Feminist believe in equality for women in a male-dominated world in which women often do not receive the respect and consideration they deserve. This principle underlines Charlotte Perkins Gillman’s story, “The Yellow Wallpaper,” which concerns a postpartum depressed woman experiencing life in a male dominant society struggling to find a voice for her own well-being. The author wrote the short story after a similar event occurred to her in her own life. A close textual study of the story from a Feminist Critical Approach shows oppression for women using symbolism with mundane and horror to camouflage feminist views, conveys the connections between the horror story and the author, and expresses the fight for a voice as a woman. The Yellow
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The wallpaper represents the oppression of women, which hints to the reader with the way her husband disapproves of her wanting to change the wallpaper. In addition, much like the male-dominate society that disapproves of changes for women’s voices to be heard is described, “He said that after the wallpaper was changed it would be the heavy bedstead, and then the barred windows and then that gate at the head of the stairs and so on” (Gilman 480). If she was given a right to change the wallpaper in her husbands eyes, she would have been given opportunity to express more opinions which is a hassle for the husband. This relates to women in that society because if given an opinion that would be a hassle that would bring more opinion and more power. The idea of women being in control is hidden under the horror in the story. When the wallpaper is being removed from the walls. “‘For God’s sake, what are you doing!’…I’ve got out at last said I, ‘in-spite of you and Jane. And I’ve pulled off most of the paper, so you can’t put me back!” (Gilman 489). When the wallpaper was removed it symbolized the releasing of women oppression, but for many readers it was seen as horror. The effect of horror also portrayed a role with the feminist ideas because women’s rights were also seen as horror to most
The wallpaper represents the oppression of women, which hints to the reader with the way her husband disapproves of her wanting to change the wallpaper. In addition, much like the male-dominate society that disapproves of changes for women’s voices to be heard is described, “He said that after the wallpaper was changed it would be the heavy bedstead, and then the barred windows and then that gate at the head of the stairs and so on” (Gilman 480). If she was given a right to change the wallpaper in her husbands eyes, she would have been given opportunity to express more opinions which is a hassle for the husband. This relates to women in that society because if given an opinion that would be a hassle that would bring more opinion and more power. The idea of women being in control is hidden under the horror in the story. When the wallpaper is being removed from the walls. “‘For God’s sake, what are you doing!’…I’ve got out at last said I, ‘in-spite of you and Jane. And I’ve pulled off most of the paper, so you can’t put me back!” (Gilman 489). When the wallpaper was removed it symbolized the releasing of women oppression, but for many readers it was seen as horror. The effect of horror also portrayed a role with the feminist ideas because women’s rights were also seen as horror to most