How are women presented in these texts? The role of women in literature can vary throughout the time periods in which The Necklace 1884 France, The Story of an hour 1894 United-States of America, and Still I rise 1978 United-States of America were written, and the difference of laws in the countries in which the texts were written. The necklace 1884 Mathlide Loisel spends her days fantasising that her life is more glamorous and upmarket than it actually is, this leads to the relentless pursuit of superficial status and material wealth and how it will shape and devastate a woman’s identity. This is evident when Guy de Maupassant uses language deliberately to expose the protagonist’s inner turmoil, and her desperate yearning for social validation; as “she would have given anything to be popular, envied, attractive, and in demand”. The phrase “would have given anything” employs the modal verb “would” suggesting a conditional and almost sacrificial desire for quality of life. The hyperbolic pronoun “anything” intensifies her longing for wealth, and implying a cost to attain some of her desired superficial qualities in the list “popular, envied, attractive, and in demand”, the use of parallel structure with each adjective reinforces the societal traits which she craves. In 19th century France women were expected to be risqué, ravishing, as well as cooks and cleaners, nothing more. Maupassant also uses rhythmic buildup to immerse the reader in her obsessive pursuit of traits she deems desirable, and as Mathlide’s envy began to unfurl as soon as she saw the necklace in Madame Forstier’s home and “her heart began to beat with immediate desire”, the phrase “began to beat” personifies her heart, transforming a physical reaction into a metaphor for overwhelming emotional urgency. The adverb “immediate” further re-affirms the point of the pursuit of material wealth, Maupassant weaponises the active verb ‘began’ drawing the reader in to the immediacy of her experience and places the bridge and the gap between yearning and tangible response. Maupassant was set against the rigid social hierarchies in 19th century France, he critiques the superficial values at the time, but most importantly, Maupassant intends not only to narrate a personal tragedy but to challenge his readers to reconsider the true cost of materialistic pursuits as the necklace was “but 500 francs” and the inherent value of authentic self-worth. The necklace was written in 1884, the same year in which divorce was re-instated in France, at any given moment in the ten years she could’ve ridden her debt by divorcing her husband, yet she chose not to, this shows a psychological devolpment in Mathlide, as she realised that material wealth is not the only thing that matters in life. For now women are presented as envious and jealous creatures. The story of an hour 1894 Kate Chopin’s Story of an hour explores Louises Mallard’s journey through societal constraints, demonstrating how oppresive roles can shape a woman’s identity. This is clear when Chopin uses language and structure techniques to emphasize louise’s internal turmoil and momentary liberation. “Free, free, free”, this is the first moment since birth in which a man hasn’t controlled her, miss Mallard was free. Louise was made to be bellitled, not allowed to work, not allowed to express emotions, and most importantly she could not leave her abusive marriage. Chopin uses alliteration to create a rythmic effect that reflects her joy. Chopin’s deliberate repetition demonstrates the intensity of her glee, building momentum as Loise begins to envision a future unshackled by a man, no father, no husband, no children to ever bother her, she could do as she pleases, the adjective “free” further re-iterates her absolved sense of self, Chopin structures this phrase right after her initial grief, the stark contrast between the weight of death and newfound freedom leading to a joy, “the joy that kills” While “joy” typically connotes images of celebration and positivity, Chopin juxtaposes it with the fatal consequence of death. This deliberate contrast envokes the reader to question what truly “kills” the soul, the overwhelming freedom or the abrupt return to oppressive norms. Kate Chopin an avid feminist intentended the story of an hour to illuminate a path to change, a path to a better world for not only women but all the oppressed by the patriarchal ideologies at the time. One might say, she succeded The story of an hour was written in 1894, at the time and in the country in which the text was written, women could not get divorces yet in the two other stories they could, this shows a significant change in patriarchal ideologies across countries and eras, women in 1894 were presented as weak and pliant creatures that could only care for childre, cook and clean. Chopin is an outlier. So far women are greedy, and weak creatures across poetry and prose. Still I rise Maya Angelou lived through some of the worst oppression and inequality for African American people. Although slavery had been long abolished, Angelou saw its effects on society and the African-American people. Still I Rise is her declaration that she, for one, would not allow the hatefulness and bitterness trod her in the dirt, because “like dust, I’ll rise”. “I rise, I rise, I rise” every time Angelou wrote “I rise” she overcame a major challenge in her life, whether that be her ravishment at the age of 7, or her idol Dr. King, being assassinated mere days before their meeting, Angelou overcame all of her challenges and serves as an inspiration to us all. This is re-iterated through the repetition of “I rise” as it acts as a resounding anthem of empowerment, emphasizing persistence and the inevitability of overcoming adversity. Angelou places it at the end of the poem putting the final nail in the coffin to the people who “trod me in the dirt, but still like dust ill rise”, the simile “like dust” evokes imagery of something both persistent and indestructible as dust may be brushed aside but inevitably returns, further linking to the in. The choice of “rise” conveys a sense of ascension and transcendence, as though she elevates herself above the forces attempting to suppress her. Even then “you may write me down in history with your bitter, twisted lies” yet she will always spit on the face of adversity as she will always adress her problems, she also uses direct address “you may write me down” confronts oppressors head on, establishing a defiant tone. The adjectives “bitter” and “twisted” evoke visceral negativity, condemning the distortions of truth and the historical injustices inflicted on marginalized groups such as women and the African-American community. The phrase suggests that despite false narratives, resilience and truth will endure. Angelou was sexually assaulted at the age of 7 leading to her mutism, but she found solace in the English langauge especially in poetry and prose wrote Still I rise to be a beacon towards hope, a beacon towards woman and children, to persevere, to be resillient, and to Rise above it. She does this by weaving vivid imagery and empowering repetition into her poem while confronting societal inequities. Angelou advocates for the reclamation of dignity and truth, using her poetry as a beacon of hope and resistance. Written during the Civil Rights Movement, Still I Rise speaks to the historical and ongoing struggles of Black individuals, particularly women, against racial and gender-based discriminatoin. Women in poetry and prose have been described as greedy, trapped, and also resillient, these definitions are so polarizing because, across the texts of story of an hour, the necklace and still I rise, each protagonist has one thing that the other two desire, in story of an hour Louise craves freedom, which the other two have, yet if we isolate each individual text, women will do anything they need to acomplish their goal. Dying of the joy that kills to leave her abusive marriage, writing to overcome adversity and racism, experiencing true wealth for just one day. There is no set way to describe women in poetry and prose but if I were, it would be relentless.