Both stories show that the common view of marriage included an authoritarian husband who exercised control over his spouse, thus leaving their wives in a role similar to that of a prisoner or a slave. This rather traditional view of marriage viewed women as obedient subordinates who would not dare not conform, for fear of being mocked or punished. We can see this "helpless woman" stereotype in "The Story of an Hour" when Mrs. Mallard, who, after overcoming the initial shock of her husband's death, began to say "Free! Free body and soul! (Chopin). This shows that after years of being under her husband's control, Mrs. Mallard was finally able to live the way she wanted, without having to listen to anyone. However, this freedom is short-lived as Mr. Mallard returns home, clearly not deceased. This shock of having her newfound freedom snatched away so quickly led Mrs. Mallard to die of what was likely a heart attack, wrongly described as a “joy that kills” (Chopin) by doctors. Likewise, "The Yellow Wallpaper" depicts a similar marriage dynamic in which the husband is in power (which is explored in detail in the answer to the first question). John, the narrator's wife, makes