband Louise Mallard who is also a major protagonist. One thing has to die for another to thrive as the death of Louise could have opened the door to a fresh new start of a life with so much freedom. Her reaction probably shows that death does not necessarily cause grief to the close family members. Louise Ironically feels a relieved when she receives the bad news.

Louise would be greatly affected by the death of her husband when she learns it, but this is not the case. This happened due to her reaction when she is informed about the death of her husband in train accident. Chopin has tackled the issue of marriage and selfhood concept by portraying Mrs. In the Story of an Hour, Kate Chopin presents an often unheard view about marriage.

Marge piercy woman on the edge of time sparknotes