Senior Course Portfolio

for

MACKENZIE R MCGREGOR

Bachelor of Arts in English, Writing Concentration

Fort Hays State University

December 2020

Dr. Lexey Bartlett 12/07/2020

 Table of Contents

Resume………………………………………………………………………………………….3-4

Relevant Courses……………………………………………………………………………….5-6

Reflective Essay……………………………………………………………………………….7-11

Remembering Mazie Rose……………....................................................................................12-17

Ode to my Morning Coffee……………………………………………………………………....18

An Opened Window, a Closed Door…………………............................................................19-28

How the Salvation Army’s Efforts Have Affected the Homeless People of Wichita……......29-39

Understanding the Woman in “The Yellow Wallpaper” .........................................................40-46

2
MACKENZIE MCGREGOR
m_mcgregor@mail.fhsu.edu · 316-633-1062

EDUCATION

May 2016
High School Diploma, Garden Plain High School
 General Education

 Valedictorian

 Cumulative 4.0 GPA

May 2021
Bachelor of Art in English, Fort Hays State University
 Four completed academic years at Fort Hays State University

 Bachelor of Arts in English, Writing

 Minor in Spanish

 Cumulative 3.05 GPA

AWARDS AND CLUBS

 Honor Roll (2013-2016)

 National Honor Scholar (2015-2016)

 Kansas Honor Scholar (2016)

 Valedictorian (2016)

 Dean’s Honor Roll (2016-2017)

 National Society of Collegiate Scholars (2016-current)

 Sigma Tau Delta, English Honor Society (2019-current)

3
EXPERIENCE

Accountant’s Clerk, Rand Graphics, Inc., Wichita, KS

June 2016 – Present
Filed paid and unpaid invoices, pick tickets, and job tickets; created Excel spreadsheets for tax exempt

forms; and assisted the accounts receivable, payable, and sales departments as needed.

Intern, Forsythe Library, Fort Hays State University, Hays, KS

January 2020-May 2020
Wrote metadata for Dr. Sternberg’s paleontology photo album that can be found online.

Editor, Lines from the Middle of Nowhere (Literary and Arts Journal), Fort Hays State
University, Hays, KS 
November 2019-present
Appointing editorial board members, marketing for student submissions, selecting and compiling student

art and written submissions, and delegating work to board members.

Editorial Board Member, Lines from the Middle of Nowhere (Literary and Arts Journal),
Fort Hays State University, Hays, KS
December 2018-February 2019
Worked collaboratively with other board members to perform critiques for student submissions. 

Consultant, The Writing Center, Fort Hays State University, Hays, KS

August 2017 – September 2019
Assisted students with writing assignments, participated in professional development, created a

collaborative diversity statement, and presented to classrooms about Writing Center services.

REFERENCES

Phillip Seemann – employer at Rand Graphics, Inc., Wichita, KS

Controller, Rand Graphics
(316) 942-1218
p.seemann@randgraphics.com
Dr. Lexey Bartlett – supervisor, professor, and advisor at Fort Hays State University, Hays, KS
Associate Professor of English and Director of Writing Center, Fort Hays State University 
(785) 259-5251
labartlett@fhsu.edu

4
RELEVANT COURSES
WRITING

Course Title Professor Semester

Number

ENG 099 Senior Portfolio Dr. Eric Leuscher Fall 2020

ENG 101 English Composition I HCC Fall 2015

ENG 102 English Composition II HCC Spring

2016

ENG 146 Introduction to Creative Writing Dr. Amanda Fields Spring

2017

ENG 385 Professional Editing Dr. Cheryl Duffy Spring

2021

ENG 446 Advanced Composition Dr. Cheryl Duffy Fall 2016

ENG 448 Writing Internship Dr. Cheryl Duffy Spring

2020

ENG 602 Topics in Writing: Advanced Fiction Dr. Brett Weaver Spring
Writing 2017

ENG 602 Topics in Writing: Creative Non-Fiction Dr. Brett Weaver Spring
2019

ENG 630 Nature Writing Linda Smith Spring

2020

LITERATURE

Course Title  Professor Semester

Number

ENG 125 World Literature and the Human Dr. Pauline Scott Spring
Experience 2019

ENG 251 Survey of American Literature I Dr. Carl Singleton Fall 2017

ENG 252 Survey of American Literature II Dr. Carl Singleton Spring

5
 2017

ENG 261 Survey of British Literature I Dr. Eric Leuscher Spring

2018

ENG 262 Survey of British Literature II Dr. Lexey Bartlett Fall 2018

ENG 307 Introduction to Literary Analysis and Dr. Lexey Bartlett Spring
Theory 2017

ENG 327 Literature Matters: Literature of Protest Dr. Eric Leuschner Fall 2018

6
 Reflective Essay

The writing processes of writers are as unique as snowflakes in the way that no two are

the same. For example, I fully immerse myself in my writing until the task is finished. When I

begin to touch pen to paper or fingers to keyboard, I understand that the following steps will

often be tedious and at times stressful; nonetheless, the final feeling of euphoric satisfaction

always remains worth the time and effort. 

While editing and reviewing my work, I was able to see various aspects that indicate my

growth as a writer, as well as some of the more prominent themes and ideas that reflected

through those pieces. From the beginning of one work to the end of it, through editing and

revision, it was like watching a caterpillar finally transition to a butterfly. I was able to advance

the ideas of the pieces, while maintaining my individuality as a writer. Furthermore, I gained

more of an understanding about the types of topics that caught my attention and made me most

passionate within my writing. Feminism stood out among the many themes represented, and it

became clear that equality and visibility were important topics to who I am as a writer. I hope

that as my future in writing unfolds, I am able to hold those themes close to me in order to

preserve my identity and tone. I remain hopeful and optimistic about what my future holds in

terms of possibilities for continued growth as a writer, editor, professional, and most importantly

as a human.

I chose “Remembering Mazie Rose” as one of the pieces for my portfolio because it is a

piece that is near and dear to my heart; but it also because it reflects my writing style better than

most pieces are capable. The piece focuses on my relationship with my grandmother, but it also

incorporates other relationships with women in my life, namely my mother and a few other

relatives. Delving into women relationships and dynamics is a recurring theme within my
7
writing; however, I believe it shines through most prominently in this piece because it

demonstrates how I observe these dynamics within my own life. I wrote this piece as a freshman,

so when I went back to edit it for my portfolio, I was able to examine how drastically my writing

has improved over the years. Writing this piece about my grandmother at the time was a bit of a

therapeutic exercise for me, and as I reflected on the writing process, I was able to understand

how the experience affected me in a way that required me to memorialize it. 

Moving on from the previous piece to my poem included, titled “Ode to my Morning

Coffee” was intentional because I wanted to keep my personal writings together and apart from

the formal pieces I included in my portfolio. Although the poem is short and simplistic, I felt that

it did a good job of demonstrating the tone of writing I strive to attain in my writing. The poem

was written my freshman year, as well. I had edited the piece a few times before I came back to

edit it once again to include in my portfolio because I had also included it in a reflective project

for my Introduction to Creative Writing class. Though I had edited the poem a few times before,

I found that there were still changes that I felt needed to be made as my writing had since

evolved. Certain words that I used in the original piece felt too forced to match the simplicity of

the poem, and the previous title “Cafe Noir” did not seem to tie to piece together how I wanted it

to. By changing the title and tweaking some word choice throughout the poem, I felt that I was

able to improve the piece once again in order to reflect more accurately my tone. 

“An Opened Window, a Closed Door” was originally written for my Advanced

Composition course; and when I chose to include the piece and begin reworking it a bit, I found

that I was tripping over some of the sentences because of my previously clunky word choice and

sentence structure. Most of my revision on this piece focused on adjusting my word choice and

simplifying sentence structure so that my main message of feminism within the work was not

8
lost due to complications in my writing. Through revision of this piece, I learned how

passionately I felt about the topic. Feminism shone as one of the more prominent themes

throughout many of my works, and I enjoyed having the opportunity to fine tune my message

with the editing process to amplify the voice coming through the lines of the piece. 

Following my analysis of Kate Chopin’s work, I chose to include a piece from a

Sociology course I had taken my sophomore year titled “How the Salvation Army’s Efforts Have

Affected the Homeless People of Wichita.” The reason I chose this piece was because it reflected

my ability to research a topic and develop ideas that pertained to the topic. I am a huge advocate

in my personal life for how our country can improve the life of individuals living in poverty, and

I felt that this piece demonstrated my dedication to finding a solution. However, looking back at

my choice of organization to focus my work on, I realize now that I could have looked harder to

find one that I felt accomplished this achievement more honestly. While I appreciate the work an

organization like The Salvation Army does, I think that there are more beneficial agencies within

my community that offer aid to people in need without placing restrictions on them. By

reflecting on this work through revision, it pushed me to do better to invest in my projects in

order to create something that not only demonstrates my ability as a writer, but also reflects my

understanding of my community and its needs. 

Finally, my last pieces included in my portfolio is an analysis titled, “Understanding the

Woman in “The Yellow Wallpaper.” This piece also reflects themes of feminism, while also

touching on queer theory and psychoanalysis. The reason I ended with this piece is because I felt

that my writing was able to echo my most accurate tone and incorporate themes that I deemed

interesting. The piece focuses on what events led to the mental demise of the narrator; however,

it also achieves discussing aspects of the story in the manner of social commentary. I found that

9
when I write with connection to feminism, I constantly compare the acceptance of women to the

standards of today. Through this tactic, I feel that I am able to underscore the importance, both to

society and myself, of the works I choose to analyze. 

Throughout my years as a student at Fort Hays State University, I have acquired

numerous skills in terms of writing, reading, and editing. Coming into college, I was confident in

my writing skills, but I understood that there was room for growth and improvement. Like many

students, though, I felt a bit overwhelmed at the endless opportunities and experiences. For much

of my freshman year, I kept to myself as a student and solely performed my work at the minimal

effort necessary to advance me in my education. However, during my sophomore year, my

advisor at the time, Dr. Amanda Fields, assisted in securing me a spot on the staff of the

university’s Writing Center. With my newfound connection to the students who worked there

with me, I was also introduced to the campus’s literary arts journal, Lines from the Middle of

Nowhere. I served as an editorial board member for the journal my sophomore and junior year,

and it allowed me to increase my experience in reviewing and selecting works and granted me

the honor of interacting with so many talented writers and English enthusiasts at FHSU. Dr.

Lexey Bartlett facilitates supervision of the journal and, following Dr. Field’s transfer to another

university, also became the new supervisor of the Writing Center. Because of this, and minor

issues that arose with my replacement advisor, I requested that Dr. Bartlett become my

permanent advisor for my remaining years at FHSU. With this change, Dr. Bartlett pushed me to

join Sigma Tau Delta, the English honor society. After joining the group, I attended the national

conference in St. Louis, MO, where I had the opportunity to witness FHSU win awards for our

students’ excellence. Notably, the edition of the Lines journal that was brought to the 2019

convention won first prize. After two years of serving on the editorial board, I was ushered in to

10
assume the position of editor of the journal. Although the edition of the journal I was currently

editing became postponed due to the ongoing pandemic, I am currently working with my

appointed editorial board on the 2020-21 edition of Lines from the Middle of Nowhere; and I am

ecstatic to showcase my abilities as editor to produce another impressive edition of the journal. I

am eternally grateful to have made these connections that supported my continuing growth as a

writer, student, and human.  

11
Mackenzie McGregor

Dr. Cheryl Duffy

ENG 446

Remembering Mazie Rose

“Michele, go do your chores! Quit wasting time!” my grandma shouted while making

intense eye contact with me. Perhaps if my name was Michele I would not have been so taken

aback by the orders, but no, that is my mom’s name. I have been told that my 15-year-old self

bore an uncanny resemblance to my mom when she was the same age; I have even seen the

photos, and there is no disagreement that we could have been twins. Nevertheless, the fact of my

mom’s strong genes did little to diminish the hopeless feeling that is attached to one of my first

memories of my grandma’s battle with the thief of time. 

Before my grandma was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease, you would be lucky to

keep her in one place for more than an hour at a time--idle hands simply would not do for a

woman like Mazie Rose Patry. She was a member of her local bowling team, an absolute master

in the kitchen, as well as a woman with a growing green thumb. I remember, on many occasions,

she and my late uncle Mark would load up her forest green pickup full of fertilizer left over from

her compost and enough garden tools to supply a small village and bring them to my family’s

home to help my mom get a head start on her own garden. Each one of my brothers and I would

be given a pair of gloves and a small, handheld shovel in order to help unload the truckload.

Normally, this would be enough to ensure a chorus of groans among my siblings, but not when

grandma was around.

I always found it was fitting that she had actually made herself somewhat of a small

village in terms of her family; she bore eight children with my grandpa, and most of her children

12
went on to create their own large families. To say that my grandma had created the ideal

circumstances to maintain a busy and active lifestyle would almost have been an understatement.

With the assistance of her many children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren, she was

constantly attending sport events, recitals, baptisms, first communions, birthday parties,

weddings, and any Sunday night family dinner she was invited to in between. She maintained her

role as our biggest supporter, and our favorite person to see in the crowd; and she never forgot to

send a handwritten birthday card with a crisp twenty-dollar bill tucked inside--until one day she

did. 

Once the Alzheimer’s kicked in, she began to forget a little bit at a time. In instances

when I would walk into her room, her face would explode with recognition, but she would not

recall my name. She would call me by my mom’s name, and shake her head, partially certain that

was not right. She would begin ticking off my cousin’s names one by one, until suddenly,

“Mackenzie!” she would exclaim, almost in a huff of relief. “I knew it would come to me,” she

would grin at me, and I would grin back, also relieved. Over time, it became a regular moment of

panic--the idea that my beloved grandma had forgotten who I was among the sea of faces

swimming around in her head. It got to the point where I was known to her as Michele, and at

first, I would try to correct her to preserve not only my child identity as her granddaughter, but

my mom’s identity as her youngest adult daughter. But eventually, it became easier to simply

play along, and just like that, I had to watch my mom in her adulthood find herself lost in the sea

of memories the thief stole right out of my grandma’s head. 

However, despite this dreadful forgetfulness, it was not all bad. She was still the grandma

we all adored in every way, except for her memories. Any time she came over for dinner, she

would still offer her help in cleaning up after a meal was done; and we still often saw her in the

13
stands at our middle school basketball games or holiday recitals. Eventually, though, she and my

grandpa moved out of their home in Colwich that had become the common gathering place for

any and every family event, and into Reflection Ridge where they would receive round-the-clock

care by nurses when family could not be there. Here she was able to maintain some semblance of

normalcy by joining a Wii-bowling team with the other residents of the home, and going on

walks around the building through the flower beds that had been carefully planted. My uncle Bill

was living in Japan at the time, so the other seven of my grandma’s adult children began taking

turns caring for my grandparents one day out of the week. My brothers and I often found

ourselves joining my mom when it was her day to watch after grandma; but, because my

brothers, Tyler, Luke, Ethan, and I were in school, many times it was only my three youngest

brothers who she would see on these days. When we would see her, she would do her best to

guess who was who, but in the end she gave up with names altogether. None of us could blame

her for this, yet it did not stop the pain it brought. 

As expected, her disease continued to progressively worsen. She would begin having

panicked moments about the state of her life, and feelings of confusion often radiated from her

once bright existence. My mom would soothe her and hold her, whispering, “everything is going

to be okay,” as she ran her fingers through the white strands of hair atop my grandma’s head. We

could see as her thoughts began to leave her more rapidly, and occasionally she would even

make up memories in her head. I remember one instance specifically, when my family was in my

grandparent’s room and suddenly my grandma approached my mom slowly, while she stared at

my grandpa from across the room. 

“Michele, what in the hell is Gene doing here? We’re divorced,” she huffed loud enough for all

of us to hear, including my grandpa. 

14
“Now what are you talking about, mom? You and dad are still married, and very much in love.”

My mom remained calm as she took my grandma’s hand into her own, “See, look at your

wedding ring. You’re still together, and he’s not going anywhere but right here by your side.”

My heart ached for my grandpa that day; how could someone forget the enormous, full life of

love they had created with someone for over fifty years, and still be themselves? Yet, somehow

she was. Through the lost memories and names, she still remained the woman we had all known

and loved.

It is important to know that my grandma experienced lucid moments in the midst of

forgetting who she was, and those were perhaps the worst moments of all. It seems silly to say

that the worst moments came from her moments of remembrance, but it was like she was on

pause and when she became lucid she was thrown into a world she had never had the comfort of

knowing. She would ask, “Where are we? Whose house is this?” and no one would know how to

tell her, "it's yours now.” One memory that haunts me to think about, was a time my mom and I

were with my grandma in the kitchen of her apartment at Reflection Ridge, when she suddenly

became lucid. She began to weep once she realized what had happened, and my mom went to

comfort her. She looked up at me through cloudy eyes and said, “Oh, Mackenzie, I wish you

didn’t have to see me like this.” She wiped at her tears with a tissue and continued speaking to

me. “Getting old is the worst thing to ever happen to me. Please, don’t ever get old,” she

pleaded. In that moment I understood her warning. Most people have a natural fear of getting

old, but for me, I had decided I could handle loss of life as long as it was not accompanied by

loss of my memory. I never wanted to be the one that loved ones had to watch slip away in front

of their eyes.

15
 Time continued to pass, and one night while on the bus on the way back from a

basketball game my phone buzzed: “Grandma is in Heaven now, watching over you.” All the

sounds of my teammates talking giddily after our win became distant background noise as I

stared at those words on the glaring screen. My mind was immediately consumed with thoughts

of future life events that I would now have to go through without my grandma there to witness.

She would not be there in the stands at my high school graduation to hear me give a valedictorian

speech to an audience of my classmates. She would never be bombarded by my mom with

pictures of me on my first day of college, or receive the invitation by mail to my college

graduation some five-odd years after that day. She will not be sitting in the crowd of people

watching as I walk down the aisle to marry my soulmate. One day when I have a child of my

own, she will not be one of the people requesting to hold them, and that child will never grow to

know the woman who shaped me into the person I am today. All of these moments would soon

become a handful among those that she would not be there for because of the disease that took

residence in her head and rotted her memories away until this day, when it finally took her away

from us. 

I exited the bus with little awareness of my surroundings; I was suddenly in a rush to get

home, where it would be safe to cry myself into oblivion. When I got home, I was greeted by my

dad at the kitchen table, an empty glass in front of him. He tried to make small talk for a few

minutes, asking about the score of the game or if I had made any great plays. I answered him

with as much enthusiasm as I could muster, which was dismal, and eventually the questions

ceased. He then told me that my mom was at Dove Estates, the most recent nursing home my

grandparents had been moved into; he also told me that I could go there now if I wanted to. So, I

did.

16
 When I finally got to the room at Dove, I was a bit taken aback by the scene unfolding

before my eyes. My mom, aunt, and two of my cousins sat around the kitchen table with an

empty bottle of 19 Crimes wine between them. Not only were their faces dry of tears, but they

were all heartily laughing as they exchanged stories with one another. I was shocked at first, but

I soon began to understand. They were reminiscing on every memory they had of our dear Mazie

Rose, and celebrating the life she made for herself, and in turn for us. What struck me in the

moment was the simple fact that each of the women sitting in that room seemed to have a quality

of my grandma within each of them. My mom maintained her easy-going nature that, when

given an opportunity, she would use to strike up effortless conversation with just about anyone

she met. My aunt Ruth remained absolutely devoted to God and had such a way with words that

when she spoke it made you want to sit and listen. My cousins, Nicky and Bailey, acquired such

an inspired aptitude for creating something seemingly out of nothing, and all the while making it

beautiful along the way. I had an intense need to help others before I helped myself. It was

reassuring to know that although her physical presence was gone, she still lived on in many ways

through each of us. 

I often think of my grandma as a rose. It seems fitting to me, not only in its metaphorical

sense, but in the way that her name “Rose” is scattered throughout our family tree like blooms on

a rose bush. Today I wear a rose pendant around my neck to keep her memory close, and to

remind me of her traits that I see in the rose: her distinct beauty even as she withered away with

time, the feeling of love that overwhelmed me when I was in her presence, and her ability to

grow through the most unlikely of circumstances. But most of all, she was a rose because a tiny

piece of her has remained in each of us born after her. We are her petals.

17
Mackenzie McGregor

Dr. Amanda Fields

ENG 146

Ode to my Morning Coffee

You are the first friend I embrace

As the golden hands in the sky

Reach down to caress my bare face

You are the aroma dancing through my apartment

Stirring my awakened emotions 

Within a cup of drowsiness

I crave you

If there is ever a day I awake

And am not held within your warm embrace

I might possibly forget

How to put one foot in front of the other

I need you

So, please, dear friend 

I beg you

Meet me as the sun whispers

Good morning to the horizon

18
Mackenzie McGregor

Dr. Cheryl Duffy

ENG 446

An Opened Window, a Closed Door

Feminism within a work of literature, when used properly, holds a substantial amount of

significance to the piece. It often contains implications to the current standings of societal,

economic, and romantic relationships between men and women in the time period when the

piece was written. For “The Story of an Hour” by Kate Chopin, the author utilizes a feminist

outlook and historical view in her writing. As the reader analyzes the story within the feminist

theory and historical context of women’s significance in society in the nineteenth century in

contrast with current women’s societal significance, while taking into account various forms of

literary devices, as well as Kate Chopin’s personal background, a more complete understanding

of “The Story of an Hour” may come to light. 

The significance of this piece in relationship to Chopin’s personal life lies heavily in the

role of women in the 19th century. During the 1890s women began entering the paid labor force.

Because of this drastic change in the rate of employment for women, the women’s suffrage

movement gained influence as well as traction within society (Shull). Comparably, women’s

stance in society was nowhere near the status current society reflects; however, the women’s

suffrage movement was a tremendous step in the right direction toward enhancement. Although

organizations like the National Woman's Suffrage Association (NWSA) and the American

Woman's Suffrage Association (AWSA) were gaining influence and recognition, there were

many voices of open opposition to their movement’s agenda. 

19
 Women have been fighting for a place in society since the founding of the United States

of America. For so long, the traditional role of women remained as a supporter of the household

and a parental figure to raise children; so, when organizations such as NWSA and AWSA pushed

for more visibility for women in positions within society that were not directly related to the

household, they were met with insurmountable backlash--and often the opposition came from

women who were happy with their place in society as it were. The pushback did little to falter

the mission of these organizations, along with many others; as time progressed, their voices were

heard, and state-after-state began to back the women’s suffrage movement until it gained

recognition on a national level in 1912 by Theodore Roosevelt’s “Bull Moose Party” (NHMN).

The women of these suffrage movements pushed for opportunities in higher education, the right

to vote, and acceptance in the workforce, until finally in August 1920 women were granted full

voting rights by way of the 19th amendment. The 19th amendment did not solve all of the issues

raised by members of NWSA and AWSA, but it put women in a position to use their voices for

those issues and many more. 

Since the publication of “The Story of an Hour,” a myriad of progressive social

movements have taken place in the US. With more women pushing fiercely to be considered and

represented within society, it gave way to many other unrepresented groups of people to do the

same, for example: African Americans pushing for social equality with the Civil Rights

Movement, Hispanics pushing for social and political empowerment with the Chicano

Movement, LGBTQ+ individuals pushing for human rights with the Gay Rights Movement, and

again with women pushing for accountability and equality for all Americans with third wave

feminism and the Me Too Movement. More often in American society visibility is being placed

on those groups of people who have been ignored and counted out throughout much of the

20
country's history. Positions of power and leadership are being shifted and opened up for

opportunity to women, African Americans, Hispanics, and LGBTQ+ persons. In the current

century alone, American society has borne witness to the first African American President of the

United States, as well as the first female African American Vice President of the United States;

and many of these accomplishments may be attributed in part to the initial push in the 19th

century for women’s suffrage. Society has seemingly reversed its stances regarding women and

other underrepresented groups demonstrates the strength individuals possess when they start to

overlook physical and orientational differences, and instead focus on diversity among

representation in order to bring about substantial and radical change for good. Chopin’s personal

life and background hold up these ideals even in the era of society that was not as accepting as it

has become in more recent decades. 

Chopin withstood an eventful life for a woman of her day, to say the least. She attended

The Sacred Heart Academy, where she maintained a position at the top of her class, won various

medals, and was eventually elected into the elite Children of Mary Society (Wyatt). At the age of

five, Chopin’s father was killed in a train accident, leaving her mother a widow (Clark).

Unfortunately, this event seemed to mark a dark pattern within her family, as both her

grandmother and great-grandmother were widowed in addition (Wyatt). Following her father’s

death, Chopin and her mother moved in with her grandmother and great-grandmother; this, in

accession to the nuns that taught Chopin at Sacred Heart Academy, made every direct vessel of

influence as she grew up from women in her life. The simple fact that these women could take

care of and support their families in an era where that was not only uncommon, but more-or-less

frowned upon, indicated that these were smart, independent, and strong women that Chopin

gained as role models for what a woman could, and perhaps should, be. Therefore, from a young

21
age the liberal idea that women do not need to rely on men in order to create a life and a place in

society for themselves was ingrained in Chopin’s brain. This installation of independence

reflected in her writing. Oftentimes, she wrote about women in oppressed societal or romantic

situations that they may overcome in order to showcase that women are frequently more valuable

and powerful than society makes them out to be. 

Although Chopin had strong feminist ideals instilled in her, she acknowledged that she

too wanted a significant other to share her life with; and, so, in 1870 she married Oscar Chopin.

Within eight years from the beginning of their marriage, the couple bore seven children--five

boys and two girls (Wyatt). According to Neal Wyatt’s “Biography of Kate Chopin,” “[Oscar]

adored his wife, admired her independence and intelligence, and ‘allowed’ her unheard of

freedom.” This quotation alone demonstrates the abnormality that remained affixed to the idea of

women attaining freedom within society and especially within relationships. This freedom was,

perhaps, the fuel that lit the fire in her writing following her husband’s death. Tragically, Oscar

Chopin died of swamp fever in 1882 after the family was forced to move back into his old home

in Louisiana. Chopin attempted to continue running her late husband’s general store and

plantation, but eventually she sold the properties and moved back in with her mother. Life did

not grant Chopin any breaks, however, and her mother died only a few years following the move.

She was, once again, left alone. Chopin began writing to support her family, and found

immediate success; frequently, the short stories that she would produce were based on real

people she knew in Louisiana. Her first novel was released in 1890, and a steady stream of

publications continued until an abrupt halt after the release of her novel The Awakening in 1899.

Up until the release of the novel, Chopin was an otherwise well-published author. A large part of

the backlash she received was due to the content of The Awakening; Chopin had ultimately been

22
blacklisted within the literary community for the novel. According to Wyatt, Chopin was well

known as both a writer and a local colorist; her portfolio consisted of over one hundred short

stories, essays, and a multitude of sketches that had been published in various literary magazines.

After her publication of The Awakening, however, people were in an uproar. Chopin was denied

acceptance to the St. Louis Fine Arts Club, and over the remaining five years of her life she only

wrote a handful more of short stories, and few of them went on to be published. She died August

22, 1904, of a cerebral hemorrhage (Wyatt). 

Often, it is inferred that pain and disdain within an artist or author’s own life may be

reflected in their work; and Chopin is no exception to this idea. Many parallels appear in “The

Story of an Hour” and Chopin’s personal life, one of the more discernible of them being the

strong feminist voice throughout the story. The liberation that the main character Mrs. Mallard

speaks of--freedom from oppression--is so distinguishable in Chopin’s writing that it makes it

evident to the reader that she has felt the same weights of societal oppression about which she

writes. One example from “The Story of an Hour” that demonstrates this oppression is in the

lines, “She breathed a quick prayer that life might be long. It was only yesterday that she had

thought with a shudder that life might be long” (Chopin 317). This line in the text is so powerful

in the way that it demonstrates the desperation of Mrs. Mallard; and although Chopin herself

may not have personally felt this level of oppression within her own relationship, it can be

assumed she felt a great deal of second-hand oppression from the women who were held under

these traditional restrictions. Chopin herself, characterized this work as a piece that focused on

“one person’s dominance over another” (Berkove). As has been previously mentioned, Oscar

Chopin admired his wife’s intelligence and independence. Due to the restrictive role of women

in the 19th century, openly independent women like Chopin were rare.

23
 Yet another parallel drawn from “The Story of an Hour” to Chopin’s life was in regard to

death. Tragically, death played a vital role throughout much of Chopin’s life; it took some of the

most important people in her life, including parents, grandparents, great-grandparents, and

husband. The significance of the death in the story reached beyond simply physical loss. The

parallels begin with the way in which the husband of Mrs. Mallard was thought to have died--by

train. This reflected precisely the way in which Chopin’s own father had died. However, the

eventual death of Mrs. Mallard in the end of the story seems to be more of a metaphorical

parallel to Chopin’s taste of freedom that was tugged away because of public backlash from both

men and women. Although this parallel is not quite as cemented in clear and concise comparison

the way that the husband of Mrs. Mallard and the death of Chopin’s father is, taking into context

the reactions of Mrs. Mallard assists its concept. Mrs. Mallard was struck with instant grief upon

hearing the news of the husband’s death, though Chopin points out that perhaps most women

would react with more of a paralyzing fear or sadness. This point may lead the reader to imagine

that Mrs. Mallard had envisioned or thought about this moment before it had actually occurred,

which would in turn cause an immediate emotional response. She also seemed to relieve herself

of this grief much sooner than might be expected, although this ends up making her feel guilty.

The feeling of guilt over her relief seems to indicate that even Mrs. Mallard bought into the

societal ideals of what it meant to be a good household wife and woman in the world. She felt the

guilt not because it was wrong to be content without a man, but because she was breaking the

traditional mold of what a woman ought to feel and act like when such a situation arises, rather

than how she felt--free. 

In addition to the many parallels between “The Story of an Hour” and Chopin’s life,

various literary devices were utilized by Chopin that aid the idea of liberation and freedom

24
stemming from such a dark event. By applying certain literary devices to her writing, Chopin is

able to bring out deep emotions and create a discussion about issues for women within society

without ever directly saying one word about those issues. Some of the literary devices that

Chopin exercises are foreshadowing, personification, simile, metaphor, word repetition,

symbolism, word choice, as well as oxymoron. The story begins with a strong foreshadowing

line, “Knowing that Mrs. Mallard was afflicted with a heart trouble, great care was taken to

break to her as gently as possible the news of her husband’s death” (316). The beginning and end

of a story are often the most indicative parts of a piece of literature, and the fact that Chopin

chose to begin “The Story of an Hour” with a reference to Mrs. Mallard’s heart condition placed

a significant emphasis on what the information would mean to the story. 

Another compelling literary device Chopin applied to her writing was repetition of words

and ideas, specifically the word free, or the notion of freedom. The word free demands the

attention of the individual reading it because of the immense power behind such a small word;

but when repetition is implemented in order to make clear its importance, the power of the word

grows ten-fold. The repetition of the word free demonstrates the importance it holds to the story,

as well as the emotion attached to the word. Mrs. Mallard repeated the word, “free, free, free!”

(316) as though it was the most passionate prayer ever implored; and the reader can feel the

pulses of ecstasy when they are in the moment with Mrs. Mallard as she first experiences this

liberation. 

In addition to the previously mentioned literary devices, Chopin utilizes symbolism in the

story when she speaks about the window. Every time the window is mentioned, it is described

with such lovely and enticing language so that the reader solely associates hopeful feelings with

25
its image. The power that seems to resonate from the window to Mrs. Mallard is illustrated in the

following quotation from the text: 

She could see in the open square before her house the tops of trees that were all aquiver

with new spring life. The delicious breath of rain was in the air. In the street below a

peddler was crying his wares. The notes of a distant song which someone was singing

reached her faintly, and countless sparrows were twittering in the eaves. There were

patches of blue sky showing here and there through the clouds that had met and piled one

above the other in the west facing her window. (316)

In a literal sense, windows are often used as escape routes in situations of danger. Chopin draws

from this physical reality in order to create an influential symbol of freedom within the window.

With the assertion that Mrs. Mallard draws strength from the window, it is surmised that the

window itself symbolizes her escape from the oppression that currently consumes her existence.

Word choice also plays a vital role in Chopin’s application of literary devices within

“The Story of an Hour,” especially in regard to the window. When describing the window, she

used words or phrases such as “new spring life,” “delicious,” and “notes of a distant song.” By

carefully selecting these words, Chopin creates intentional moods around certain events in the

story. Another example from the story occurs toward the end of the story when she describes

Mrs. Mallard’s death after her husband appears at the house alive by saying it was “of joy that

kills” (317). To the reader, Chopin’s word choice gives off a hint of irony due to the overall tone

of the story and its outcome; moreover, this instance of irony fits very well into the story as it

likely reflects the manner in which society and the husband would have interpreted Mrs.

Mallard’s death. When all of the various literary devices applied throughout “The Story of an

Hour” are able to interconnect in a way that advances the story, a captivating tale of a woman so

26
overcome by her life of freedom without her husband that when he returns very much alive her

feeble heart cannot bear it, and she herself dies instead. 

Chopin’s passion behind the creation of a story with the substance and social

commentary of “The Story of an Hour” demands to be felt by the reader. Although the story is

not long enough to cover two full pages of text, the overflow of emotion and context read

between the lines produces a piece of literature that requires four times as much text to simply

scratch the surface of meaning behind it. It is evident through the various aspects mentioned that

Chopin felt intensely connected to the ideas and implications that are cautiously addressed in the

piece. By taking into consideration historical significance referencing women’s role in society

and the home from the 19th century, Chopin’s personal life and struggles, and the copious

examples of literary devices applied to the writing, the reader is able to understand the

underlying meaning of “The Story of an Hour” in a manner that confronts the liberation of

women within a patriarchal society that honors traditional values with vigorous effort.         

27
 Works Cited

Berkove, Lawrence I. “Fatal Self-Assertion in Kate Chopin’s ‘The Story of an Hour.’” American

Literary Realism, vol. 32, no. 2, 2000, pp. 152-58. JSTOR.

https://www.jstor.org/stable/27746974?seq=1

Chopin, Kate. “The Story of an Hour.” Writing about Literature. Edited by Edgar V. Roberts. 13th ed.

Prentice Hall, 1995, pp. 316-17.

Clark, Pamela. “Biography.” The Kate Chopin International Society. n.d.

https://www.katechopin.org/biography/

Shull, Sara. “The Women’s Rights Movement from North to South.” Kate Chopin, Jan 2000.

http://people.loyno.edu/~kchopin/Women's%20Rights

Wyatt, Neal. “Biography of Kate Chopin.” Empirezine, 1995.

https://archive.vcu.edu/english/engweb/webtexts/hour/katebio

WHMN. “Women’s Suffrage Timeline: Remember the Ladies.” National Women’s History Museum,

n.d. https://www.womenshistory.org/resources/timeline/womans-suffrage-timeline

28
 How the Salvation Army’s Efforts Have Affected the Homeless People of Wichita

Mackenzie R McGregor

Sociology of the Family in America

Fort Hays State University

29
 How the Salvation Army’s Efforts Have Affected the Homeless People of Wichita

Poverty is a tiresome burden that society has endured for as long as time has prevailed.

No matter the decade, or standard of living of the world as a whole, there has always been a

separation of people by socioeconomic status. This persisting issue has caused the emergence of

homelessness, which has created a plethora of additional issues for society to face, and therefore,

has forced people to develop problem-solving solutions to the obstacle of homelessness.

According to the United States Census Bureau (2016), the rate of people falling below the

poverty level in Sedgwick County is 15%. It is important to point out that not every person

whose income falls below the poverty line is experiencing homelessness. However, as Jami Scott

of the Salvation Army attested to during her interview, there is no shortage of people who are

seeking help in the Wichita area, both for income issues, as well as in aid with homelessness.

Scott’s position at the Salvation Army is Operations Manager for Homeless Services (personal

communication, 2018), as such she has a variety of responsibilities, which includes, but are not

limited to: supervising a staff of fifteen people, hiring staff, staff scheduling, as well as

scheduling staff meetings, gathering data, creating statistics for the program and working directly

with staff member on client issues and troubleshooting (personal communication, 2018). Scott

began her work for the Salvation Army straight out of college and has worked for the

organization for twenty-three years, although, during those twenty-three years, she has held three

or four different positions (personal communication, 2018.). Due to the amount of experience

and knowledge of the interviewee, it can be surmised that the information relayed is authentic

and reliable. By interviewing Scott and researching issues that come with the territory of

homelessness, an accurate evaluation of the organization’s work for their community will be

constructed.

30
 SWOT ANALYSIS

Strengths

Variety in who is permitted assistance. The Salvation Army offers its assistance to

people in a variety of situations, for example, single mothers, single fathers, married couple

families, single women, and non-traditional families (Scott, personal communication, 2018). By

permitting access to this variety of people within their services, the organization is able to reach

a larger audience, and offer aid to people in various situations. It is important to note that

although the Salvation Army does not offer assistance to single men, Scott commented that the

reason for this is not vindictive, but rather that there are many other organizations in the area that

offer their help to that demographic and that the Salvation Army felt that their help could be used

elsewhere (personal communication, 2018). So, other than the small group that the Salvation

Army does not offer aid to, the reach that the organization does assist is extensive enough to be

deemed a strength for the community and the demographic that they aim to serve.

Extent of services offered. Within the Salvation Army, there are a variety of services

offered, other than just those for people experiencing homelessness. However, some of the

services coincide with the services offered for people experiencing homelessness; among these

are veteran services, foster care and adoption, and help for women experiencing domestic abuse.

When asked what kind of assistance the organization receives in order to serve their community

adequately, Scott commented, “Different departments deal with different issues, but all

departments are aware of what goes on within each of their neighboring departments. All of the

departments work closely together to help anyone who comes to us for help” (personal

communication, 2018).

31
 Outreach by social media. Social media has had a positive impact on the outreach for

the Salvation Army. The organization is active on a variety of media platforms; however, they

are most prominent in Twitter and Facebook. This allows them to advocate for their cause, and

also to incorporate volunteer and donation opportunities in their community. As was pointed out

in the Organization Profile for the Salvation Army, they hold a number of events every year to

raise money and awareness for their services. These events are advertised on the organization’s

social media platforms in order to receive the response and support that is necessary for them to

fulfill their promises to the community’s homeless population. A few of these events that are

most popular throughout the community are The Red Kettle and Angel Tree (The Salvation

Army). However, the organization puts on additional, smaller events, which they also advertise

for on their social media forms.

Weaknesses

Limited funding. The Salvation Army relies heavily on funding from the community by

way of donations and fundraising, so if these funds are not being met, the organization will see a

struggle with the services they offer the homeless community. The reason that the organization

often struggles with funding in this area has to deal with rental property rates, according to Scott

(personal communication, 2018). The area where the organization is located is not deemed one

of the safest locations, so in order to rent spaces in safe neighborhoods, they require more

funding. 

Limited space. A weakness that follows closely behind limited funding is limited space

available to those seeking aid. In the interview, Scott said, “We are constantly changing parts of

our programming, and with those changes come more regulations that we have to follow in order

to determine how many people we are permitted to house in our units” (personal communication,

32
2018). The Salvation Army has a very limited space that they can offer to the people utilizing

their services; however, in the interview, Scott revealed that they had recently been offered a

grant to help with the funding for their housing situations, which will help tremendously with the

amount of housing available. The space limitation is an issue for more places than just Wichita,

as was seen in the article “Mismatch Between Homeless Families and the Homelessness Service

System.” In the article, Shinn and her associates talk about how there are so many regulations

and limitations on the system that it does not give organizations, like the Salvation Army, the

chance to help the people who come to them (2017). One of the issues that the article focused on

was the fact that of the 2490 families screened during this process, 53.8% of those families were

eliminated from the screening process due to a lack of openings in housing (Shinn 2017). The

threat of unavailability in these types of organizations is one of the most difficult issues to mend

because of the lack of funding that was discussed above, as well as the current economic

struggles within our society.

Opportunities

Fundraising. As has been aforementioned, the Salvation Army takes full advantage of

fundraising opportunities. While working on the Organization Profile for the Salvation Army

earlier this semester, I had the opportunity to look through all of the ways that they get involved

in their community in order to raise funds for their cause. According to Scott, The Red Kettle is

the largest fundraiser for the organization (personal communication, 2018). If one lives in an area

with a Salvation Army location, they will likely be familiar with this fundraiser, as volunteers are

often seen in crowded, public locations asking for donations while yielding their bright red

buckets. The fundraiser is often done in the Christmas season, which is helpful because this is the

most giving season for most individuals. Along with this fundraising event, the organization

33
keeps active in fundraising, with events such as Holiday Concert Benefits, Giving Tuesday,

Warm Hearts Coat Distribution, and the School Supply Donation. By utilizing all of these

fundraising opportunities, the Salvation Army generates a large support base and opens itself up

for growth opportunities. 

The Church. The Catholic Church plays a major role in many aspects of the Salvation

Army’s services. Scott mentioned in the interview (personal communication, 2018) that the

Church makes frequent private donations to their organization, in addition to playing a large role

in their volunteer staff. Much of the beliefs and missions that the organization chooses to focus

on falls in parallels with those of the Church. This causes a strong relationship between the two

entities, and in turn strengthens the support for the Salvation Army from the Church and its

congregation. 

Threats

Breaking up of families. One threat that remains all too real for those who utilize

homeless services is the possibility of the family being split up due to accommodations with the

system. Oftentimes, families who wish to remain together are split up, which may cause a strain

on their relationships and stability in their lives (Shinn, 2017). Another aspect of regulations on

homeless systems deals with the decision of who to allow access to their services. According to

“Mismatch Between Homeless Families and the Homelessness Service System,” (2017) the

demographic that is often left out in this process is men and teenage boys. The reason for this is

based upon safety concerns for the women and young girls that are using the services; however,

it takes away an opportunity from this male population that could be incredibly beneficial in

aiding towards necessary stability in their lives.

34
 Poverty among young children. Scott mentioned in the interview (personal

communication, 2018) that often times that utilization of homeless services is a one-time thing

that allows those people to gain stability in their lives again and get back on their feet; however,

one would assume that being a child raised in the homeless system could have lasting effects on

their lives. Children are very susceptible to homelessness because their reliance for stability rests

solely on their parent’s or legal guardian’s shoulders for the most part, and if their parents are

experiencing homelessness, it is likely that they will be as well. Not only can homelessness

affect a child’s upbringing, but it can also affect the health of those children, especially children

who are born in homeless systems. According to an article by Grant and his associates (2013),

“Budget cuts to supplemental nutrition programs were so severe that only one third of eligible

pregnant women and young children received assistance from the Women, Infant and Child

(WIC) Program.” This in turn affected the children from birth, which would have lasting effects

throughout the rest of their lives. Children who use these services could also become dependent

on the assistance later in life, rather than viewing it as rock bottom, it may be viewed as the

norm. 

Unemployment and drug and alcohol abuse. Unemployment is one of the more

common reasons for a person needing assistance from the homeless services offered by the

Salvation Army, according to Scott (personal communication, 2018). The reason that this could

cause such a threat to organizations like this one is because of the inconsistency of our economy.

Not knowing if one will have a job is a very real fear that some individuals have to face often.

People often think that more control is held over this issue than is true; however, if one loses

their income source and is unable to find another source quickly, it is highly possible for that

individual to experience homelessness, even if only for a little while. Another problem that goes

35
hand in hand with this issue is pride. Many people do not want to show their struggle, even if it is

completely necessary for them to regain stability. This can lead to issues with finding a new

source of income as well because if the individual loses their home due to their inability to

provide an income, it will be difficult for them to get a new job with no permanent address.

GOALS

The mission statement of the Homeless Services of the Salvation Army is “The Salvation

Army Homeless Services is dedicated to ending homelessness among families and single

women.” These goals may be considered to be too broad to seem feasible, and with the current

state of our nation it seems impossible to aim to end homelessness; however, this organization is

making a positive impact on their community by facing the issue of poverty and homelessness.

In order to face the issues that they do with these ambitious goals, this organization must have a

broad support base, receive surplus funding, and teach their recipients enough life skills to allow

them to maintain a stable life so that they never end up in a homeless shelter again.

Facing the issue of resolving homelessness among families will be the easier of the two

goals, logistically. This is because, within a family, there are often two possible income

opportunities, so this will allow more feasibility in gaining economic stability. Childcare will

always be the most difficult issue to resolve in situations like this because of the various costs

that go into it. So, in order to resolve these issues, long-lasting life skills need to be taught to the

adults utilizing the services offered, so that they are able to afford things, like childcare, and

allow their children to grow up without having to wonder if bills will be paid, or if they will be

fed for the day.

The issues facing single women are often more difficult to resolve than those facing

couple families, due in part to the available jobs to women and the pay wage that is offered. In

36
addition to this, single mothers face even more of a dilemma in this particular area because of

their additional dependents. In cases like these it would be more helpful if those women had any

sort of immediate family; however, oftentimes this is not the case. So, in order to face the issues,

life skills must be taught to the women, and any additional resources that may be offered in order

to aid will be necessary.

STRATEGIC ACTION PLAN

Build Stronger Support Base

Although the Salvation Army receives a generous amount of support as it is, in order for

their goals to be met and their organization’s work to remain successful, even more support will

be necessary. Something that would help them tremendously would be to find allies in residential

markets that would perhaps be willing to donate old facilities or apartment complexes that could

be redone to open up more housing for the people seeking assistance through their services.

Since the social media movement has been a newer step for the organization, it would be

expected to continue to see growth in their online following, which will in turn affect their

overall support base. In today’s society, many people rely on social media outlets and online

content for their information, so it would make sense for this platform to be the primary outlet

for growth among volunteers and support from the community. 

Increase Funding

Possibly even more important than building the support base is increasing the current

funding that the organization receives for their efforts. Every aspect of the services offered by the

Salvation Army relies heavily on funding from private donations and fundraising. If the

organization was to see an increase in the funding they receive, they would be able to purchase

37
more residential property to increase their ability to make accommodations and take in more

people at once.

38
 References

Grant, Roy, et al. (2013). Twenty-five years of child and family homelessness: Where are we now?

American Journal of Public Health, 103(S2), 1-10. EBSCOhost, doi: 10.2105/AJPH.

2013.301618.

Salvation Army, The. Homeless services. https://centralusa.salvationarmy.org/wichita. 

Shinn, Marybeth, et al.(2017). Mismatch between homeless families and the homelessness service

system. HHS Public Access, 19(3), 1-15. https://blackboard.fhsu.edu/bbcswebdav/pid-5555328-

dt-content-rid-21478369_1/courses/SOC388_S2018/Mismatch%20between%20homeless

%20families%20and%20homelessness%20services.pdf.

39
Mackenzie McGregor

Dr. Lexey Bartlett

ENG 307

Understanding the Woman in “The Yellow Wallpaper”

“The Yellow Wallpaper” by Charlotte Gilman can be described as a short story delving

into madness and dipping into the grotesque. The narrator, who is unnamed throughout the entire

story, goes through a manic experience that eventually drives her to insanity. However, there are

augmented aspects of this story in addition to the narrator’s journey to mental instability, most of

which involve feminist theory and queer studies. Gilman’s utilization of gothic language, paired

with the ability of the reader to apply feminism, queer theory, and psychoanalysis to guide their

reading, allows this story to establish a complex plotline. By interpreting aspects of the story like

point of view, gothic language, and the three techniques mentioned previously one may arrive at

a sounder understanding of this otherwise complex work of literature. 

Point of view is an aspect of writing that deems more importance than it often receives.

The author customarily has an underlying motive for choosing a specific point of view in order

to help to push the story forward in the manner that they require, rather than simply choosing one

at random to appease the structure of the story. In this instance, the point of view utilized in “The

Yellow Wallpaper” is first person point of view. This is significant to the story because the

narrator is unreliable, which is not uncommon in illustrations of first-person narration. The

reader can see indications of an unreliable narrator throughout the story, though most frequently

in regard to her relationship with the wallpaper referenced in the title. The reader may recognize

this clearly in these lines from the story: “There are things in that paper that nobody knows but

40
me, or ever will. Behind the outside pattern the dim shapes get clearer every day . . . . And it is

like a woman stooping down and creeping about behind that pattern” (Gilman 671). The reader

can be certain that there is not really a woman in the wall because none of the other characters

seem to interact with, or acknowledge, her existence. The narrator, who is diagnosed with a

temporary nervous depression by her husband, seems only to become increasingly unreliable to

the reader as the story progresses, and her health declines. An aura of the unreliability of the

narrator can be partially credited to the gothic language applied throughout the story. 

Gothic language, and gothic writing, became exceedingly popular in the 18th century;

however, its popularity remained, which is evident as this short story was written in the 19th

century. Gilman, among other writers, practiced and implemented the gothic style in her writing.

The techniques of the gothic style are evident in “The Yellow Wallpaper,” especially in the

resolution of the story. In the story’s beginning, a woman who has recently had a child, and

shortly after is diagnosed with temporary nervous depression, is prescribed strict bedrest. She is

kept in a room with wallpaper that she describes as “horrid” (668). Her overt distaste of the

wallpaper soon becomes an obsession as she is left in solitude with no companion except the

“woman in the wallpaper.” The reader observes as the narrator slips deeper into insanity, and her

infatuation with the wallpaper-woman grows immensely. Because she has nothing to occupy her

time, she begins to fill it with constant thought and study of the wallpaper. She even starts to

think that the paper is altering her husband and their housekeeper. In these lines she refers to her

theory as a “scientific hypothesis:”

It strikes me on occasion, just as scientific hypothesis,—that perhaps it is the

paper! I have watched John when he did not know I was looking, and come into

the room suddenly on the most innocent excuses, and I have caught him several

41
 times looking at the paper! And Jennie too. I caught Jennie with her hand on it

once. . . . she said the paper stained everything it touched, that she had found

yellow smooches on all my clothes and John’s, and she wishes we would be more

careful! (Gilman 673)

Though all of the aforementioned aspects of the story are unusual and contribute to the overall

gothic theme, the most grotesque element of this story is in the conclusion. Here the narrator

identifies herself with the woman creeping in the wallpaper. She takes to task tearing the

wallpaper off the walls completely, to “free” herself from their bars. In the very end of the story,

John frantically enters her room. When he sees her, he inquires what she is doing, to which she

replies, “I’ve got out at last . . . in spite of you and Jane. And I’ve pulled most of the paper, so

you can’t put me back” (677). The gothic language utilized in this instance, and throughout the

story, lends itself to the overall notion of unease in the story. 

Yet another element of this story that beckons further attention is the presence of feminist

qualities that Gilman litters throughout. “The Yellow Wallpaper,” Susan Lanser says, “is a

feminist document, dealing with sexual politics at a time when few writers felt free to do so, at

least so candidly” (119). The story was published in 1892, during an era where women were not

openly accepted in the labor force. Working and being the breadwinner for a family were

generally considered a man’s job in the traditional sense.  However, the narrator of the story

makes it very clear that what she wants is to work—specifically, in the manner of writing. Her

husband is introduced to the reader as the physician who is taking care of her. The reader may

notice that the occupations of all of the characters introduced in the story fit quite nicely into

societal norms of the day. Jennie is described as “a perfect and enthusiastic housekeeper and

hopes for no better profession” (Gilman 669), and Mary does not seem to be employed at all, but

42
spends her time caring for the child that the narrator cannot bring herself to mother.

Comparatively, both the narrator’s husband and brother are physicians “of high standings” (666).

The story clearly dictates the way men viewed women in this day, and even occasionally in our

current societal norms--very fragile. The narrator begins to form distaste for all of the men in her

life. In turn, she begins to identify largely with the woman who is trapped in the wallpaper. This

may be metaphorically paralleled to feeling trapped in a patriarchal society as a woman.

“Women must creep,” (120) Lanser says to underscore the broader concept that Gilman is

hinting at. The story, in its simplest form, is about a woman trapped. In the end, she is able to

free herself from these perceived shackles, but the cost is her sanity. 

A less popular form of criticism for this story, although the argument demands an open

ear, is in the viewpoint of queer theory. Jonathan Crewe took the text into two separate

interpretations of queer. Consistently with the duality of the word, people exercise the term to

refer to things that could otherwise be described as strange or peculiar; on the other hand, it also

refers to queerness of sexuality. The narrator’s actions and thoughts are admittedly quite strange

to onlookers and the reader and could be labeled queer in this sense. However, Crewe highlights

how her peculiarity can also be viewed as a lesbian desire. The reader witnesses early on in the

story the narrator’s inclined dislike of her husband, and even her own son. She talks of how she

lies to John because she knows he will be angry with her for doing things like not sleeping

enough, wanting to write, and not believing that his instruction is helping her get better. In

addition, the narrator has a queer relationship with the women of the story, including the

phantom woman of the wallpaper. Crewe says: 

However “innocent this situation may appear—and however unknowing the

narrator may in fact be—it would be historically false to suppose that, in 1890,

43
 there could be no lesbian implications in sentences like “Jennie wanted to sleep

with me” or “she wouldn’t mind doing it herself . . .  Bram Dijkstra indicates that

once-idealized female friendship comes under heavy misogynist suspicion for its

“hidden” lesbian content . . . while a certain ability to reappropriate the

misogynist trope of the mannish/man-hating is evident in fin-de siècle women’s

culture. (Crewe 337)

The narrator’s infatuation with the woman in the wallpaper lends itself to this queer argument, as

well; and although the indication of the narrator being a lesbian is a weaker argument than the

other critiques brought to the forefront, there is definitely substance to its validity. 

Of the theories already mentioned, many can be applied throughout the story; however,

the most evident of them is the theory of psychoanalysis. The entire story is dedicated to the

downfall of the narrator’s mental stability. Loralee MacPike credits the majority of the narrator’s

mental issues to her environment. She is kept in a room that was originally a nursery, with a bed

that is nailed to the floor, and surrounded by wallpaper that eventually drives her to complete

madness. She is instructed not to write, so she has nothing to occupy her time in this old, country

home. So, she spends all of her free time, which is quite substantial, detrimentally studying the

wallpaper. MacPike says: 

An ancient, smoldering, ‘unclean’ as the oppressive structures of the society in

which she finds herself, this wallpaper surrounds the narrator like an inexplicable

text, censorious and overwhelming as her physician husband, haunting as the

‘hereditary estate’ in which she is trying to survive. (MacPike 124)

44
In the resolution of the story the narrator indulges in unabbreviated insanity. The evidence that

her surroundings drove her there are strongly reinforced by the context and literary evidence.

The room and its contents seem to be the tipping point for her progressively declining mental

health. 

“The Yellow Wallpaper” indulges itself in a variety of different, yet interconnecting,

aspects of writing. When combined, the reader is brought to a story of incredibly grotesque detail

about the manner in which a woman faces mental deterioration at the hands of a simple,

unassuming yellow wallpaper. Gilman’s work divulges such an array of critiques, and in

accordance, it is regarded as a highly complex story that refuses to be seen as simply one

concept. By analyzing all of the aspects and inner workings of the piece side by side, the reader

may begin to understand how each part works to bring the story to a central point, which is that

of a woman of weakening mental capacity, who prefers the matriarchal in a society dominated by

the patriarchy, and reacts in a grotesque manner to the world unfolding within her wallpaper-

covered room.

45
 Works Cited

Crewe, Jonathan. "Queering ‘The Yellow Wallpaper’? Charlotte Perkins Gilman and the Politics 

of Form." Short Story Criticism, edited by Lawrence J. Trudeau, vol. 182, Gale, 2013, pp. 

271-376. Short Story Criticism Online, go.galegroup.com/ps/i.do?

p=LCO&sw=w&u=ksstate_fthays&v=2.1&id=RYQDVK834497601&it=r&asid=6594d480839b

7635f3bb75c349402792. Originally published in Tulsa Studies in Women’s Literature, vol. 14,

no. 2, 1995, pp. 273-93.

Gilman, Charlotte. “The Yellow Wallpaper.” Anthology of American Literature, McMichael, 

Leonard, 10 ed., vol. 11, Pearson Education, Inc., 2011, pp. 666-77.
th

Lanser, Susan S. "Feminist Criticism, the Yellow Wallpaper, and the Politics of Color in 

America." Short Story Criticism, edited by David L. Siegel, vol. 13, Gale, 1993, pp. 116-

76. Short Story Criticism Online, go.galegroup.com/ps/i.do?

p=LCO&sw=w&u=ksstate_fthays&v=2.1&id=NRDUUD425726985&it=r&asid=3407a43e5dc2

5d9ba4035ca79347f1d5. Originally published in Feminist Studies, vol. 15, no. 3, Fall 1989, pp.

415-41.

MacPike, Loralee. "Environment as Psychopathological Symbolism in the Yellow Wallpaper." 

Short Story Criticism, edited by David L. Siegel, vol. 13, Gale, 1993, pp. 116-76. Short Story

Criticism Online, go.galegroup.com/ps/i.do?

p=LCO&sw=w&u=ksstate_fthays&v=2.1&id=TVVYAW201

129231&it=r&asid=510422f1cad3eecd12550ed85956746f. Originally published in American

Literary Realism 1870-1910, vol. 8, no. 3, Summer 1975, pp. 286-88.

46