When you study gender roles in history, you will find that women are often depicted in similar ways, regardless of the era or region of study. Even when comparing the industrialized era of the early 20th century to today's progressive era, one sees striking similarities between women's roles. We can see that throughout the twentieth century the qualities of loyalty and honesty have declined in marriages due to the treatment of the two main female roles as depicted in literature. The first was the role of the wife. The wife was often depicted as a housekeeper and nanny. Dull in appearance, there was no aesthetic beauty in this typical female. The other main role was “the other woman”. A more mysterious and promiscuous character, this woman represented the other part of the female population. Both of these character types are composites that portray the average, disposable woman, while the way they were treated conveyed the general treatment of women in the early twentieth century. Right before the turn of the twentieth century, in 1892, Charlotte Perkins Gilman wrote “ The Yellow Wallpaper. This short story revealed the beliefs and values ​​that people would have as they transitioned into the new century. In the short, the narrator is diagnosed with depression even though she believed the diagnosis was false. Yet, living in an age of patriarchy, “If…one's husband [assured] friends and relatives that there [was] no other problem other than temporary nervous depression. …what [should] have been done?” (“The Yellow Wallpaper”). By submitting to her husband's will, the narrator created a tragic ending for herself, as many other women did. As the story progressed, she forced herself into illness and approached madness. .. middle of paper… bruised woman. Once again, the qualities of honesty and loyalty had been destroyed and the possibility of a positive third leading role for women had been shattered. The beginning of the 20th century was not a positive time for women and marital relationships. As described in countless novels, there were two main female roles in society and neither created many opportunities for women Whether a woman was a humble housewife or a mysterious lover , there was controversy in every aspect of both roles. These roles also placed women in oppressive relationships that almost always diminished the qualities of honesty and loyalty needed in relationships women in these roles has caused controversy and problems in countless marriages and throughout our society..