Unit One
Social Disparity
What is Social Disparity?
Also labeled as social inequality, it is a state of being different. This difference can come by age, race, class etc.... It can be a difference between countries, economies, or between two people. A more general way of illustrating social disparity would be to say, "I'm better than you. I have more money than you. I have more power than you. I am stronger than you." In the early part of the 1900s, social disparity was very distinguishable as there was a lower class and higher class, there was rich or poor, there was distinguished or undignified and if you didn't have money then you were nothing. There was a social expectation for women to marry wealthy and were cast out if they married anyone otherwise. Social Disparity was present in marriage as a woman was supposed to be agreeable at all times. This theme was present between men who work hard in the fields to no avail and men who find their wealth easily earned if not inherited and social disparity is witnessed among politics both past, present and most assuredly future.
Other literary themes arise while examining the unifying theme of social disparity. These themes or ideas include: Man vs. Society, Man vs. Man and Madness.
All themes are applicable and available in Unit One's short stories:
"Cannibalism in Cars" By Samuel Clemens
"Under the Lion's Paw" By Hamlin Garland
"The Yellow Wallpaper" By Charlotte Perkins Gilman
August 28th, 2014