Edna Pontellier/Lady Macbeth Comparison

First Lady Johnson once commented that the 1960’s was the first period in American history to offer women the same opportunities as men in utilizing their “abilities and intelligence.” It is a time in which women may become independent and self-sufficient. They no longer are bound solely to the roles of housewife and mother, but may explore the world of occupation and earn careers that were once only available to men. Certainly there is more …

…her talents to effective use in devising her plan and directing its operation. The presence of Edna Pontellier and Lady Macbeth in literature illustrates the gradual strides women have made throughout history in advancing the status of their gender. The roots of feminism lie in the accounts of ladies similar to Edna and Lady Macbeth and how their lives pave the way for future generations of women to further their rights while opposing gender inequality.