The Yellow Underground Eyes

Aim

• Identify and outline the progression of women throughout texts from 1890's to 1940's as they conquer their quest of identity and factors that determine their sense of self

"The Yellow Wall-Paper" Charlotte Gilman

• 1892 , Late nineteenth century
• Short story narrative of a mentally ill wife constrained by her doctor husband

"Their Eyes Were Watching God"Zora Hurston

• 1937, early twentieth century
• Novel of a growing middle aged- black women as she encounters different relationships and circumstances

" Woman Seated In The Underground"Carol Duffy

• 1941, mid- twentieth century
• Poem in perspective of an alone women underground during world war 2

Woman Seated In The Underground,1941

• "By the pain -No memory , no love I do not know my name- But does it matter? Surrounded by the thick grey smoke"(Duffy, line 5)
• "-Surrounded by the thick grey smoke- Treated as a joke-" (Duffy, line 3)

The Woman In The Yellow Wallpaper

• Who talks to the yellow wallpaper The lady with the “temporary nervous depression” Obsessed with the flaxen within the trickled walls
• I know John thinks my sanity is gone “The very worst thing you can do is think about your condition” “ You mustn't lose your strength “ “You must rest”

The Yellow Underground Eyes

• "John Is practical in the extreme ( TYW) No Patience With Faith No wedding ring, no handbag, nothing ( TWU)"
• "Laughter fills the tunnel and the porch and behind the yellow paper"

TYW-Conextual Understanding

• Exposes the unequal status of women within the institution of marriage
• Adresses Women’s obligation to remain in the domestic sphere which has robbed them of the expression of their full powers of creativity and intelligence
• Reveals an avoided concept of mental illness in late 19th century

TWG-Context

• Outlines the role of women in the mid-20th century and in World War 2
• Shows women struggle to grapple with their identity due to society's constraints

TEWG-Contextual Understanding

• Racism can occur within a race
• Shows the oppression of women in marriage
• The role of speech within a culture and community

Symbols

• Authors use symbols to outline women's struggles
• The Yellow Wall Paper= Yellow Wall Paper
• Their Eyes Were Watching God= Janie's Hair
• Different representations of love

Conclusion

• As feminist authors expose society to oppression of women and bring light to neglected issues such as mental health we predict a progression of women but society's norms still restrict women