Leiden University Student Repository

Wit, Eva de (2019)

A Battle Against Patriarchal Oppression: Acquiring Personal Autonomy Through the Rebellious Self in The Yellow Wallpaper and The House of Mirth

Bachelor thesis | Engelse taal en cultuur (BA)

In my BA thesis I analyze two novels, The House of Mirth by Wharton and The Yellow Wallpaper by Gilman. I illustrate how the novels describe that women needed personal autonomy and how they wanted to escape patriarchal oppression. In order to do so I distinguish two selves within the female protagonists, namely the rebellious self and the obedient self. The rebellious self wants to break free from patriarchal oppression and its gender roles, whereas the obedient self adheres to these societal standards. Whilst analyzing these two selves in the novels, a link will be established between these selves and gothic imagery in order to illustrate women's precarious position in the American Victorian era.

rebellious self

obedient self

personal autonomy

gothic imagery

gender roles

american victorian era

Author

Wit, Eva de

Faculty

Faculty of Humanities

Specialisation

English Language and Culture: American Literature

Supervisors

Polak, Sara

ECTS Credits

10

Language

en