Story of an Hour/Woman in Econ./ Chores and Gender Roles (3/11)

The controversial short story “Story of an Hour,” by Kate Chopin, is about a woman feeling liberated after the new of the death of her husband. Mrs. Mallard is told that her husband has died in a train accident. She is then overwhelmed with feelings of relief. She feels liberated because she is no longer restricted to pleasing her husband. The life of a woman in these times meant that they had to stay home all day, care for their husbands when they were not at work, and cook and clean with such high expectations. “There would be no one to live for during those coming years; she would live for herself. There would be no powerful will bending hers in that blind persistence with which men and women believe they have a right to impose a private will upon a fellow-creature. A kind intention or a cruel intention made the act seem no less a crime as she looked upon it in that brief moment of illumination” (¶12). She can now be her own person. Then her husband walks through the door, which was never in the train accident. Mrs. Mallard had heart problems. Once she saw her husband, she died from a heart disease. The question to this story is if she died from sadness/happiness from seeing her husband, or if it was just from having a weak heart. This story was controversial because of the liberation she feels from her husband’s death. I think she dies from the excitement of seeing him again after the fact of the excitement from being liberated.

This also relates to the book Women and Economics – a Study of the Economic Relation between Men and Women as a Factor in Social Evolution is a book written by Charlotte Perkins Gilman. This book focuses on the roles of women, economic independence, and the improvement of motherhood, marriage, racial improvement, and domestic industry.  During this time period women wanted all these things, and sought out their rights as women and the right to vote.

Growing up I had chores, because as a growing child, and now an adult, I need to help contribute to the household, and learn life time skills, so that someday I can take care of myself. I think growing up everyone should have chores, but not so many that you are over working yourself. Every member in the household should contribute. Currently I have a set of chores that I need to do every week, on the weekends. I need to do the kitty litter, clean up any kitty related messes if needed, I need to keep my overall house hold sloppiness to a minimum, and I need to vacuum and dust. If my mom needs help with something of course I will help her. Her boyfriend usually does the trash, the dishes, the recycling, and the yard work. And when it is needed he mops and sweeps the Linoleum surfaces. I would say these are gender neutral and gender traditional. He does the more “dirty work” and I do the more clean stuff (excluding the litter box). If need be we will switch jobs, if one is not there to do them. In our house it is not a big deal about who does them, as long as they get done. 

Reflection (3/4)

During this unit I learned a little but more about myself. I learned that I really like having homework that is done on a blog. I liked making blogs to start with, so it made it easier to do. What was hard for me was the time management. Keeping up with 500 words once a week seemed so easy... until you get behind due to work, family, or studying for exams and other classes, which is more important (exams), but the homework still needs to get done! In English classes you need to keep up on your writing because it is good practice, and it helps you stay on track. Staying on track and practicing regularly, will make you a better writer. By having homework every week due on a blog is a great way to practice your writing.

What I learned about Reconstruction was not necessarily new, but a refresher in a way. I learned this stuff back in high school, but History doesn't stick with me that well. I like the Occurrence at Owl Creek short story by Ambrose Bierce. It touched on the relationship of the North versus the South, which was adverse. In the story Peyton, being a Confederate sympathizer, would do anything to help the South. He was tricked by a Union Scout to interfere with the North at Owl Creek Bridge, which lead to his death. This story shows the length many would go to help for their side of the war.

The Reconstruction Era followed the Civil War from 1865-1877 and focused on the freedoms and rights of slaves and of the reconstructed states in the South. Lincoln was the one to set reconstructed states in the South. He was the one who also made it so the slaves were free. The problems that arose after the slaves were free were because the free slaves had few rights, and no money to their name. The Government wanted to help them get jobs, money, homes, and education, which they did not have when they were slaves. Once they were free they had nothing, because they relied on their “owners” to provide for them. During the reconstruction era the free slaves were focused on, to improve their lives and their well-being.

Another aspect of Reconstruction was to being the South back into the Union. The people involved in the war took an oath of loyalty to the Union, which also pardoned their part in the war. Once this and the freed slaves were “fixed”, and after the assassination of Lincoln, Johnson took over. He thought that once the war was over, national unity, and the ending of slavery was achieved, that reconstruction was over. Republican did not agree and this enabled the Radical Republicans to remove power from former Confederates, and enfranchise the Freedmen. The Freedmen became second class citizens which wasn’t best. Many think that Reconstruction was a failure because of this and because poverty fell over a lot of citizens.

This is my summary what I learned about the Reconstruction Era, and I also think it was a partial failure. Changes that were made eventually had better results, but I think that the process could have been different and other changes would have helped the Reconstruction be more successful.