Gender Inequality Representation in O. Henry’s Short Stories

Abstract

This research focuses on analysing the representation of gender inequality in O. Henry’s short stories entitled “The Last Leaf” (1905) and “The Trimmed Lamp” (1906). In the form of qualitative research, this research aims to reveal how the gender inequality notion gets represented in both short stories dialogue and narrative using Stuart Hall’s representation theory and Mary Wollstonecraft’s liberal feminism. The gender inequality issues in American society have been a long-standing phenomenon, which unfortunately mostly happens to women. Some prevalent gender inequality issues can be found in both short stories, such as women's opportunities struggle, women valued based on appearance, women needing to be submissive and dependent, and women being considered as weaker than men. Both short stories delivered these gender inequality aspects through the representation of the dialogue and the characters within both short stories. It is revealed that O. Henry’s short stories of “The Last Leaf” (1905) and “The Trimmed Lamp” (1906) deliver the gender inequality issue within the created social spheres, which may reflect the real-life social conditions around the author. The gender inequality notions found in both short stories may be influenced by the women's suffrage movement that happened in the late 1800s. This social event only makes the issue of gender inequality of women more relevant and prominent to be discussed. The capitalist system of society, which created the toxic relation of power and knowledge in social spheres, and the influence of patriarchal beliefs also took part in what makes the gender inequality notions present in O’ Henry’s short stories.