Topic > The characterization of the female protagonists in "Thank You Ma'am" and "Story of an Hour"

Through the stories “Thank You Ma'am” by Langston Hughes and “Story of an Hour” by Kate Chopin, the authors use many exceptional techniques to characterize both main female protagonists. In “Thank You Ma'am” Langston describes Mrs. Louella Bates Washington Jones with a mainly indirect characterization as opposed to Chopin, who characterizes mainly with a direct characterization. Overall, Hughes describes Mrs. Jones as a strong-willed, obnoxious, and individualistic woman. However, despite all these particular qualities, she remains sympathetic. Mrs. Mallard, however, is highlighted as disoriented, feeble-minded, and the exact opposite of emotionally well-balanced. From the numerous techniques with which the authors portray the aforementioned female protagonists through facets of characterization, this makes it evident that both characters are highlighted as emotionally contained, independence-focused, and disoriented. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original Essay The author explains how Mrs. Jones “…just turned around and kicked him in his sitter in blue jeans,” and later Mrs. Jones…Jones explains “I was young once and I wanted things I couldn't get"; By having these tone transitions build the image of Louella as unsympathetic, but still sympathetic. Since these two qualities are essentially contradictory, the author characterizes Louella as disoriented. Although a person may retain the qualities of dislike and understanding, these are quite opposite characteristics by definition. Similarly, Chopin states “Mrs. Mallard immediately cried with a sudden, paralyzed inability to accept the meaning of her husband's death, then later describes how she suddenly realized she was "free, free, free!" Although some may dispute that these two characters are static, these examples demonstrate that the characters are, in fact, dynamic characters Louella's change of heart in terms of Roger's perception and Mrs. Mallard's revelation of her newfound independence are twists that indicate this. the character's disoriented mental and/or emotional state and their qualifications to be dynamic characters. Louella's heartfelt breakdown towards Roger from her past and Mrs. Mallard's sudden emotional breakdown brought on by the discovery of her pristine independence highlight the qualities of the characters. two characters of being emotionally contained. Both Hughes and Chopin create this sudden explosion of emotional release; this situational irony must be caused by the character's previous bottling of his emotions. The two female characters show how they focus on independence as Mrs. Louella remains hidden throughout the scene where Roger tries to steal her purse, and Mrs. Mallard finds her independence and is traumatized. Mrs. Jones' handling of the situation, without attempting to ask for help (which would be the reaction of most women in this situation) demonstrates her independence and her strong will to remain independent. Please note: This is just an example Get a custom article from our expert writers now. Get a Custom Essay Across these dimensions of characterization, the authors highlighted the two female protagonists as perplexed, rounded, dynamic, independence-centered, and emotionally reticent. Although the two different authors portray their particular female protagonist with two different types.