Introduction
Martin Luther King Jr.’s concept of freedom serves as the foundation for combining the themes of Charlotte Perkins Gilman’s “The Yellow Wallpaper” and Kate Chopin’s “The Story of an Hour” with Plato’s allegorical journey in the “Allegory of the Cave.” The two writers influence the complexity of autonomy in marriage, while Plato emphasizes it from the perspective of perpetuating social constructs. Through the lens of the Allegory of the Cave, we can see that ignorance is a matter of knowledge, and to escape ignorance, one must be aware of one’s own oppression and that of the oppressor. This takes time to happen, for one must go through suffering to gain “freedom.” This is the case for both protagonists in Chopin’s and Gilman’s works: they experience pain as they flee from oppression to freedom, but as they experience this pain, they resist the movement towards freedom.
First Aspect – Oppressor
Studying the figures in both “The Yellow Wallpaper” and “The Story of an Hour” provides a comprehensive understanding of who is oppressive. The characters of John and Mr. Mallard can be characterized as controllers and manipulators.
“The Yellow Wallpaper”
John, the narrator’s husband and physician in “The Yellow Wallpaper,” is first described as a person who sincerely wants to help his wife solve mental problems. Still, later it turns out that he did not even notice them and dismissively ignored his wife’s appeals. His actions showed a condescending attitude that belittled the independence and autonomy of his wife (Jamil). He forbade her to engage in usual affairs, which is a direct proof of an individual’s reluctance to consider another as his equal. It is possible to assume that he had potentially good intentions, but this does not negate the result of his lack of concern and the emotional pain he caused.
“The Story of an Hour”
Similarly, Mr. Mallard in “The Story of an Hour” ostensibly treats his wife, Louise, with delicate care. However, after analyzing more deeply his motive for his wife’s alleged weakness due to heart disease, it becomes clear that it is not the main one. His goal manifested itself in a controlled and self-centered nature, accompanied by manipulations.
Louise is portrayed as a woman searching for herself in a patriarchal world that may be symbolized by her husband (Wang). An example of Mr. Mallard’s cruelty is a situation where, during a tragic turn of events, he prioritizes his own interests over his wife’s emotional well-being. In addition, his constant manipulation of all family members further reinforced the oppressive tendencies to satisfy selfish male desires. He is very different from the leader described by Plato, who must work for the common good and not for his own interests.
Second Aspect – Physical Restriction
“The Yellow Wallpaper”
Symbolism plays a pivotal role in elucidating the theme of physical restriction in both “The Yellow Wallpaper” and “The Story of an Hour,” serving as a metaphor for the psychological entrapment endured by the protagonists. In the first-mentioned work, the main character constantly draws attention to the complex patterns on the wallpaper, which represent her mental imprisonment (Roethle). It depicts societal expectations and restrictions characteristic of 19th-century societal norms that often placed a heavy burden on women. In addition, her marriage further suppresses the protagonist’s personal preferences and aspirations, which are also entwined in the intricate patterns on the wallpaper.
The climax is the tearing down of the wallpaper, symbolizing the woman’s defiance of the structures that suppress her autonomy. The symbol of the wallpaper can be compared to the shadows in the Allegory of the Cave, which represent the limited reality experienced by the prisoners. Just as the shadows are an incomplete representation of the proper forms, the wallpaper’s surface representation masks the deeper psychological struggles of the narrator, illustrating how false perceptions of reality limit both the prisoners and the narrator.
“The Story of an Hour”
“The Story of an Hour” features a description of an open window, which symbolizes the freedom that Louise is prepared to accept after her husband’s death. The blue sky and dissipating storms embody the liberation she feels and realizes. This transformative realization is similar to the moment of enlightenment in Plato’s allegory of the cave, where the prisoner is freed from his chains and confronted with the profound truth of the outside world. Similarly, Louise’s fleeting moment of elation before her tragic demise represents the brief glimpse of true freedom that she experiences before the constraints of societal norms and expectations force the woman back into her figurative chains.
Third Aspect – Time
“The Yellow Wallpaper”
The passage of time in “The Yellow Wallpaper” is also not depicted. It is an element of the main character’s journey to awareness. Initially, the narrator’s ignorance about her emotional state and her husband’s behavior leads to a gradual disappointment and confusion. However, the woman tried to assure herself that her husband cared for her and knew best, thereby convincing herself that his words were valid. As the story unfolded, she became increasingly fixated on the wallpaper, and thus began to understand that the need for freedom is urgent and compelling. This temporal evolution mirrors the process described in The Allegory of the Cave, where the prisoner gradually becomes accustomed to new realities outside the cave.
“The Story of an Hour”
The brevity of the time frame in “The Story of an Hour” is significant in illustrating the suddenness of Louise’s realization of her constrained existence. The woman experienced a profound mental transformation after the news of her husband’s death. It served as a period of recovery after a specific period of oppression and humiliation.
Louise went from grief to a sense of newfound freedom and opportunity. Such a sudden change is characterized not by disgust for her husband, but by the author’s temporary acceptance. Thus, she wanted to show readers the liberation of man from constant control. It is reminiscent of the sudden enlightenment experienced by the prisoner in Allegory of the Cave, who is exposed to the blinding sunlight outside the cave. Louise met her freedom before a tragic end, which served as a reminder to readers of the nature of liberation within societal expectations and gender roles.
Conclusion
In summary, analyzing “The Yellow Wallpaper” and “The Story of an Hour” through the lens of Plato’s “Allegory of the Cave” reveals the nature of freedom from different angles. All works feature the main character’s journey from ignorance to enlightenment, and all of them expose the shell of societal expectations and repression of women. The process of breaking free from the manipulation and oppressive control of others is accompanied by pain and excitement. However, the transformation provides strength and self-awareness, which are central themes in these works.
Works Cited
Jamil, S. “Imaginative Power” in “The Yellow Wallpaper.” ANQ: A Quarterly Journal of Short Articles, Notes and Reviews, 2021, pp. 1-7.
Roethle, Christopher. “A Healthy Play of Mind: Art and the Brain in Gilman’s “The Yellow Wallpaper”.” American Literary Realism, vol. 52, no. 2, 2020, p. 147-166. Project MUSE.
Wang, X. “Feminine Self-Assertion in ‘The Story of an Hour’.” 2007. AU Institutional Repository.