Comparative Essay - Theme and Characterization

ÐŽ§The Last LeafЎЁ by O. Henry and ÐŽ§The Yellow WallpaperЎЁ by Charlotte Perkins Gilman are essentially two very different pieces of writing when looked at from a perspective on story style. However, that is not the aspect we are focusing on. In terms of both storiesÐŽ¦ theme and characterization method, the themes are actually quite similar with some differences but the characterization process is very different, except for the antagonists. In the following paragraphs, here are the main points and elements I will address. I will talk about the similarities and show evidence regarding the themes of the role of women and science versus faith; how women repression plays a big role in the themes as well as faith prevailing against science. I will also talk about how the characterization methods are vastly different for the protagonists and antagonists in both stories, a comparison between Johnsy as the protagonist and the actual narrator as a protagonist as well. Minor characters will also be thoroughly discussed, such as the indirect characterization of the Doctor in ÐŽ§The Last LeafЎЁ when put next to Jennie from ÐŽ§The Yellow WallpaperЎЁ.

I will now talk about the similarities regarding the theme ÐŽ§role of womenЎЁ in both stories. In one of the scenes from ÐŽ§The Last LeafЎЁ, there is a particular phrase from the Doctor in the story to Johnsy when she is sick- and I quote, ÐŽ§Paint? - bosh! Has she anything on her mind worth thinking twice - a man for instance?ЎЁ This sentence quite simply implies the fact that men are important, and that painting is considered foolish. An ulterior meaning could be the fact that itÐŽ¦s trying to say that men is superior to women. Other possible evidence supporting this could be the fact that Sudie (the only other woman in the story) is portrayed as someone taking care of things and the chores around the household, perhaps showing qualities of a housewife.

In ÐŽ§The Yellow WallpaperЎЁ, it is almost a mirror image of this discrimination against women except when it gets out of hand; turning into a repression and a form of control. In the story, John the husband and physician is constantly condescending and patronizing to the narrator, belittling her in many cases. Here is one example from the text, ÐŽ§Then he took me in his arms and called me a blessed little goose, and said he would go down cellar, if I wished, and have it whitewashed into the bargain.ЎЁ Once again, it implies the men > woman superior factor. Also, the story portrays womenÐŽ¦s role at home, taking care of the baby and such, similar to Sudie in ÐŽ§The Last LeafЎЁ. Both stories have a theme revolving around womenÐŽ¦s discrimination and repression, especially relating to the two protagonists in the story.

However, there are also some differences in the ÐŽ§womenÐŽ¦s roleЎЁ theme. Firstly, while the narrator from ÐŽ§The Yellow WallpaperЎЁ is repressed and controlled by her husband, Johnsy and Sudie only suffer from slight sexual discrimination. The narrator is a housewife either way, even if she gets better from her sickness. Johnsy and Sudie arenÐŽ¦t and wonÐŽ¦t necessarily become housewives; they paint and they have a future career. The narrator suffers from her husband but Johnsy and Sudie are looked down upon in general; in work or among other things. A main difference between both characters and ultimately the theme is that the narrator from ÐŽ§The Yellow WallpaperЎЁ is obedient yet possesses an inner desire for freedom; we can see this in what she says, ÐŽ§Personally, I disagree with their ideas.ЎЁ, ÐŽ§Personally, I believe that congenial work, with excitement and change, would do me good. But what is one to do?ЎЁ, and ÐŽ§I sometimes fancy that in my condition if I had less opposition and more society and stimulusÐŽXbut John says the very worst thing I can do is to think about my condition, and I confess it always makes me feel bad.ЎЁ Meanwhile, Johnsy and Sudie arenÐŽ¦t controlled and they indeed are ambitious - quoting Johnsy, "Sudie, someday I hope to paint the Bay of Naples.ЎЁ One story could be said to have the theme of repression of women while the other the theme of discrimination against women.

There are also a lot of similarities between both stories regarding the second major theme, ÐŽ§Science versus FaithЎЁ. However, I will first talk about the differences, weak as they may be.

In ÐŽ§The Yellow WallpaperЎЁ, there was actually no faith involved on a technical basis. Yet in ÐŽ§The Last LeafЎЁ, Johnsy put an incredible amount of faith, whether it was good or bad, on the leaf. In ÐŽ§The Yellow WallpaperЎЁ, science actually made the narrator worse, driving her to insanity and eventually to revealing her multiple personalities. In ÐŽ§The Last LeafЎЁ, science didnÐŽ¦t necessarily make her worse; it just failed to help improve her condition. What IÐŽ¦m trying to say is, ÐŽ§The Last LeafÐŽ¦sЎЁ theme could be that faith prevails against scientific judgment, and ÐŽ§The Yellow WallpaperÐŽ¦sЎЁ theme being simply that the scientific diagnosis and treatment was wrong.

As for the similarities, the theme for both stories could be that science may not always be right; it may not solve all of our lifeÐŽ¦s problems. Firstly, you can see that both doctors/physicians are sexist men. I may be playing on a stereotype, but usually men like that lean towards science rather than faith (in fiction anyways). Either way, they both have a firm and pure belief in science and no tolerance for faith whatsoever. However, they are both wrong at the end. John made a wrong diagnosis and gave her incorrect treatment, not knowing that the Narrator suffers from schizophrenia. As for the Doctor in ÐŽ§The Open WindowЎЁ, he gives a diagnosis and prediction from the wisdom he has gained from experience, even though it was relatively wrong. JohnsyÐŽ¦s life in actual fact depends on the leaf outside her window. Both women turned out exactly opposite of what both doctorsÐŽ¦ thought; JohnsyÐŽ¦s survival was unexplainable and the Narrator was driven to a point where she completely lost control.

The characterizations for the protagonists in both stories are very different. Once again, I will first address the similarities.

For Johnsy and Anon (the narrator), they both have some indirect characterization shown through their actions and the reactions of the other characters, as well as through speech as the protagonist and the dialogue between other people in the story. Also, Johnsy and the narrator are both characterized by the two authors as rounded characters in my opinion; they show many different traits and qualities, possessing a full