The theme of female oppression, and psychological impact of it are frequently seen in literature. In the short stories "The Yellow Wallpaper" by Charlotte Perkins Gilman, and "A Rose for Emily" by William Faulkner female oppression plays a major role in the out come of Emily, and the unnamed woman in the "Yellow Wallpaper". The oppression causes both of the women to become psychologically unstable, and are therefore looked down upon by society. When a person becomes unstable they are unfit to make their own decisions, and are unable to judge right from wrong.
             Prior to the twentieth century, men assigned women's roles. Although men determining women's behavior affected all women, mainly middle class women suffered. Men created an ideological prison that subjected and silenced women. Women were imprisoned in the home, much like a servant tending to the needs of the family. A reader may see that this idea is prevalent in both the "Yellow Wallpaper", and "A Rose for Emily".
             To an outsider, it might have appeared that Miss Emily grew up in the lap of luxury. However, it was a sad lonely existence, for her father ruled Emily's life, turning away every man the young girl had, he felt no one was good enough for her. So, the first thing Emily did after her father's death was to try and find a boyfriend. The man she met was named Homer Barron. Emily and Homer would go out driving together. Today our first assumption would be that he was her lover, but this was the small-town South, and another time. The townspeople assumed she had gotten married to Homer.
             Homer's role was simply that of a companion, filling a vacancy at Emily's side. But when Emily learned Homer was gay, she realized his presence would cause her to be pitied and laughed at. This she could not happen, so he had to go. So Emily went to her local pharmacy and purchased arsenic. Shortly after ...