Many intriguing characters in literature are conceived from the apprehension that women have encountered with men in the institution of marriage. Although represented differently, marriage is perceived as a constraint for the protagonists. This was presented very well in “The Way Up To Heaven”, written by Roald Dahl, which openly criticizes the accepted social roles of women in the mid-20th century, and in “The Story of an Hour” by Kate Chopin, which highlights the plight of women in the 19th century. This is not only depicted through the events of the stories, but also through how each protagonist evolves into a dynamic character. The two main characters in these stories show many similarities, but are also noticeably different in how they approach the problem of gaining independence. A vague but important point that can be noted in the opening paragraphs is that both women are described as fragile. . The protagonist of "The Way Up To Heaven" is a housewife, Mrs. Foster, who has "an almost pathological fear of missing a train, a plane, a boat or even a theater curtain." (page 1). Dahl sets up the story by introducing Mrs. Foster and her nervous character, then begins the next paragraph by saying, "It is truly extraordinary how in some people a simple apprehension about something like catching a train can develop into a serious obsession." (page 1). By comparison, in “The Story of an Hour,” Kate Chopin reveals a complex character who changes from “a woman suffering from heart problems” (p. 1) to “a goddess of Victory” (p. 3). The opening sentence of the story foreshadows the ending by suggesting that Mrs. Mallard's heart condition will affect the plot of the story. As the stories unfold, I discovered that Mrs. Foster's "fear of being late" (p. 1) and Mrs. Mallard's "heart trouble" (p. 1) may be the result of their reaction to their status inferior in a chauvinistic and chauvinistic environment. culture. As the protagonist of the story, Mrs. Foster is mentioned many times. However, Dahl never mentions his name in the story; he always refers to her as Mrs. Foster. Instead, she mentions her husband's full name as “Mr. Eugene Foster” (p. 1). By allowing us to see the protagonist only as Mrs. Foster, Dahl illustrates that women's social status was only seen through their husbands. Women had no role of their own. Dahl's seemingly small decision to exclude Ms.