Charlotte Perkins Gilman wrote the short story “The Yellow Wallpaper” based on her life experience. The story is about a woman who had a baby and fell into depression. In the nineteenth century, doctors called the illness a “nervous condition”, however with new technology and advancements in the medical field, the disorder is known as Post Pardon Depression. Gilman’s treatment consisted of bed rest, which had negative side effects on her sanity. She eventually stopped the treatment and regained her mental stability, then shortly after came to the conclusion that the treatment is not effective and should not be allowed to be administered. “The Yellow Wallpaper” is about a woman who is trapped and desperately trying to escape from reality. I
…show more content…
As I previously stated, in the nineteenth century women must obey their husbands, however John (the young woman’s husband and doctor) went above being controlling and treating her as if she were a child. Parents are in control of their children and this is a prime example of how John wanted the main character to feel. In the story, John calls his wife “a blessed little goose” and a “little girl”, this phrase proves that he is denying any rights she has as a women, his wife, and making her child like (Gilman, 181). He undermines her as a mother by treating her like a child, because she could not take care of her own infant. He wants her to feel like he is the only person she can listen to and that he is right about everything. This behavior sounds partially narcissistic. In “The Yellow Wallpaper”, John says “If a physician of high standing, and one 's own husband, assures friends and relatives that there is really nothing the matter with one but temporary nervous depression--a slight hysterical tendency-- what is one to do (Gilman, 173)?” This type of thought process John has, does not allow his wife to question him. Gilman uses symbols to show that she is breaking free and releasing the person she is. She does not want to feel constricted by the men in her life, as well as the society that put men in this role. The yellow wallpaper in the story is symbolic of the society and …show more content…
I wanted to focus more on the setting of the story and society, because these are the fundamental elements that lead up to the climax. Charlotte Gilman wrote about her real life experience and she eventually started to question and protest the bed rest treatment. As a reader, we saw into the mind of the narrator and how she was feeling and thinking. When this story was published, I believe it brought many concerns and self-questioning actions to society and the people involved. Setting and society were major elements in the story and the author used symbolism to bring out key factors of each of the key elements. As a reader, I came to the conclusion that if society had been different, the narrator would not have committed suicide. That is why the setting and society are significant to the
As I previously stated, in the nineteenth century women must obey their husbands, however John (the young woman’s husband and doctor) went above being controlling and treating her as if she were a child. Parents are in control of their children and this is a prime example of how John wanted the main character to feel. In the story, John calls his wife “a blessed little goose” and a “little girl”, this phrase proves that he is denying any rights she has as a women, his wife, and making her child like (Gilman, 181). He undermines her as a mother by treating her like a child, because she could not take care of her own infant. He wants her to feel like he is the only person she can listen to and that he is right about everything. This behavior sounds partially narcissistic. In “The Yellow Wallpaper”, John says “If a physician of high standing, and one 's own husband, assures friends and relatives that there is really nothing the matter with one but temporary nervous depression--a slight hysterical tendency-- what is one to do (Gilman, 173)?” This type of thought process John has, does not allow his wife to question him. Gilman uses symbols to show that she is breaking free and releasing the person she is. She does not want to feel constricted by the men in her life, as well as the society that put men in this role. The yellow wallpaper in the story is symbolic of the society and …show more content…
I wanted to focus more on the setting of the story and society, because these are the fundamental elements that lead up to the climax. Charlotte Gilman wrote about her real life experience and she eventually started to question and protest the bed rest treatment. As a reader, we saw into the mind of the narrator and how she was feeling and thinking. When this story was published, I believe it brought many concerns and self-questioning actions to society and the people involved. Setting and society were major elements in the story and the author used symbolism to bring out key factors of each of the key elements. As a reader, I came to the conclusion that if society had been different, the narrator would not have committed suicide. That is why the setting and society are significant to the