19th Century Fiction: A Comparative Analysis of Women’s Oppression in the Stories of William Faulkner and Kate Chopin

Abstract

The subjugation of women, especially in the nineteenth century, has been attributed to many factors, but culture in particular. Regarding cultural norms and customs, there is much to venerate, protect, and value. Some gender norms and attitudes, however, can be exceedingly destructive. People are undermined, dehumanized, repressed, and destroyed. This study focuses on harmful gender practices that marginalize women, such as widow cleansing and young female initiation. This study examines how Kate Chopin and William Faulkner depict the oppression of women in their works. The notion that men are superior to women can be traced back to profoundly ingrained patriarchal customs, beliefs, and behaviours, and it continues to influence contemporary women. Some individuals who believe they are essential and superior continue to uphold discriminatory gender norms. Various women's organizations in Victoria are demanding and seizing the right to speak out against these practices. Some have written or spoken publicly about them, shattering the oppressive silence. The progress toward equality in civil societies, led by women's movements and solidarity organizations, demonstrates the networking of women in the more institutionalized political and social fields. In this context, the study investigates the various forms of oppression women face, how cultural practices have facilitated or exacerbated this oppression, etc. These accounts demonstrate the courage of the women who ventured to articulate their suffering.