The spiral into mental insanity is exhibited powerfully in this literature and can be shown in emergence when analyzed through the eyes of formalist criticism. In this narrative, the reader is able to feel the complex layers of mental disorders, madness, and imprisonment from the main character. The use of imagery and symbolism builds the protagonist's psychology and gives the reader more insight on her mental state. The reader is lured into an unusual and confined atmosphere in which actuality dims into misconceptions. As the story goes on, the insanity and expression intensifies, causing the reader to easily dive into the narrators personality and character. The mental disorders that were placed in the main character helps assemble the narrative
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In the beginning, the yellow wallpaper was simply ornamental, but as the story goes on the wallpaper increasingly undertakes a menacing signification due to the narrator becoming obsessed on the hidden meanings and markings. Its yellow tone induces a feeling of disorder and putrefy, resembling the narrators own spiral into mental insanity. The whirling patterns and harrowing vines embellish a mirroring image of her expanding attachment to the wallpaper and the woman trapped behind. The ‘barred windows’ of the room with the yellow wallpaper acts as a physical expression of the narrators imprisonment. “For the windows are barred for little children. (Stetson 648)”. This symbolizes the blockage inflicted on her by the strict society and husband. Barred windows are generally used for preventing children from falling out of windows and provide a sense of security for the homeowners(CMI). Not only are barred windows used this way, but they are also used in prisons and psychiatric wards for the mentally insane. The barred windows give the narrator a sense of imprisonment, enclosing her within the nursery and elevating the feeling of seclusion and weakness. Furthermore, the disparity between the ‘nursery’ rooms aspect of household calmness and its lowkey ambience of maltreatment shows an influential critique of the social standards towards women before the 19th century. During this time, women were conditioned to be submissive and listen to all of what the man had to say (Cruea). What was supposed to be a room of care and nurturing evolved into captivity for the protagonist. Through careful attentiveness to imagery and symbolism, Stetson was able to create a piece of literature that cuts across the historical factors, pushing readers to regard the
In the beginning, the yellow wallpaper was simply ornamental, but as the story goes on the wallpaper increasingly undertakes a menacing signification due to the narrator becoming obsessed on the hidden meanings and markings. Its yellow tone induces a feeling of disorder and putrefy, resembling the narrators own spiral into mental insanity. The whirling patterns and harrowing vines embellish a mirroring image of her expanding attachment to the wallpaper and the woman trapped behind. The ‘barred windows’ of the room with the yellow wallpaper acts as a physical expression of the narrators imprisonment. “For the windows are barred for little children. (Stetson 648)”. This symbolizes the blockage inflicted on her by the strict society and husband. Barred windows are generally used for preventing children from falling out of windows and provide a sense of security for the homeowners(CMI). Not only are barred windows used this way, but they are also used in prisons and psychiatric wards for the mentally insane. The barred windows give the narrator a sense of imprisonment, enclosing her within the nursery and elevating the feeling of seclusion and weakness. Furthermore, the disparity between the ‘nursery’ rooms aspect of household calmness and its lowkey ambience of maltreatment shows an influential critique of the social standards towards women before the 19th century. During this time, women were conditioned to be submissive and listen to all of what the man had to say (Cruea). What was supposed to be a room of care and nurturing evolved into captivity for the protagonist. Through careful attentiveness to imagery and symbolism, Stetson was able to create a piece of literature that cuts across the historical factors, pushing readers to regard the