The female figure has graced the pages of literature since the beginning of history. In some cases, women were praised and appreciated for their mothering skills and moral correctness. The Virgin Mary appeared in the Bible as a symbol of a woman of faith, courage, humility, praise and prayer. Women are often cited in the Bible as the most influential and strong-willed. In the epic poem “Beowulf,” Grendel's mother is portrayed as a strong woman who fought against evil. However, with the superiority of men, women are also despised and deprived of numerous rights of passage and freedoms. In Puritan times, women were considered useful only for their domestic skills and ability to procreate. As time passed, several outstanding women worked to gain their rights and fight for equality with men. A crucial part of any women's rights movement is the direct perspective of a poet or author. They are the ones who can eloquently summarize the struggles they face every day. Sometimes these passionate and talented writers come from wealthy families and families, but still manage to tell a story of oppression. Inspiring words come from women who constantly suffer from being misunderstood as women. Courageous women who manage to break social standards and norms of society are leaders towards freedom for all women. The freedoms women gain in society coincide with the development of women's writings and arguments during the literary periods of Puritanism, Romanticism, and Realism. The Puritan Age is defined by strict moral standards and restrictions placed on women evident in literature reflecting the time period. Women were considered inferior to men and sober… center of paper… writers like Emily Dickinson, Margaret Fuller, and Louisa May Alcott. Transcendental principles provided these women with an environment in which to write, but once made public, the harsh reception frightened them. These women lead the movement for women's literature to be recognized among men's. In the realist era, the personal lives of Kate Chopin and Charlotte Perkins Gilman guided their nonfiction and fiction. Women were still considered inferior to men, and this was evident in the reception of these women's works. It is only today that they are respected as established feminist writers. However, they have shown great courage as activists for women's causes and have made great strides to contribute to the direction we are in. The progression of female acceptance may be slow, but the difficulties faced by great female literary figures must be honored.