Jacob Sexton

3/8/14
English 3 Hathaway
The Yellow Wallpaper and The Raven Analysis
There are several similarities between The Yellow Wallpaper by Charlotte
Perkins Gilman and The Raven by Edgar Allen Poe. These writers bare very different
writing styles, but nonetheless they must use the same set of rules. Literary elements
are a bit like letters in the alphabet. Writers all have the same list to choose from.
Similarities are bound to happen, whether it be in their symbolism or themes.
The first and foremost of these being the main characters. Both characters either
develop or already have a pre-existing psychological condition. In The Yellow
Wallpaper the main character appears to have some form or anxiety or depression. In
the story, her husband attempted to treat her by leaving her alone in a room for an
extended period of time. This isolation paired with her condition caused anxiety,
paranoia, hallucinations, and eventually insanity.
In The Raven the protagonists grief is turned to madness. This madness may
have been any number of disorders or conditions. Some likely culprits may be
depression, severe anxiety, or even something more extreme like PTSD or
schizophrenia. Many theories exist which attempt to explain the poem through more
scientific eyes. Some try to blame the protagonists experience on things like
hallucinations and other psychiatric conditions. A talking raven would actually be a
possibility. Ravens are extremely intelligent animals who can mimic human speech;
typically learning a phrase and repeating it. Sadly, none of these can be proven due to
the poems fictitious nature.
Many words could be used to summarize this poem; grief, sorrow, mourning,
despair, etc. The unnamed protagonist of this story is in a state of mourning or
depression by the loss of a love interest known as Lenore. In the middle of the night, he
is visited by a raven which repeats the single word Nevermore. It is unknown whether
the raven is actually answering his questions or simply repeating a word it has learned.
The repetition of this bird combined with his own unstable psyche drove the unfortunate
protagonist to succumb to his grief.