Women s Representation Of Women By John Steinbeck And The...

Women in Society Society for a long time has made the women in its second best. In the past, maybe even today, women were told that they should marry successful men, have children, and be good housewives. Women are told to be â€Å"seen and not heard,† as if they were just an ornament to be on display. Sometimes in marriages, women are no more than property, they are expected to assume the identity of being just a wife. For some women, this destiny is known and understood, therefore these women use their womanhood to progress themselves into better suited situations, but for many others this way of life can be a challenge when there is a long for a different type of life outside of their constraints of marriage. Some women want to be free to†¦show more content†¦This bothers both Alice and Waythorn, but Waythorn wants Alice not to worry and forget about this whole ordeal, to his surprise she easily does (Wharton 1526-1527). This is the first instance were Waythorn realizes his wife seem to be easily controlled. Alice is willing to change her emotions for Waythorn at his request. This symbolizes Alice obedience to Waythorn and her wanting to please him even if she has to shed her identity to do so. Further into their marriage Waythorn has met both of Alice’s ex-husband (Haskett and Varick), and they begin to disrupt his simple life, and open up more knowledge about his wife. He further begins to realize that his wife seems to change to match her current husband. He realizes this about Alice when she mistakenly pours cognac in his coffee. Wharton adds, â€Å"It startled him to think that she had, in the background of her life, a phase of existence so different from anything with which had connected her† (1531).Waythorn start to feel troubled at the fact that Alice has held on to part of her life beyond him. She is expected to belong to him so the very thought of ownership being to another man makes him feel uneasy and maybe even disturbs his manhood. Later as the story progresses, Waythorn begin to come to terms that his wife is a combination of her past experiences, he even realizes that it is best because she is fully equipped with the skills to make him a happy man. Wharton states, â€Å"He even