Because writing is inherently romantic in nature, throughout the history of literature, we see many authors' insights into the enigmatic and often ambiguous subject of love and relationships. Three short stories penned by three separate American writers deal with such matter: Charlotte Perkins Gillman in "The Yellow Wallpaper", Kate Chopin in "The Storm", and Nathaniel Hawthorne in "Young Goodman Brown." Though the relationships presented in each of these stories are unique in their own persuasion, the same underlying theme runs true in all. At first glance all of these relationships may appear healthy in their existence; however, further introspection uncovers specific maladies which I believe elicit much of the discord which arises within each of these writings. All of the husbands in the aforementioned short stories evoke, though some more subtly than others, varying degrees of conflict.

Gillman's "The Yellow Wallpaper" is a story pertaining to, and narrated by, a women suffering from depression after the recent birth of a child. Although the name of the women in the story is never revealed, many believe this is short story is an excerpt from the author's life. Much of the

Similar conflict is also found in Chopin's short work "The Storm". However, the disharmony does not manifest itself in such an apparent fashion as witnessed in "The Yellow Wallpaper". "The Storm" takes place in New Orleans and deals with the controversial issue of infidelity. Here again we can attribute a substantial portion of the stories conflict to the husband, Bobinot, who seems almost indifferent to his wife Calixta. In the opening of the short story by Chopin we find Bobinot and his son, Bibi, sitting in front of a local store where they notice a storm of impending detriment drawing near. Bobinot's lack of concern rears its proverbial head when Bibi draws attention to the fact that Calixta is at home alone. "'Mama'll be 'fraid, yes," he suggested with blinking eyes. "She'll shut the house. Maybe she got Sylvie helpn' her this evenin', Bobinot responded reassuringly.'" (Chopin 645). Bobinot seems to have no sense of urgency where his wife's safety is involved, and the elusion becomes evident that their relationship falls considerably short of perfect. Further into the story we find this elusion becomes fact when Calixta indulges in an extramarital affair with a gentleman named Alcee. Chopin writes in her depiction of Calixta's affair that "Her firm elastic flesh that was knowing for the first time it's birthright", making it undoubtedly clear of the scarcity of passion that exists between Calixta and Bobinot (Chopin 647). In this case, Bobinot's apathetic position in his marriage prompted Calixta to seek passion and fulfillment in the arms of another man.

In the short story "Young Goodman Brown" by Nathaniel Hawthorne we again see the husband cast as the role of antagonist.

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Approximate Word count = 1141
Approximate Pages = 5 (250 words per page double spaced)