Independence of Women Literature changes throughout many years. Each time period has characteristics that change the way people think and behave. One way literature changed the world was through the role of women. Realism created the thought that women could become independent which turned into the modernist time period where women did become independent and that people were okay with it. The role of women did change through realism and modernism.
A story that was written during the realism time was “A New England Nun” by Mary Wilkins Freeman. Freeman was involved in a reluctant relationship with her husband for many years, but she could not leave him because women were to obey their men and stay committed and loyal to them. Mary’s husband…show more content… Hurston was a civil rights activist and was very passionate about her independence. Hurston was married to a man and later divorced him and wrote “The Gilded Six-Bits” to show forgiveness towards him. This story is about a colored husband and wife that approach to severe problems with their marriage. The husband, Joe, wants his wife, Missy May, to know that the owner of the ice cream store is a very wealthy man. Missy May does not believe Joe so he takes her to the store multiple times to show her the man is rich. Later on in the story, Joe comes home to find Missy May in bed with the ice cream shop owner. The wife gives the excuse that he has the money and that she valued that more than her own marriage. Joe is very upset and disappointed but decides to stay with Missy May because he loves her so much. The role of women definitely changed in this story because the woman chose what she wanted to do, even if it went against being loyal and committed to her husband. In a way, she was independent, not in a good way, and slept with a man to be delighted with his money. The role of women was slowly starting to change from year to year and this story proves
