AP Lit Essay

In "The Yellow Wallpaper”, by Charlotte Perkins Gilman, the character who remains
unnamed faces both expectations and personal struggles. This mirrors the experiences of
Edna Pontellier in Kate Chopin’s "The Awakening " as they both conform externally while
questioning internally. Perkins skillfully employs symbolism, metaphors, and strong diction
to depict the conflict between the protagonist’s desire for expression and the
pressures to conform to domestic roles.
Symbols in literature go beyond decoration; they carry meanings that encapsulate
complex ideologies and emotions. Gilman’s "The Yellow Wallpaper" provides an example of
this through the yellow wallpaper itself which serves as a powerful symbol. The description
of its color as "repellant, almost revolting; a smouldering yellow, strangely faded by the
turning sunlight" (Gilman 3) goes beyond aesthetics to reflect the confines and suffocation
of Victorian domestic life. Sylvia Plaths poem "Mirror" also employs symbolism through a
lake that becomes a tool, for introspection; "Now I am a lake. A woman bends over me
Searching my reaches for what she really's (Plath 10). This passage captures the essence of a
woman’s journey to discover her identity, which is often distorted by expectations. The
reflective qualities of mirrors and lakes symbolize the pressures that influence how we
perceive ourselves. By drawing connections, between these works Arzu ÖZYÖNs observation
that the protagonist in "The Yellow Wallpaper" experiences "oppression" from a " society"
provides insight (ÖZYÖN1). The description of her environment, the locked gates and her
husband’s choice of room resonates with the theme of confinement and control depicted by
the restrictive patterns on the wallpaper (ÖZYÖN1). Similarly, when we examine the line
"Then she turns to those liars, the candles or the moon" from "Mirror" (Plath 12) there is a
suggestion of how societal standards can be deceptive. In "The Yellow Wallpaper " the
experiences this deception when she realizes that her confinement is supposedly, for her
well-being as suggested by her husband who states, "we came here solely on my account"
(Gilman, 1989; 648). Furthermore, both Gilman and Plath shed light on the struggles
women face when their external worlds attempt to suppress their desires. Both works
emphasize the balance that women strive to achieve between expectations and personal
goals.
Metaphors unlike symbols go beyond representation. Instead substitute one
concept, with another to convey deeper meanings. In "The Yellow Wallpaper," a haunting
metaphor is created through the changing patterns of the wallpaper. The protagonists
deteriorating mental state serves as a representation of the tension between conforming to
societal norms and expressing one’s self. As her mind unravels, the patterns and oppressive
presence of the wallpaper symbolize not the restrictions imposed by society but also those
imposed by her own family. The shifting patterns mirror her psychological fragmentation
illustrating how external pressures can profoundly impact one’s inner psyche. In a vein Paul
Dunbar’s "We Wear the Mask" explores this theme using a metaphor. The mask becomes a
symbol for the facades we maintain to fit into society’s expectations regardless of any
turmoil or suffering we may be experiencing underneath. It serves as both an accessory and
a shield, against judgment, ridicule, or pity. Wearing a mask can be seen to protect ourselves
in a world that may not accept our emotions and vulnerabilities. By comparing the evolving
wallpaper and the unchanging mask we can understand the struggle, between fitting in and
expressing ourselves. The oppressive nature of the wallpaper represents internal pressures
leading to the protagonists declining state. On the hand Dunbar’s mask hides a storm of
emotions, thoughts and desires revealing how people suppress their feelings for societal
acceptance. Additionally, in "The Yellow Wallpaper," the home that should provide comfort
becomes a prison for the protagonist. This emphasizes her confinement and lack of control.
The home and wallpaper together create an environment that symbolizes society’s
restrictions, on women during that time. Both "The Yellow Wallpaper" and "We Wear The
Mask" skillfully explore the sacrifices made to conform. The interwoven designs of a
captivating wallpaper and the unyielding mask both emphasize the struggle, between
expectations and the yearning for genuine self-expression. The choice of words plays a role
in shaping narratives providing glimpses into characters minds and deeper meanings within
the story. In "The Yellow Wallpaper " phrases like "I did write for a while in spite of them"
and the depiction of the pattern resembling a neck reveal not her rebellion but also her
growing fixation on the wallpaper (Gilman 768 770). On the hand in Kate Chopin’s "The
Story of an Hour " the protagonist’s realization of freedom upon hearing of her husbands
presumed death is vividly expressed through her exclamation "'free free free!'" (Chopin 2).
Furthermore, Kate Chopin’s narrative includes the phrase "of joy that kills " providing
insights into the conflicts, within human nature when faced with societal norms and
personal desires. The fleeting moment when the protagonist experiences freedom followed
by her demise serves to highlight pressures that arise when one seeks self-expression within
a world constrained by rigid conventions. The contrast between the exhilarating sense of
freedom and the sobering realization creates a tension suggesting that her newfound
liberation was too overwhelming to maintain within her context. The term "fragility of her
freedom" adds another layer to this tension implying that any departure from norms even if
it promises happiness and self-expression can be risky. This can be seen as a critique of
society itself highlighting how the very structures designed to ensure stability and security
can sometimes become constraints that stifle and endanger spirits, those of women. The
chosen language in both narratives allows readers to deeply understand the struggles of the
characters. These stories do not depict the challenges faced by women. Also enable readers
to experience the suffocating weight of societal expectations and the burning desire, for
personal expression. Each word and phrase contribute to an understanding of their
emotions causing their internal conflicts to resonate profoundly with readers. Ultimately
these narratives communicate an irony; seeking self-expression and freedom in a world
governed by strict societal expectations can bring joy; however, when this joy is fully
realized it can become dangerously overwhelming.
The powerful use of words, in this context highlights the conflict between fitting into
society’s expectations and staying true to oneself. To sum up Charlotte Perkins Gilman’s "The
Yellow Wallpaper" beautifully depicts a woman’s battles and the limitations imposed by
society through literary techniques. By incorporating symbols, metaphors and chosen words
alongside references, to literary works and research Gilman presents a compelling story that
sheds light on the sacrifices women make in their pursuit of self-expression.