Literary Analysis The Yellow Wallpaper by Charlotte Perkins Gilman
If you are interested in this topic, another suggested reading is,” The Yellow Wallpaper.”
Charlotte Perkins Gilman uses her short story “The Yellow Wallpaper” to make determined statements about feminism and individuality. Gilman does so by taking the reader through the terrors of one woman’s neurosis, her entire mental state characterized by her encounters with the wallpaper in her room.
Much of this story is centered on eerie descriptions of the yellow wallpaper and the woman’s obsessive interactions with it. It is important, though, to understand that although the plot is primarily based around her neurosis, the objective of the story is to deliver a completely unrelated message. Many critics of “The Yellow Wallpaper” claim that the story might drive someone mad simply by reading it, but this, in my opinion, is beside the point. Gilman seeks instead to evoke a message of individual expression and successfully does so by recording the progression of the illness, through the state of the wallpaper.
It is immediately apparent in the story that the woman allows herself to be inferior to men, particularly her husband, John. Being a physician, he ahs special orders for her: To stay in bed, suppress her imagination, and most importantly to discontinue her writing. Though she feels better when she writes, and feels it may be beneficial, she does not say a word. “Personally I disagree with their ideas,” she writes. “Personally, I believe that congenial work, with excitement and change, would do me good. But what is one to do?” (160). This statement, “What is one to do?” shows her lack of self-confidence and feeling of inferiority. She speaks as though her opinions to do not count anyway, but she is very accepting of this. She belittles herself several more times throughout the story. “I meant to be such a help to John, such a real rest and comfort, and her I am a comparative burden already” (162).
The problem is that the woman does not give herself enough credit to spec up for herself. This is slightly comparable to what many people go through today, in our society, with doctors. Although one knows what makes him or her feel better, s/he most often will rely on the doctor’s advice, instead, simply because of his or her authority. The woman is trying so hard to get better, and deep down she knows what she needs to do, but she is constantly being shut down by her husband, her brother, and her own personal insecurities.
The woman’s descriptions of the wallpaper seem to be symbolic of the evolution of her illness and through the paper, she sees herself. The wallpaper, when first introduced, sets the social environment between the woman and her illness. The paper is describes as being
�dull enough to confuse the eye in following, pronounced enough to constantly irritate and provoke study, and when you follow the lame uncertain curves for a little distance they suddenly commit suicide-plunge off at outrageous angles, destroy themselves in unheard of contradictions (161).
This paragraph is extremely important to the story, portraying not only how the woman feels about herself, but also what her husband’s therapy is doing to her. Her description of the paper being “dull enough to confuse the eye” and “constantly irritating and provoking study” is alluding to her sense of inferiority and burden. The “lame uncertain curves” she speaks of are likely to reference the ridiculous suggestions that he husband makes for her, and “suicide” being the fate that is destined to result if followed. The “unheard of contradictions” express the faultiness of John’s methods. She describes him at one point: “He says no one but myself can help me out of it, that I must use my will and self-control and not let any silly fancies run away with me” (165). He does not, however let her do what she wills to do and what she knows she should do, which is use her mind and express herself.
The woman describes writing as “Such a relief” but because of John’s constant observation of her as well as her low energy level she must direct her imagination elsewhere. So she begins to fantasize about the wallpaper. She imagines people, scenes, colorful artwork, and mostly anything imaginable on the paper. The more she lets herself dream, and use her mind, the more confident she becomes. At first she notices a woman in the paper “stooping down and creeping about” (166) and it makes her feel scared. The woman, who for some time is hidden in the background of the paper, symbolizes the main character’s fear of presenting herself and her opinions, with control.
Eventually, as she lets her imagination wander, she begins to display a building confidence in herself, and an almost amused opinion of John’s therapy. When John said she seemed to be doing well in spite of the wallpaper, she “turned it off with a laugh. I had no intention of telling him it was because of the wallpaper- he would make fun of me” (168), she says. This is also the point where she begins to see the woman in the paper emerging. “I think that woman gets out in the daytime! And ill tell you why-privately- I’ve seen her!” (169).
Finally, the woman completely lets herself go. She enjoys looking at and playing with the wallpaper and she no longer cares what anyone thinks. She totally and uninhibitedly gives in to herself and allows her feelings to be expressed. “Then I peeled off all the paper I could reach standing on the floor. IT sticks horribly and the pattern just enjoys it” (171). The woman is doing as she wills and destroying that which limits her. One may argue that she has gone insane, and subsequently furthered her illness, but I believe Gilman’s intention is to show her celebration of self. “I’ve got out at last,” she says to John, “in spite of you and Jane. And I’ve pushed off most of the paper so you can’t put me back” (172). Finally, John faints. And now, it is the woman who is in control, creeping over him.
Also read Book Review: ‘The Yellow Wallpaper’ by Charlotte Perkins Gilman.
