"The Yellow Wall-Paper" by Charlotte Perkins Gilman and "I Have a Dream" by Martin Luther King share many qualities. However, they differ from one another because of the situation they argue for. Gilman's story symbolizes the struggles a woman in the late 19th century went through. Furthermore, what was arguably King's most influential and powerful speech ever, discussed the principles in which the United States was built on, but yet in the mid- 20th century, still never abided by. Although separate times and different types of segregation affected them both, the bigger picture behind their metaphors deal with the importance of ending marginalized communities. The ideas of Charlotte Perkins Gilman and Martin Luther King Jr. are similar with their stance on equality, integration and freedom, but different in the approach they took to bring attention to their cause. 

Growing up in the late 19th century, Charlotte Perkins Gilman experienced a different lifestyle than of woman in present day. She was born on July 3, 1860 in Hartford Connecticut and went to The Rhode Island School of Design. After she graduated, Gilman took up writing and closely connected it with her beliefs in social activism. In 1884, she married Charles Stetson and had a daughter shortly after. During her marriage, Gilman went through severe depression which led to abnormal treatments that she had to go through. 

Although Gilman is best known for her writing, she was also an influential speaker. She spoke about women's rights and the need for equality. As a feminist, Gilman fought for women to gain equality and independence. In the 1900's, expressed her thoughts on women's rights in a magazine she started called The Forerunner. Gilman did so to allow herself to share her opinion about women getting treated unfairly. She was a powerful activist until the day she committed suicide in 1935. 

The treatments Gilman received for her depression during her first marriage are believed to have been the inspiration for "The Yellow Wall-Paper." This story is a about a woman who is trapped in a room, being treated for her "anxiety." After being placed in the room for weeks on end, the woman started going insane. She began hallucinating and developing scenarios in her head, all having to do with this yellow wallpaper. Then the idea of whether the wallpaper meaning something was factored in. The narrator mentioned the peeling of the wallpaper and the patterns that she apparently saw in it. The narrator stated "I always lock the door when I creep by daylight. I can't do it at night, for I know John would suspect something at once. And John is so queer now that I don't want to irritate him. I wish he would take another room! Besides, I don't want anybody to get that woman out at night but myself." (Gilman 766). As the story moved on, the woman described seeing a figure trying to escape from behind the wallpaper. The story proceeded to end with her husband walking in, horrified at what he saw and fainted in front of her.

During the time this story was written, women had "typical" roles in society. They were seen as a mother, and a wife, without a job and staying at home. Gilman saw the need for women to have a bigger part in the world and advocated for the roles to be dropped. She believed that women should be given the opportunity to work in the real world, and get the chance to leave their home. Her ideas were seen as radical at the time, but her goal was to integrate men and women in the field of work. With the help of Gilman, by the late 1890's, feminists were starting to be recognized more often. 

The Civil Rights Movement of the 1950's was led by a man named Martin Luther King Jr. He grew up in a middle class family, and was very well educated. King went through college and graduated with a PhD, while also carrying his religion very close to him at all times. He was a priest, and known for referencing religion in his speeches. King fought peacefully to stop segregation and racism with his protests and powerful speeches. With his resiliency, he was a leader to the African-American community and many more. His supporters would often travel speech to speech with him, and many got arrested by his side. His pride for the United States and sensitivity towards people of all types are what made him so influential. During his most famous march, King delivered a speech that silenced the world. It was "I Have a Dream" which is still viewed today as one of the greatest speeches of all time.

""I Have a Dream" by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. on August 28, 1963 created a movement that changed America forever. He did so by being a civil rights leader that was willing to do anything for change. King devoted a large portion of his life to fight the battle of racial equality, but did so with a different approach. He was always willing to do anything to get this, as long as it was peaceful.  During his life King was arrested twenty-nine times because he believed in the right to stick up for himself, and anybody treated unfairly. Many historical events and figures influenced this great speech, including another famous speech, the Emancipation Proclamation one hundred years before.

As we have seen, "I Have a Dream" created a huge change in the civil rights movement. Without this speech, the voices of millions would have never been heard, and King's passion would have never made a difference. He effectively reached out to the country as a whole, instead of showing the segregation like Malcolm X did. 

For this reason, his speech grabbed the attention of the audience. King reached out to them on a personal level when he publicly gave his speech. Instead of speaking to just his people about a revolt, he used sensitivity to try and bring everyone together. King's whole speech was based around the idea of no man being greater than another. Religion, race or sex, there should be no barrier set forth. He makes it clear that there are multiple types of discrimination, and they are all in this together. Although the black people have been denied equality over and over, they must still fight until they win. These unalienable rights belong to everyone.

When this speech was read in front of the Lincoln Memorial, the power that day was unmatched. Fifty- two years later this speech is still read and analyzed as one of the greatest ever made. Dr. King delivered the speech in front of the Lincoln Memorial as a racial justice activist. He wanted to integrate society and get rid of any racial barrier that was still present, post civil war. King traveled the country making speeches and became a leader for the black community and many others as well." (Oksenhorn 1)

Year after year, Gilman and King both live on. They do so because of the strive they had to make the United States of America a place of true equality. Both of theme believed that their people should have a fair chance to prove they belong. Not just socially, but economical and political equality was fought for too. The way they fought was with the power of their voice rather than using violence. With their powerful writing in their speeches and stories, movements were led by Gilman and King. They were never afraid to voice their opinions, while making sure to have a clear understanding they did not want superiority. In many of the famous quotes they both have, it is mentioned that no human is born on this planet to be a marginalized community. 

Each person should control their own destiny, without having to be told whether or not they are allowed to do something. Whether this was in the work place or society, they felt the right to have an equal chance. Also, they each mentioned the progression of society boosting if they were given equal opportunity. 

While there are many similarities between the two, they both fought for different causes. Gilman's main interest was the Women's Rights Movement that she led. As a feminist, she viewed motherhood as a great fulfillment that led to women being greater at raising children. The time period in which Gilman lived was also very different. She was born in the mid 1800's, and saw the country run very differently. She experienced the lack of knowledge doctors had when it came to curing the mentally ill, and then went on to share her story. King fought for a different purpose. He felt the wrath of being an African-American man during the 1950's, and wanted to make a change. He took both sides of the spectrum, and tried to combine them to make something this country never experienced. King led a civil rights movement and gained supporters of all races and religions, all of which wanted equality at last.

In conclusion, Gilman's and King's lifestyles are very interesting to compare. They show many similarities in their style, but differences in what they truly lived by. The similarities between these two are clearly shown with their willingness to voice their opinions under any circumstances. Gilman started her own magazine to voice her own opinion, while King stated it in public, ultimately leading to his many arrests. When looking at the metaphors in which both of them describe the marginalized communities, it shows that it is important for society to not overlook what is happening beneath them. Gilman and King both utilize key literary devices in order to shed light and gain support for the cause they argue. Overall, both continue to gain recognition because of their stance on equality. The power they have came with their resiliency and will to fight until they die. 

