Introduction
Literature is inspired by human experiences and emotions. This is evident in the various themes presented in such works. The themes used in literature enable an author to address or highlight issues, which might be observed or encountered in the society, causing the audience to think critically about the issue presented in the themes once they encounter various literary works. There are instances where literary works by different authors share a similar theme. This is evident in the analysis of the works The Secret Life of Walter Mitty’ by James Thurber and ‘I’m going’ by Bernard Tristan. The aforementioned works are instrumental in highlighting the theme of gender roles in marriage. The characters depicted in the literary works are instrumental in depicting the gender roles, which are experienced during marriage. Despite the similarity of the theme of gender roles in marriage between “the secret life of Walter Mitty” and “I’m going”, it is essential to compare and contrast the two works to comprehend the significance of this theme in the literary works.
It is apparent that genders roles are stereotypical in the society. This is evident with the man assuming the leadership role while the woman supports and complements the role of men. This means that the men make the crucial decisions in a marriage and consequently in the community while the women are more passive (Felski, 2003). The aforementioned literary works are instrumental in highlighting the different gender roles evident in the society and the marriage roles (Felski, 2003). Despite the differences in the form of the analyzed literary works with the “the secret life of Walter Mitty” being a short story while “I’m going” being a short play it is evident that the authors are successful in depicting the theme of gender roles in marriages effectively.
When exploring “the secret life of Walter Mitty”, it is evident that Mr. Mitty lives as two different individuals. The protagonist has a fantasy world where he is a hero while in reality; those he interacts with in the society push him around (Thurber, 2008). The protagonist only appears to exhibit the strength expected from men in the society as a leader and hero in the fantasy world, but he is unable to replicate these qualities in the real world (Felski, 2003). Mr. Mitty is depicted to be weak as compared to the expected societal norms on the gender role of a man in marriage.
When considering the second literary work “I’m going”, the play uses comedy to depict the roles in marriage based on the lives of a couple Henri and Jeanne. There is a conflict between the couple when Henri wants to watch horseracing. The wife Jeanne wants to accompany Henri to the horserace claiming neglect and boredom (Bernard, 2009). The couple finally resolves to follow their normal Sunday routine with the husband having his way.
The theme of gender roles is apparent in both works. The women in both works are depicted as strong willed, and women are able to influence the decisions affection their marriage, contrary to the stereotypical gender roles expected in the society. For instance, Mr. Mitty is happy to let his wife take the leadership role in the family while he adopts a passive role (Thurber, 2008). The husband obliges to participate in shopping errands a role associated with women. Jeanne also depicts leadership qualities when she questions the husband’s indulgence in horseracing. She is not afraid to express her displeasure over the issue (Bernard, 2009). This shows the shift in traditional gender roles, in both incidences.
Conclusion
Gender roles in marriage are a prominent theme in the aforementioned literary works. The works depict women as leaders contrary to the stereotypes present in the society concerning gender roles. The women in the literary works are proactive in matters concerning their marriages and do not shy from questioning the male authority evident in traditional gender roles. The literary works depict the empowerment of women in marriages.
References
Bernard T. (2009). I’m Going! : A Comedy in One Act.
Felski, R. (2003). Literature after feminism. University of Chicago
Press
Thurber, J. (2008). The secret life of Walter Mitty. Mankato, Minn: Creative
Education.
