Marriage and Roles of Women in the Family Portrayed in Mrs. Mallard’s and Mrs. Pontellier

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Family as an Institution
The concept of family has been viewed and analyzed from different perspectives across diverse societies all over the world. Most scholars define a family as an entity to different people, in different localities at different periods. The many story books published by Kate Chopin's have led to her classification as a renowned feminist. However, in her novel The Story of an Hour and also in The Awakening, and Selected Short Stories, she addresses various concepts and concerns on family as an institution. According to the traditional perspective of family institution, women have been considered as unique and having an identity with regard to other family members. This essay discusses marriage and the roles of women in the family as portrayed in the two novels by Mrs. Mallard’s and that of Mrs. Edna Pontellier.
In the recent times, family unions do not form necessary part of life and some are even perpetuated for purposes such as financial gain. For instance, a spouse marries a partner just to gain the financial benefits that accrue as a result of the marriage. Such marriages do not last and may eventually end up in divorce or separation. According to Andersen and Howard, this is connected to emotions and freedom exercised between family members and the rest of the society. Majority of researchers understanding and perception towards the family as an institution has varied from time to time. Like Mallard who is portrayed as being confined to various ways and opinions to family issues including home chores, marriage life and other people. Research has indicated that from the 1970s to the late 1990s divorce rates raised while marriage rates fell in European countries. Trends in gender and family relations are also reported to have increased tolerance for divorce, non marital cohabitation and unmarried parenthood (Andersen and Howard 421).
According to the Social exchange theory, a society is comprised of a combination of families which are interconnected and present interactions between the members. Both nuclear and extended family typologies serve to socialize its members into the ideology of capitalism while working towards meeting their social needs as they undertake their social roles in the society (Andersen and Howard 419). In this case, family members attempt to increase rewards as a result of these interactions while reducing the costs gained. Past scholars have argued that the meaning and understanding of family institution are based on daily activities performed by different personalities. Parents should, therefore, utilize this formula for measuring choice making processes to their partners, children and other family members. More so, Edna Pontellier is viewed and understood as a numbing housewife with the behavioral protagonist but later transforms her life hence people accepting and adoring her in the society. According to researchers, dependency versus independence is another important factor for consideration pertaining growth and development of the family unit. Parents should be taught and encouraged on how to become independent after marriage while they remain dependant during initial stages. It is the duty of parents or caretakers to nurture ...