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Modern American Literature: Rise of Realism

Choose one of the stories to apply feminist criticism to the reading. Identify the protagonist and antagonist and describe their relationship as it relates to the theme. How does the relationship to the foil, if there is one, reflect the theme? Identify whether the protagonist is round or flat, dynamic or static. Support your response with examples from the text.
 * Chopin’s “Story of and Hour” and Gilman’s “The Yellow Wallpaper”**

In the story, “The Yellow Wallpaper” the theme we decided as a class was that humans tend to use stereotypes that break people down. In the story the protagonist is Jane, the main character, and the antagonist in this particular story is society. In the story Jane is a round character because we get to see multiple sides of her, and her fascination with the wallpaper. Jane (the narrator of this story) is also constantly told what to do, by her husband and is expected by society to follow what he tells her. This belittles her, and eventually drives her to insanity. It was the patriarchy that drove her mad, and the lack of trust in her husband. She questioned his trustworthiness multiple times, even to the point of thinking he was making her ill. In the foil of this story reflects the theme because the Jane is constantly battling herself in her mind over John and his trustworthiness. The theme of this story is basically a layout of the psychotic mind. Jane is the main character of this story and she is also the narrator. Throughout the story we get to know her fairly well, we learn about their home her and her husband John rent. And we also know that the story takes place in late 1800’s. Jane is a dynamic character in this story, and we also know that she has serious mental issues by the end of the story. She feels so trapped in her relationship and so controlled by John she even imagines herself being trapped in the walls of their bed room, in the wall paper. The theme I gathered from this story is about how damaging society and the way things ”should be” can be on everyday people even as far back as the 20th century. Jane should have been able to live her own life, and not have to be allowed things to do by her husband, she should have been allowed to be her own woman and not to have been treated like her husbands property.

Select an example of imagery that creates the mood of the story? How does the mood of the setting reflect the character’s motivations driven by their id, ego, and superego?
 * Crane’s “Mystery of Heroism”**

The cannons dropped on the ground as horses flew through the air and their bodies pounded across the overturned earth. This is the story of one mans experience, and how he was given to opportunity in tragedy to be selfless and help others. In the story “Mystery of Heroism” by Stephen Crane it talks about a man in the Civil War,and the experience he has, and what it really means to be a hero. In my paper I’m going to discuss one mans story of a battle in the Civil War and how he helped others and became a hero. In the story a man named Fred Collins decides he’s thirsty.. the only problem in this is that the only water is in the well in the middle of the battle field where soldiers are getting taken down by bullets, and the bodies are being torn limb from limb by the cannons. Collins even discribed the smell of the bodies being blown apart, that was in the air. When he goes to get the water, and instead of just getting a drink and getting back to safety, he helps the wounded, and brings water back for the other soldiers. I think that he acted in selflessly and was heroic for not only looking out for himself like many people do today, but instead he helped others, and put himslef in the line of fire for his fellow soldiers and acted like a real soldier should. Even when he was teased by others, he still put himself in danger for them and brought them back water. During my thesis I explained how Fred Collins actions in a horrific, and crazed time were selfless, and heroic. Even when he was being harrassed by his fellow soldiers he still put himself on the line for them, even to the point of loosing his own life so they could have water to drink. If all soldiers acted like this heroic man, and would put themselves on the cutting board for a man they arent even friends with, there would be a lot of lives saved. This should be an example for all men and this is how the world should work, you shouldn’t always watch out for number one, you should sacrifice for the better of the group. We should all think about Fred Collins when we have the opportunity to help someone, instead of just help ourselves. -Georan m

How does the author indirectly characterize the protagonist through the use of dialect? What does this tell us about the character? How are they influenced by their id, ego, or superego?
 * Wharton’s “April Showers” and Twain’s “The Invalid’s Story”**