The nineteenth century was in love with duality. A strict separation between the public and the private spheres, that at the same time meant sharply separated spheres of action for men and women, is only one expression of the general be-lief in fixed binary oppositions that characterized both American and British so-ciety in the Victorian era. Since the innate and natural difference between man and woman, as the most compelling duality, was similarly taken for granted, ni-neteenth-century society was also structured and determined by a rigid gender-role differentiation. It should hardly surprise us, then, that writings of the mid- to late-nineteenth century are especially preoccupied with the motif of the double. While this fasci-nation with double figures could on the one hand be accounted for with the Victo-rian belief in the essential duality of life, the motif’s proliferation in works written at the turn of the century may also be interpreted as a symptom of the cultural transformation that dominated this era. In America, especially, the rapid growth of the nation following the Reconstruction period, together with the ensuing technological revolution, the rise of industrial capitalism, and the subsequent emergence of new social classes brought about a climate of change that stimulated both anxiety and expectation. These conflicting impulses contributed to a general feeling of fragmentation that, in literature, could best be expressed with the characters’ self-division or self-duplication (cf. Miyoshi ix-xix). Grave anxieties, however, were also prompted by the changes women sought, for rigid gender lines were feared to dissolve by the 1880s with women’s nascent emancipation and the emergence of the so-called ‘new woman.’ While political oratory and journalism had by then become an important factor in American society of the time, fe-male orators speaking out for equal rights, though growing in numbers, were still regarded an anomaly up until much later (cf. Levander 1-11).
Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)
- Introduction
- The Motif of the Double in Literature
- Definition and History
- Forms and Functions
- Different Perspectives on the Same Disease - Fragmented Selves in "The Yellow Wall-Paper" and The Bostonians
- Sane Femininity according to a Nineteenth Century Worldview
- Patriarchal Diagnosis and Cure
- Medical Diagnosis, Male Anxiety and the Rest Cure in "The Yellow Wall-Paper"
- Male Anxieties and the Silencing Cure in The Bostonians
- Women's Hushed Voices
- The Female Self Torn between Imperatives and Desires in "The Yellow Wall-Paper"
- Incomplete Female Selves in The Bostonians
- The Unreliable Narrator – A Third Perspective?
- 'Together they would be complete' – Female Self-therapy in “The Yellow Wallpaper” and The Bostonians
- Discovery of the Other Self in "The Yellow Wall-Paper"
- Seizure of the Missing Self in The Bostonians
- Dubious Victory in "The Yellow Wall-Paper"
- Triumph in Disguise in The Bostonians
- Conclusion
Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)
This thesis examines the motif of the double in Charlotte Perkins Gilman's "The Yellow Wall-Paper" and Henry James's The Bostonians, focusing on how female characters navigate patriarchal constraints and express their stifled desires. It analyzes the ways in which societal expectations and medical diagnoses shape female identity and lead to a sense of fragmentation. The thesis further explores how these women utilize the motif of the double as a form of self-therapy, creating alternative selves to achieve self-expression and liberation.
- The motif of the double in 19th-century literature
- The portrayal of women's fragmented selves under patriarchal constraints
- The concept of "rest cure" and its impact on women's mental health
- Women's struggle for self-expression and voice in a patriarchal society
- The use of the double as a form of self-therapy and rebellion
Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)
Introduction: This introductory chapter sets the stage by examining the prevalence of duality in 19th-century literature and society, particularly the rigid gender roles and the resulting anxieties surrounding the emerging "new woman." It introduces Gilman's "The Yellow Wall-Paper" and James's The Bostonians as texts that explore these themes through the motif of the double, highlighting the women's attempts to navigate patriarchal constraints and find their voices.
The Motif of the Double in Literature: This chapter provides a comprehensive overview of the literary motif of the double, tracing its historical development and exploring its diverse forms and functions. It lays the groundwork for understanding how this motif manifests in the chosen texts and serves as a tool for exploring the complexities of female identity and self-discovery under patriarchal constraints.
Different Perspectives on the Same Disease - Fragmented Selves in "The Yellow Wall-Paper" and The Bostonians: This chapter delves into the societal and medical perspectives on women's challenges. It explores how the "rest cure" and similar treatments are portrayed in the chosen texts and how they reveal the anxieties of the male-dominated medical establishment. It shows how these perspectives shaped the female characters’ self-perception and fostered feelings of fragmentation, and how those feelings are expressed.
'Together they would be complete' – Female Self-therapy in “The Yellow Wallpaper” and The Bostonians: This chapter examines the women's unconscious self-therapy through the lens of the double. It analyzes how the repressed desires and ambitions of the female protagonists manifest as alter egos, allowing them to rebel against their societal roles and find a measure of self-expression and agency. It differentiates between the outcomes of their self-therapy across the two works.
Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)
Female doubles, 19th-century literature, patriarchy, gender roles, "The Yellow Wall-Paper," The Bostonians, fragmented self, rest cure, self-therapy, female voice, hysteria, "new woman," literary motif.
Frequently Asked Questions: Analysis of the Motif of the Double in "The Yellow Wallpaper" and *The Bostonians*
What is the main focus of this academic text?
This thesis analyzes the motif of the double in Charlotte Perkins Gilman's "The Yellow Wall-Paper" and Henry James's *The Bostonians*. It examines how female characters navigate patriarchal constraints, express stifled desires, and experience fragmented selves due to societal expectations and medical diagnoses (like the "rest cure"). The text also explores how the motif of the double functions as a form of self-therapy for these women, enabling self-expression and a path towards liberation.
What are the key themes explored in the analysis?
Key themes include the motif of the double in 19th-century literature, the portrayal of women's fragmented selves under patriarchy, the impact of the "rest cure" on women's mental health, the struggle for self-expression and voice in a patriarchal society, and the use of the double as a form of self-therapy and rebellion.
Which literary works are analyzed in this text?
The primary focus is on Charlotte Perkins Gilman's short story "The Yellow Wall-Paper" and Henry James's novel *The Bostonians*. Both texts are examined through the lens of the motif of the double and its implications for female identity and agency in the 19th century.
How is the motif of the double defined and discussed in this text?
The text provides a comprehensive overview of the literary motif of the double, tracing its historical development and exploring its diverse forms and functions. It then applies this understanding to analyze how the motif manifests in "The Yellow Wall-Paper" and *The Bostonians*, showcasing its role in exploring the complexities of female identity and self-discovery under patriarchal constraints.
What is the role of the "rest cure" in the analysis?
The analysis explores how the "rest cure," a common treatment for women's mental health issues in the 19th century, is depicted in the chosen texts. It investigates how this treatment reflects the anxieties of the male-dominated medical establishment and how it shaped the female characters' self-perception, often leading to feelings of fragmentation.
How does the text discuss female self-therapy?
The text examines how the female protagonists in both works utilize the double as a form of unconscious self-therapy. It analyzes how repressed desires and ambitions manifest as alter egos, allowing the women to rebel against societal roles and achieve a degree of self-expression and agency. The text also compares and contrasts the outcomes of this self-therapy in both "The Yellow Wall-Paper" and *The Bostonians*.
What are the chapter summaries provided in the text?
The text includes summaries for an introduction, a chapter on the motif of the double in literature, a chapter comparing the fragmented selves in both texts, a chapter on female self-therapy in the works, and a conclusion. Each summary briefly outlines the content and focus of the corresponding chapter.
What are the key words associated with this analysis?
Key words include: Female doubles, 19th-century literature, patriarchy, gender roles, "The Yellow Wall-Paper," *The Bostonians*, fragmented self, rest cure, self-therapy, female voice, hysteria, "new woman," and literary motif.
- Arbeit zitieren
- Eva Maria Krehl (Autor:in), 2008, ‘Together they would be complete’ Female Doubles in C. P. Gilman’s “The Yellow Wall-Paper” and H. James’s "The Bostonians", München, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/117846
