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Linda Galay Formatted: Font: (Default) Times New Roman

Ms. Jacobs

Freshman comp 2

16 November 2017

The Woman Stuck Behind the Yellow Wallpaper

Imagine feeling trapped and feeling as if the only thing that you could identify with or

how could I say symbolize you was the wallpaper that surrounded you. In Charlotte Perkins

Gilman's The Yellow Wallpaper we are introduced to a woman who has post-partum

depression. Gilman does not give the reader the name of the womaen who narrates the story

through her stream of consciousness. She has been treated for some nervous habits that she feels

are causing harm to her. However she feels her husband, a physician can help cure her along

with the rest cure. Charlotte Perkins Gilman writer of The Yellow Wall Paper hides an

interesting concept behind her work. She uses symbolism and narration to illustratesillustrate the

implication and effects of submission to men during the 19th century.

In this story, Gilman uses the setting and the wallpaper to show how trapped she was by

gender roles to symbolize the way her husband treated her. and how Hhe would make her submit

to him by using pet names. For instance, He said I was his darling and his comfort and all he

had, and that I must take care of myself for his sake, and keep well (Gilman 180).she goes on to

describe the wallpaper There are things in that paper which nobody knows but me, or ever will.

(Gilman 199). Its patterns reflect the of her life and how broken her picture perfect life is. Even the

house is a symbol Behind that outside pattern the dim shapes get clearer every day ,It is always the

same shape, only very numerous And it is like a woman stooping down and creeping about behind that

pattern. I dont like it a bit. I wonderI begin to thinkI wish John would take me away from
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here!(Gilman 199). Gilman very accurately Surely she cannot be understood by anyone except Formatted: Font: (Default) Times New Roman

the woman seen trapped in the yellow wallpaper. Her creeping about is symbolic of her hiding,

sometimes in the day time about halfway through the story, the sub-pattern of the wallpaper

finally comes into place. The narrator is being pulled into her fantasy, which holds a disturbing

truth about her life. Again the narrator tries to deny her growing insight (the dim shapes get

clearer every day), but she is powerless to reveal herself. She wonders that the woman she sees

is always stooping down and creeping about. Like the narrator herself, she is trapped within a

contained domestic pattern from which no escape is possible.

Gilman very accurately portrays the thought process of the society during the time period

in which The Yellow Wallpaper is written. The conformist female essentially goes along with

the belief that women are submissive to men, this is made clear when the Narrator says, I meant

to be such a help to John, such a real rest and comfort, and here I am a comparative burden

already! (Gilman 190). The Narrator feels that she is a burden to her husband.

Through using the aspects of narration, one can analyze The Yellow Wallpaper through

the dialogue through both the male and female perspective, and through the symbol found in the

story. This was made clear when the husband interacted with the Narrator, Then he took me in

his arms and called me a blessed little goose, and said he would go down to the cellar, if I wished

, and have it Whitewashed into the bargain (Gilman 201). Gilman makes a strong statement

about males in society during her time period. The men are portrayed to view women as children

unable to fend for themselves... This is made clear when the Narrator says, If a physician of

high standing, and ones own husband, assures friends and relatives that there is really nothing

the matter with one but temporary nervous depression- - slight hysterical tendency- - what is one

to do? (Gilman 90). This hints at a perverse viewpoint the narrator has of the relationship. This
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can be likened to Gilmans impression of how society oppressed womens equality. Perhaps Formatted: Font: (Default) Times New Roman

Gilman implies that societys oppression of womens equality.

She has found purpose in this paper. Surely she cannot be understood by anyone except

the woman seen trapped in the yellow wallpaper. Her creeping about is symbolic of her hiding,

sometimes in the day time, She knew she could not free herself in the world she lived and the

view society had on women during the 19th century.

Work cited

Mays Kelly J. Norton introduction to literature. W W Norton, 2017.