Imagine living in a world where society is conceived to be perfect, but it is quite the opposite. In a dystopian setting, it analyzes realistic outcomes that are extremely unpleasant. Novels tend to be relatable and believable, creating an impact that causes the reader to feel a deep connection in the modern era. Commonly, dystopian novels have a ruling government that aggressively seeks to overpower and influence everything in order to put an end to rebellions. The government's ultimate goal is to try to dehumanize people as much as they can. Through Kurt Vonnegut’s well-known novel “Harrison Bergeron” and Charlotte Perkins Gilman’s “The Yellow Wallpaper”, both writers explained that they had opposing forces trying to control civilians by appointing their identities and roles.
Gilman set the story in the 19th century when discrimination and inequality still existed, whereas Vonnegut’s novel was set in the future. Within both of the short stories, “Harrison Bergeron” and “The Yellow Wallpaper”, the two main characters were negatively affected due to prescribed gender roles and restrictive societal norms. It goes without saying that stereotypical gender roles are one of the most important issues that we are facing today. Gender roles are known to be social roles encircling a field of behaviors and attitudes that are perceived as acceptable and appropriate for people based on their A.H 2sex. Through Gilman’s perspective in “The Yellow Wallpaper,” gender roles placed women in a disadvantaged position in the past. Female was considered unsophisticated and uneducated, whereas men were superior and dominant. This was exemplified by the mere fact that the narrator was kept anonymous throughout the novel despite being the protagonist.
Throughout the novel, the narrator is illustrated as both a wife and a mother who is suffering from postpartum depression, however, her neurologist husband diagnosed her with hysteria. As a result of her husband’s conclusion, the narrator develops an obsession with the complex details of the wallpaper on her bedroom wall. Initially, the husband was described as a man that did not acknowledge the possibility of his wife having a mental illness in spite of the numerous attempts that his wife made to explain this possibility to him. For instance, in agony, she states “John laughs at me about this wallpaper” (Gilman 803), indicating her awareness of the foolish image she portrays to her husband. In this case, it would be absurd for her to hold a conversation with him regarding the topic of her mental illness, much less persuade him to change his diagnosis of her, especially because he is, as described by the narrator, so wise and educated (Gilman 806). In relation to this story, “Harrison Bergeron” also faces a similar issue, although this short story reflects gender roles in the coming times. The short story focuses on a community in which its government aims to achieve equality among its citizens.
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The specific irony throughout the story was that those who appeared to be more knowledgeable than the rest were burdened with handicap bags to slow their abilities. As well, those who seemed more appealing, such as the ballerinas, were forced to wear a mask to conceal their beauty in order to be on a similar scale of beauty in comparison to others. Readers could examine two characters through a feminist lens: A.H 3Hazel Bergeron and Diana Moon Glamper. Harrison’s mother, Hazel Bergeron, was perceived as having “average intelligence” (cite), which is defined as being incompetent and unable to expand her thinking on an intellectual level. In contrast, her husband, George, was deemed brilliant as his intelligence was labeled as being greater than normal. However, not all women are portrayed as being disadvantaged or vulnerable. To be specific, Diana Moon Glampers represents a powerful and authoritative person, however, it is important to note that she did not identify as a woman. Rather, this character took on the role of a military leader that is regarded as masculine. Her authoritative position as a Handicapper General allows her to have ownership of a gun, which is not associated with feminine qualities. Overall this character contradicts the anti-female theme of this story.
In conclusion, it is important to recognize that gender roles have been a prevalent issue - both in the past, and present, and as written in Harrison Bergeron, it can be assumed that they will remain in the future as well. Men are deemed superior to women, and identifying as a male has many benefits and advantages that are lacking for females. (Tamana)There is a huge arrangement of enthusiasm for restrictive social norms as a result of the job that standards can play in supporting practices that are viewed as hazardous somehow or another, in 'Harrison Bergeron' and 'The Yellow Wallpaper' prohibitive social standards influence both of the fundamental characters negatively. at the point when an individual surrenders their basic beliefs and peculiarity to acclimate with what the social standard is, the individual can impact others around them. In the story, Harrison removes his impairments and it impacts the individuals around him to do likewise, for example, the ballet dancer and the A.H 4performers. In the two situations, when the individuals are presented with another pattern they wound up being constrained to pursue, along these lines making a domino impact. “‘If I tried to get away with it,' said George, 'then other people get away with it-and pretty soon we'd be right back to the dark ages again, with everybody competing against everybody else. You wouldn't like that, would you?’.” (Vonnegut),
The statement abridges that George accepts that the most ideal approach to life is through fairness and not the 'Dark Ages' since he is mentally programmed. This isn't accurate because, to be all equivalent, we would need to dispose of rivalry and anything that features our disparities. Society resembles a jail cell, detaining individuals as a result of the ethical contracts that they don't impart to the remainder of the world. The ethics that society can't help contradict are rejected and disregarded, shaping a dull open way that lone a couple of individuals are eager to take. Individuals in the general public are adapted to deduction in a specific way, this manner making a hindrance to innovativeness and society's run-of-the-mill traditions. In 'The Yellow Wallpaper,' Charlotte Perkins Gilman clarifies that society will power individuals to detain themselves on account of the social norm. Jane isn't permitted to convey what needs to be because John thinks it is ludicrous and he prefers not to have her compose even a solitary word. Jane wants to sneak her inventiveness around evening time when John isn't anywhere near, constraining herself to consistently strain her actual uniqueness. John's rules choke Jane day and night, compelling her to detain her emotions and conceal her actual character from the remainder of the world. Jane feels that she 'is as plain as can be' (Gilman) for she isn't permitted to indicate to humankind her maximum capacity in view of society's contorted ways. John speaks to the male society, all in all, A.H. 5 causing Jane to envision herself as the lady caught behind the backdrop on account of his severe guidelines. The 'frightful yellow wallpaper' symbolizes society's detestable, degenerate, contorted methods for choking out ladies of their actual characteristics. The unreasonable guidelines of being viewed as lower than men abide in Jane's psyche as she realizes that John isn't letting her be the inventive individual that she was destined to be. All in all, prohibitive social Standards give requests in the public eye, however, in this circumstance, social norms confined both primary characters contrarily in 'The Yellow Wallpaper' and 'Harrison Bergeron'. (Rahaf)As stated before, prescribed gender roles and restrictive societal norms affected the two main characters of “Harrison Bergeron” and “The Yellow Wallpaper” negatively. Prescribed gender roles In “The Yellow Wallpaper” were that gender roles placed on women caused a disadvantage in society, females were considered unsophisticated and uneducated, whereas men were superior and dominant, and in “Harrison Bergeron” those who seemed more appealing, such as ballerinas were forced to wear a mask to conceal their beauty in order to be on similar scale of beauty. Furthermore restrictive societal norms in “Harrison Bergeron” was that George accepted that the ideal way to live is through fairness since he is mentally programmed. As well in “The Yellow Wallpaper” society will power individuals to detain themselves on account of the social norm, the main character had to sneak around to express herself, and with reasons, it is clear that restrictive societal norms and prescribed gender roles affect the main character negatively.
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