In Charlotte Perkins Stetson’s story The Yellow Wallpaper, it is evident to the reader that women in the late 1800s did not have very many rights. White males were seen to be more important and have more power over women. In that day in age, there were very specific gender roles in place. Often, the women were to stay at home and cook and take care of the kids while the husbands went out and worked. Sadly, this meant a lot of women were controlled by their husbands. This was unfortunate for them as they did not have much to do other than stay home and take care of their kids. In this story, John, the husband, and his wife are staying in a temporary house for a few weeks. They are a clear example of how the times were back then and what
…show more content…
He was the one to work and make money, while she was imprisoned to her room because he did not want her to leave. John would sometimes be out all night while she stayed awake and waited for him to get back. By doing this it shows that he is the one capable of doing whatever he wants while she is stuck in her room. At one point, she says, “I meant to be such a help to John, such a real res and comfort, and here I am a comparative burden already!” (Stetson 649). This is a clear example of the portrayal of a woman’s role back then. She uses the word “meant” to show that she was trying but then the word “burden” is used to show how her efforts did not matter. He made her feel like she was not able to be helpful. She was only there for him as an object around the house that he could use, not as a wife. As the object she was, she was not even given a name. The author does this to show how much more important John was because he was given a name. He mattered enough to have a name, whereas his wife was just an object so she did not need a …show more content…
She was ill in the beginning as she says so, but being controlled and confined led her to being even more ill. This caused her a lot of problems with her surroundings. In the beginning she says, “I never saw a worse paper in my life” (Stetson 648). At this point she just thought the paper was ugly and not very artistic. This pattern was bothering her enough to say it was the worst she has ever seen. As bothered as she is at this point, it only gets worse. Soon enough, the color starts to bother her and make her feel uncomfortable and not want to stay in the room. As time goes on, she says, “And it is like a woman stooping down and creeping about behind that pattern” (Stetson 652). She says this when referring to the shape in the wallpaper. She has been in her room for so long that she is starting to see a woman in the wallpaper. The author uses the words “creeping” and “stooping” so the reader gets an image in their head about what the woman is doing. This is also a description of how the wife views herself. Since she is imprisoned then she sees this woman as trapped with nowhere to go and all she can do is creep around. This is written by the author to show the wife having little things that bother her, then as she is living under his rules and staying in her room, it only gets
He was the one to work and make money, while she was imprisoned to her room because he did not want her to leave. John would sometimes be out all night while she stayed awake and waited for him to get back. By doing this it shows that he is the one capable of doing whatever he wants while she is stuck in her room. At one point, she says, “I meant to be such a help to John, such a real res and comfort, and here I am a comparative burden already!” (Stetson 649). This is a clear example of the portrayal of a woman’s role back then. She uses the word “meant” to show that she was trying but then the word “burden” is used to show how her efforts did not matter. He made her feel like she was not able to be helpful. She was only there for him as an object around the house that he could use, not as a wife. As the object she was, she was not even given a name. The author does this to show how much more important John was because he was given a name. He mattered enough to have a name, whereas his wife was just an object so she did not need a …show more content…
She was ill in the beginning as she says so, but being controlled and confined led her to being even more ill. This caused her a lot of problems with her surroundings. In the beginning she says, “I never saw a worse paper in my life” (Stetson 648). At this point she just thought the paper was ugly and not very artistic. This pattern was bothering her enough to say it was the worst she has ever seen. As bothered as she is at this point, it only gets worse. Soon enough, the color starts to bother her and make her feel uncomfortable and not want to stay in the room. As time goes on, she says, “And it is like a woman stooping down and creeping about behind that pattern” (Stetson 652). She says this when referring to the shape in the wallpaper. She has been in her room for so long that she is starting to see a woman in the wallpaper. The author uses the words “creeping” and “stooping” so the reader gets an image in their head about what the woman is doing. This is also a description of how the wife views herself. Since she is imprisoned then she sees this woman as trapped with nowhere to go and all she can do is creep around. This is written by the author to show the wife having little things that bother her, then as she is living under his rules and staying in her room, it only gets