Barbara Angelis said: “Women need real moments of solitude and introspection to balance the part of themselves we give” ( Angelis, BrainyQuote). This statement reflects the theme of isolation and how one can truly understand oneself through introspection and time spent in solitude. In the short stories “The Yellow Wallpaper” by Charlotte Perkins Gilman and “A Rose for Emily” by William Faulkner, both female protagonists experience a period of seclusion leading to self-realization. Therefore, these two literary works illustrate the problems of women in a male-dominated society. As a result, both characters experience oppression from dominant male influences and are isolated physically and emotionally. “A Rose for Emily” and “The Yellow Wallpaper” are set in a time that favors male hierarchy and orders women by implying inferiority. In "A Rose for Emily", the male is depicted as very powerful and dominant, and in Emily's case, it is her father. There is a brief description of him next to Emily that the narrator reveals: "Miss Emily, a slender figure in white in the background, her father a sprawling figure in the foreground, his back to her and holding a riding crop, both boxes. through the front door folded backwards” (Faulkner, 142). This imagery of the father with the whip next to a fragile Emily against a white background helps the reader visualize the controlling nature of their relationship. In the same way, “The Yellow Wallpaper” reflects the inequalities that exist between men and women, the mistreatment and the lack of respect that women receive from society. However, women's discrimination is seen as a "condition" through the eyes of the narrator. So she begins to believe...... middle of paper......te when it comes to emotions and each of the female characters are the product of male influences and much of their rage is intertwined with occasional feelings of love due to their lack of self-recognition. In conclusion, the two female protagonists of “A Rose for Emily” and “The Yellow Wallpaper” experience oppression from the dominant men in their lives, which ultimately leads them to be physically isolated from their contemporary world. . Thus, their isolation causes them to experience confusion and suffocating emotions, while teaching them more about themselves and their inner thoughts. Works Cited Angelis, Barbara De. "Quote by Barbara De Angelis." BrainyQuote. Xplore and Web. March 10, 2014. .Faulkner, William. A rose for Emily. Handout. Gilman, Charlotte Perkins. Yellow wallpaper. Handout.