Backer, L. “Lily Bart as Artist in Wharton’s ‘The House of Mirth.’” Explicator, 68(1), 33-35. Web. 23 July 2014.
In this brief analysis, Backer states that the character of Lily Bart is focused on gender themes found in the novel. Robin Peel studies the ways women allow themselves to be used as art objects. Emily Orlando distinguishes that the novel addresses the issue of marketing the female and that Lily is presented as an artist. Backer makes the points of Lily using her body as a commodity; the character is offered as both object and artist. Lily is able to challenge the gender biases of the reader. This will be useful in my essay to discuss gender politics as Lily is a woman in this era that is using her body to her advantage. I can use Backer’s discussion on Lily using her body as a commodity and a piece of art.
Delashmit, M. and Long. C. “Gilman’s The Yellow Wallpaper.” Explicator, 50(1), 32-33. Web. 23 July 2014.
In this brief study, Delashmit and Long discuss the narrator’s husband John and his control over her. They rightfully describe him as “presents himself as a caring and loving husband, is overbearing and unknowingly cruel to the point of deserving censure” (32). They also talk about him being a physician and being right in whatever he thinks and not taking the narrator’s suggestions or feelings into consideration because she is a woman. These observations will be useful in my essay regarding gender politics as I can discuss John’s way of thinking and the ramifications it had on the narrator’s sanity as she was a woman, and he was a man and also a physician who would not listen to her.
Hume, B.A. “Gilman’s “Interminable Grotesque”: The Narrator of ‘The Yellow Wallpaper.’” Studies in Short Fiction, 28(4), 477-484. Web. 23 July 2014.
Hume talks about the narrator’s husband John in “The Yellow Wallpaper” as not taking her seriously and laughing at her suggestions. She also discusses the narrator getting irritated with her husband knowing he does not take what she wants into consideration. She asserts further the difference between the socially acceptable behavior of John and her own behavior. Hume emphasizes the impact of gender stereotypes in the 19th century and how she is able to show this through the narrator. Hume’s discussion will allow me to address gender politics in the 19th century and the role John had in the narrator’s life decisions.
Shinbrot, V. “Risk and Subversion in Edith Wharton’s ‘The House of Mirth.’” Orbis Litterarum, 67(1), 39-60. Web. 23 July 2014.
Shinbrot investigates Lily’s social status and her need to find a rich husband. She talks about her likeness of taking risks which leads to immoral behavior. Shinbrot asserts “If one fails economically, one then fails in society and one also fails in life” (51). This shows the high importance it is for Lily to marry well. Shinbrot emphasizes that Lily’s mother has told her that her looks are what is going to obtain her a husband of higher class. This discussion is important to my essay as it examines Lily’s risk and taking leading to immoral behavior and also Lily’s being raised believing that she needed to use her looks to catch her a rich man.
Suess, B. “The Writing’s on the Wall: Symbolic Orders in ‘The Yellow Wallpaper.’” Women’s Studies, 32(1), 79-97. Web. 23 July 2014.
Suess discusses the unhealthy relationship between women and medical language in “The Yellow Wallpaper.” She also asserts the Western world’s patriarchal social condition which is shown through the narrator’s unhappy state as portrayed as insanity. Suess states “as do most feminist and linguistic analyses of “The Yellow Wallpaper”, my Lacanian reading of the story represents patriarchy, or specifically the arrogant abuse of patriarchal authority, as the primary source of the protagonist’s ultimately complete inability to separate fantasy from reality” (80). This study will allow me to discuss the narrator’s husband John and his being in control of her and pushing her to the point of losing reality.
