Literary Analysis of Charlotte Perkins Gilman ‘The Yellow Wallpaper’
Charlotte Perkins Gilman’s ‘The Yellow Paper’ is a short story published by the American writer in 1892. Debuting in The New England Magazine, this piece examines issues surrounding the physical and mental health of women during the period. Likewise, the work demonstrates an early facet of American feminism. Operating from the vantage point of a woman’s thoughts, Gilman opens opportunities for readers to understand her transformation and how the condition of ‘temporary nervous depression’ further worsened the narrator’s mental state. As the story unfolds, the author also examines striking themes that remain to criticize the social conditions experienced by women.
One of the critical themes portrayed by Gilman in the story corresponds to the plight of married women and they continue to be subordinated by their husbands. Specifically, it emphasized a strict adherence of women to domestic roles and responsibilities. For a married woman, it is important that they maintain their function within the household and nothing else (Gilman 1). Arguably, this limiting role demonstrates the inability to recognize the other capacity of women during the time the story was written. The thing that is more saddening about the story is how the actions towards exploration of new ideals outside the norms of a married woman are considered to be psychological diseases that need to be treated. Hence, the wrong diagnosis to the narrator further led to her demise. Altogether, the subordination of women remains to be a social construct that continue to shape and influence their actions and viewpoints surrounding life.
Another relevant theme highlighted by Gilman in the story reflects the importance of self-expression. Since the narrator is experiencing neglect and oftentimes rebuke for her needs to express, it becomes the catalyst that would drive her insane. Instead of having an outlet where she can point out her thoughts, ideas and perspectives outside social conventions, she was forced to become passive and restricted to not use her mind (Banks 1). The problem here of course is the narrator’s powerful imagination got the best of her since she has no way of expressing these thoughts and ideas to other people. At the middle of the story, readers can see that the narrator was trying to convey these in her journal. However, due to the prohibition made by John, this led to the narrator’s further demise.
Lastly, Gilman’s use of the wallpaper as a symbolism is also another valuable aspect to consider in appreciating the story. Upon closer examination, the significance of this object is the manner it cultivates the representation of the narrator’s life. It seeks to show how it serves to be a barrier to the different norms, values and structures existent in her life. The yellow wallpaper is a symbol of the domestic life that the protagonist tries to escape from. Though many have tried to escape this and explore ways they would become better, these women including the narrator have been subjected to prejudice and false diagnosis (Sustana 1). Altogether, it symbolizes the struggles of women living only a domestic role in society.
Overall, ‘the Yellow Wallpaper’ is a sad tale of a woman who has struggled to find her identity beyond the domestic domains of married life. Operating from the tone of the woman, Gilman is able to highlight the different struggles she had to face in order to express herself and identity to her husband. Despite her attempt to reach out to her husband John, the act remains to be futile as her actions only reflect that of a psychological and mental condition that needs to be treated. By bringing these issues forward, the story is able to show the disparity of treatment surrounding women during the period as well as the oppressive social forces that continue to impede the development of women through the use of misdiagnosis and disdain.
Works Cited
Banks, Marina. ‘Literary Analysis the Yellow Wallpaper by Charlotte Perkins Gilman’ Humanities 360. 29 May 2008. Web. Accessed 30 August 2014.
Gilman, Charlotte Perkins. ‘The Yellow Wallpaper’ Gutenberg.org.1892. Web. Accessed 30 August 2014.
Sustana, Catherine. ‘Analysis of ‘The Yellow Paper’ by Charlotte Perkins Gilman’ About Short Stories. N.d. Web. Accessed 30 August 2014.