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Hamille Yamamoto Seventeen Syllables Summary

Decent Essays

Hamdi Fiqi
Professor: Kristina Popiel
ENGL 3006W
21 August 2016
Comparison of two mothers
This paper will compare and contrast Anna and Tome, the two main characters in the stories of “Seventeen Syllables” by Hisaye Yamamoto and “Yonnondio From The Thirties” by Tillie Olsen. Anna and Tome portray similarities and differences in many ways. Both Anna and Tome similarities include tolerating the horrible act of their husbands and not standing up for themselves. Both of these ladies lack self-worth for themselves because they withstand abuse. Anna and Tome took care of their children and worked beside their husbands on isolated farms, both Anna and Tome had little time to develop friendships with other women. The only people of the same sex they …show more content…

Olsen stated “Father abuses the mother, and both at times abuse or neglect the children (Olsen xv). As poor Anna stays home all day watching the kids and waiting for her husband to come home, Jim comes home unhappy and abuse the kids and Anna. The reason why Jim comes home agitated and unhappy is because he works all day at a job he doesn't enjoy working at and struggles financially. There was also times when Jim raped Anna while she was sick and not herself. “The climax of this abuse comes when Jim rapes his sick and exhausted wife” ( Olsen xiv). This statement describes that Anna was not feeling well and wasn't sexually active. However, Jim being an abusive man he did not consider his wife’s emotions and forcefully raped her even though she did not approve or give consent of his actions. Although Anna is facing many issues, she pays no attention to the abuse she encounters with her husband since she does want it to affect and take a toll on her family. Even when she is the most sick and is not feeling well she feels the need to pull it together and be the best she can be for her family. The only time Jim was feeling sincere towards Anna was when she was really sick and he tried to have her rest. Anna reponse back “Don’t touch me! And who’s to cook and clean and look after the kids if I’m in bed? Who? The servants?” (Olsen 129). Anna knew it is her responsibility …show more content…

Each character faced challenges, Both of the mothers in the stories were abused by their husbands. They have both undergone dramatic life events such as losing child prematurely. The girls witnessed their mother's being unhappy with their lives and their fathers spending most of their time degrading their wives and abusing them emotionally and physically. Anna and Tome both valued the importance of education and they both encourage their kids to be educated because they know a person with education will never be dependent on anyone else but themselves. The difference between the two mothers is that Anna was more poor and lacked education when compared to Tome. Overall both narratives depicted some of the trials and conflicts women endure and go through in order to take good care of their

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