Comparing The Yellow Wallpaper And Sonny's Blues

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“The Yellow Wallpaper” and “Sonny’s Blues”.

In the readings “The Yellow Wallpaper” and “Sonny’s Blues” they both have a common theme along the lines of oppression. Although Gilman’s “The Yellow Wallpaper” and Baldwin’s “Sonny’s Blues” both explore the identity of self-expression, a search for the oppression of women in the late nineteenth century, the authors use the characterization of each point of view to show how each character overcomes their struggles for autonomy, growth and a good mental state. The oppression of women is shown in both stories. For example, in “The Yellow Wallpaper” the protagonist was confined to a room in a colonial mansion, where she was isolated by the outside world due to her husband, who thinks he knows what is …show more content…
Secondly, “The Yellow Wallpaper” and “Sonny’s Blues” both explore female identity in different ways that relate back to the oppression of women. In “The Yellow Wallpaper” the use of self-suppression and identity loss is used when the protagonist slowly loses her sense of self as she is confined to the room and forced to rest. The wallpaper then becomes a symbol of her own identity, later on she starts to slowly obsess over it and her sanity becomes removed. “I've got out at last.in spite of you and Jane. And I've pulled off most of the paper, so you can't put me back!” The protagonist shows her rebellion against societal expectations to reclaim her identity. In “Sonny’s Blues” the identity through artistic expression is shown in the main character when he finds his identity and purpose through music. He has a passion for jazz and because of this passion it provides an outlet for self-expression and allows him to explore his individuality even in the face of societal pressures or constraints. “I realized that Sonny was waiting for me to listen, to give me a chance to come into his life.” The narrator shows the importance of engaging with Sonny’s identity. This also demonstrates the exploration of Sonny’s
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Comparing Sonny's Blues And The Yellow Wallpaper

“Sonny’s Blues” by James Baldwin and “The Yellow Wallpaper” by Charlotte Perkins Gilman are two stories that reveal the consequences to individual suffering. These consequences include estranging relationships, bitter behavior, and even illness, addiction, or death. Throughout each of these stories, Sonny and John’s wife, known as the narrator of “The Yellow Wallpaper”, continue to suffer due to John’s and Sonny’s brother’s, known as the narrator of “Sonny’s Blues”, failure to meet obligations and…

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