Before the Second World War, women were "banned" from all professions because they were deemed incompetent and had to stay at home and let men take care of everything. However, when World War II broke out, all able-bodied men were sent to war and women were allowed to do men's jobs, which proved that women can do things as well as men. This similar theme can be seen in “The Astronomer's Wife” by Kay Boyle. In the story, Boyle portrayed Mrs. Ames as a typical housewife who went about her daily chores while Mr. Ames was portrayed as a hierarchical figure, working to support the family. Even though there seemed to be nothing wrong with their marriage, many problems emerge as the story progresses. Mrs. Ames slowly suffocated under her husband's possessiveness. As a result, Mrs. Ames, who loyally serves her husband, freed herself by choosing to be with the plumber. The story can be analyzed using the perspective of feminist criticism. Feminist criticism is ““the way literature (and other cultural productions) strengthens or weakens the economic, political, social, and psychological oppression of women”” (Brizee & Tompkins). By reading a text you can discover how women were treated in contemporary times. It can be expressed in many areas listed by Brizee & Tompkins. Furthermore, Delahoyde provided more detail on the topic when she stated that “feminist criticism is concerned with stereotypical representations of genders. It could also chart the history of relatively unknown or underappreciated women writers, potentially earning them their rightful place within the literary canon, and helps create a climate in which female creativity can be fully realized and appreciated.” Women had been underestimated and taken for granted. A lot of things they do are not so… middle of the road… er it means she also has to work to support the family. However she didn't care because she would have the freedom and love she wanted in a relationship. The astronomer's wife has turned her back on her husband for something better, her freedom. A movement that will make her free to work and be equal to the man she is married to. Works CitedWalker, Alice. "Feminism and Women's Studies: The Women's Movement: Our History." February 11, 2005. Feminism and women's studies: welcome. March 27, 2011. Web.Brizee, J. Allen, and Case Tompkins “S/he” June 04, 2010 Owl Purdue Online Writing Lab: Feminist Criticism (1960s to Present). March 27, 2011. Web.Michael Delahoyde. “Feminism” WSU. March 27, 2011Kay Boyle. Literature "The Astronomer's Wife": Approaches to fiction, poetry and drama. Ed. Robert Di Yanni. New York. Mc Graw Hill Higher Education. 2008. 62-66. Press.