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109 The Yellow Wallpaper Essay Topic Ideas & Examples

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The Yellow Wallpaper by Charlotte Perkins Gilman is a classic piece of feminist literature that explores themes of mental illness, gender roles, and the oppression of women in the 19th century. If you're tasked with writing an essay on this iconic short story, you may be wondering where to start. To help you get the creative juices flowing, we've compiled a list of 109 The Yellow Wallpaper essay topic ideas and examples that you can use as inspiration for your own writing.

• Analyze the symbolism of the yellow wallpaper in the story.
• Discuss the theme of confinement and freedom in The Yellow Wallpaper.
• Explore the narrator's descent into madness throughout the story.
• Examine the role of gender in The Yellow Wallpaper.
• Compare and contrast the narrator's husband and the mysterious figure in the wallpaper.
• Discuss the significance of the nursery in the story.
• Analyze the relationship between the narrator and her husband.
• Explore the theme of power dynamics in The Yellow Wallpaper.
• Discuss the role of mental illness in the story.
• Examine the theme of isolation in The Yellow Wallpaper.
• Compare and contrast the narrator's experience with mental illness to modern-day understandings of mental health.
• Discuss the role of the female body in The Yellow Wallpaper.
• Analyze the narrator's relationship with her baby.
• Explore the significance of the house in the story.
• Discuss the theme of creativity and self-expression in The Yellow Wallpaper.
• Analyze the narrator's use of language and imagery in the story.
• Discuss the role of writing and storytelling in The Yellow Wallpaper.
• Explore the theme of identity in the story.
• Analyze the narrator's changing perception of the wallpaper throughout the story.
• Discuss the significance of the color yellow in The Yellow Wallpaper.
• Analyze the narrator's internal conflict between societal expectations and her own desires.
• Discuss the theme of agency and autonomy in The Yellow Wallpaper.
• Examine the role of the female gaze in the story.
• Analyze the narrator's relationship with the wallpaper and how it reflects her own mental state.
• Discuss the theme of resistance in The Yellow Wallpaper.
• Explore the theme of madness in the story.
• Analyze the role of the domestic sphere in The Yellow Wallpaper.
• Discuss the theme of motherhood in the story.
• Examine the narrator's relationship with her own body.
• Discuss the role of medicine and medical treatment in The Yellow Wallpaper.
• Analyze the significance of the ending of the story.
• Discuss the theme of self-discovery in The Yellow Wallpaper.
• Explore the theme of subversion in the story.
• Analyze the narrator's relationship with her own creativity.
• Discuss the theme of captivity in The Yellow Wallpaper.
• Examine the role of the narrator's sister-in-law in the story.
• Analyze the narrator's relationship with the wallpaper as a form of communication.
• Discuss the theme of domesticity in The Yellow Wallpaper.
• Explore the theme of agency and control in the story.
• Analyze the narrator's relationship with her own mental illness.
• Discuss the theme of confinement and liberation in The Yellow Wallpaper.
• Examine the narrator's relationship with the wallpaper as a form of artistic expression.
• Analyze the role of the male gaze in the story.
• Discuss the theme of self-destruction in The Yellow Wallpaper.
• Explore the theme of resistance and rebellion in the story.
• Analyze the narrator's relationship with her own body and physicality.
• Discuss the theme of female solidarity in The Yellow Wallpaper.
• Examine the role of the wallpaper as a symbol of the narrator's own psyche.
• Analyze the narrator's relationship with her husband as a form of control and manipulation.
• Discuss the theme of agency and empowerment in The Yellow Wallpaper.
• Explore the theme of confinement and escape in the story.
• Analyze the narrator's relationship with the wallpaper as a mirror of her own inner turmoil.
• Discuss the theme of domestic abuse in The Yellow Wallpaper.
• Examine the role of gaslighting in the story.
• Analyze the narrator's relationship with her own mental health.
• Discuss the theme of gender roles and expectations in The Yellow Wallpaper.
• Explore the theme of sisterhood and solidarity in the story.
• Analyze the narrator's relationship with the wallpaper as a form of resistance.
• Discuss the theme of repression and liberation in The Yellow Wallpaper.
• Examine the role of the nursery as a symbol of the narrator's own confinement.
• Analyze the narrator's relationship with her own creativity and artistic expression.
• Discuss the theme of control and submission in The Yellow Wallpaper.
• Explore the theme of femininity and womanhood in the story.
• Analyze the narrator's relationship with the wallpaper as a reflection of her own mental state.
• Discuss the theme of mental illness and stigma in The Yellow Wallpaper.
• Examine the role of the wallpaper as a symbol of the narrator's own imprisonment.
• Analyze the narrator's relationship with her husband as a form of emotional abuse.
• Discuss the theme of independence and autonomy in The Yellow Wallpaper.
• Explore the theme of mental health and self-care in the story.
• Analyze the narrator's relationship with her own body and physical appearance.
• Discuss the theme of confinement and release in The Yellow Wallpaper.
• Examine the role of the wallpaper as a symbol of the narrator's own mental anguish.
• Analyze the narrator's relationship with her own creativity and self-expression.
• Discuss the theme of patriarchy and misogyny in The Yellow Wallpaper.
• Explore the theme of repression and liberation in the story.
• Analyze the narrator's relationship with her husband as a reflection of societal gender norms.
• Discuss the theme of control and power dynamics in The Yellow Wallpaper.
• Examine the role of the wallpaper as a symbol of the narrator's own inner turmoil.
• Analyze the narrator's relationship with her own mental health and well-being.
• Analyze the narrator's relationship with the wallpaper as a form of resistance and rebellion.
• Discuss the theme of female agency and empowerment in The Yellow Wallpaper.
• Examine the role of the nursery as a symbol of the narrator's own confinement and captivity.
• Examine the role of the wallpaper as a symbol of the narrator's own imprisonment and entrapment.
• Analyze the narrator's relationship with her husband as a form of emotional abuse and manipulation.
• Examine the role of the wallpaper as a symbol of the narrator's own mental anguish and suffering.
• Analyze the narrator's relationship with her husband as a reflection of societal gender norms and expectations.
• Examine the role of the wallpaper as a symbol of the narrator's own inner turmoil and conflict.
• Analyze the narrator's relationship with the wallpaper as a form of resistance and rebellion against societal norms.
• Analyze the narrator's relationship with her own creativity and artistic expression in the story.

With these 109 The Yellow Wallpaper essay topic ideas and examples, you're sure to find something that sparks your interest and helps you write a compelling and thought-provoking essay on this timeless piece of literature. Good luck with your writing!

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The Yellow Wallpaper

Charlotte perkins gilman, ask litcharts ai: the answer to your questions.

Welcome to the LitCharts study guide on Charlotte Perkins Gilman's The Yellow Wallpaper . Created by the original team behind SparkNotes, LitCharts are the world's best literature guides.

The Yellow Wallpaper: Introduction

The yellow wallpaper: plot summary, the yellow wallpaper: detailed summary & analysis, the yellow wallpaper: themes, the yellow wallpaper: quotes, the yellow wallpaper: characters, the yellow wallpaper: symbols, the yellow wallpaper: literary devices, the yellow wallpaper: quizzes, the yellow wallpaper: theme wheel, brief biography of charlotte perkins gilman.

Historical Context of The Yellow Wallpaper

Other books related to the yellow wallpaper.

• Full Title: The Yellow Wallpaper
• When Written: June, 1890
• Where Written: California
• When Published: May, 1892
• Literary Period: Gothic
• Genre: Short story; Gothic horror; Feminist literature
• Setting: Late nineteenth century, in a colonial mansion that has been rented for the summer. Most of the story’s action takes place in a room at the top of the house that is referred to as the “nursery.”
• Climax: The narrator suffers a complete mental breakdown, identifying herself with the woman she has hallucinated as being trapped in the yellow wallpaper and clawing at the walls as she creeps in endless circles about the room and over her fainted husband.
• Antagonist: John, the narrator’s husband and doctor, could be considered an antagonist, although he is not a purely evil character.
• Point of View: First person narrator, in a series of diary entries.

Extra Credit for The Yellow Wallpaper

Self-funded. To finance her education at the Rhode Island School of Design, Charlotte Perkins Gilman painted advertisements (trade cards) for soap companies.

Utopian lit. In addition to critiques like The Yellow Wallpaper , Gilman wrote utopian fiction through which she imagined a world in which social conditions reflected equality for women.

The Yellow Wallpaper

37 pages • 1 hour read

A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.

Story Analysis

Character Analysis

Symbols & Motifs

Literary Devices

Important Quotes

Essay Topics

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Discussion Questions

Although Gilman’s short story is not technically Gothic, elements that characterize the Gothic movement in literature are observable. What are a few of these elements? Support your answer with evidence from the text.

Comment on the narrator’s use of repetition . Locate at least three examples of repetition in the story and discuss how it enhances your understanding of the narrator’s temperament and personality.

Some scholars believe the narrator’s depiction of her husband is a caricature. Do you agree or disagree with this interpretation of John’s behavior and regard towards his wife?

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Themes of ‘The Yellow Wallpaper’ Explained

By Dr Oliver Tearle (Loughborough University)

‘The Yellow Wallpaper’ is an 1892 short story by the American writer Charlotte Perkins Gilman. A powerful study of mental illness and the inhuman treatments administered in its name, the story explores a number of ‘big’ themes and ideas. Let’s take a look at some of the key themes of the story.

First, however, let’s briefly summarise the plot of the story: the narrator and her husband John, a doctor, have come to stay at a large country house. As the story develops, we realise that the woman’s husband has brought her to the house in order to try to cure her of her mental illness. His proposed (well, enforced ) treatment is to lock his wife away from everyone except him, and to withhold everything from her that might excite her.

It becomes clear, as the story develops, that depriving the female narrator of anything to occupy her mind is making her mental illness worse, not better. The narrator outlines to us how she sometimes sits for hours in her room, tracing the patterns in the yellow wallpaper on the walls of her room.

She then tells us she thinks she can see a woman ‘stooping down and creeping about behind that pattern.’ She becomes obsessed with the wallpaper as her mental state deteriorates, before eventually locking herself within the room and crawling around on the floor.

Mental Illness.

Perhaps the most important theme of Gilman’s story is the narrator’s mental illness, which is present from the beginning of the story and gradually worsens as her narrative develops. Having the narrator tell her own story and provide her own observations in the form of a diary means we have unfiltered access to her thoughts and moods, and this can make parts of the story uncomfortable reading.

Gilman is obviously suggesting that the narrator’s husband, John – who as both a man and a qualified doctor is expected to ‘know what’s best’ for his wife – is misguided in his belief that rest and withdrawal from society, including her own family, is what his wife needs to improve her mental state.

At one point in ‘The Yellow Wallpaper’, the narrator mentions Weir Mitchell , who was a real person: a neurologist who viewed depression in women as a disorder of their nerves, or as ‘hysteria’ (a term which itself began as gendered: it comes from the ancient Greek word for ‘womb’, because only women were thought to suffer from the condition). Intellectual stimulation was frowned upon, and prolonged periods of rest were prescribed.

But although we can view the narrator’s madness as a tragic outcome of her husband’s misguided belief in his psychological, rational, and scientific approach to her illness, it is possible also to view the narrator’s ‘descent’ into madness as a perverse kind of liberation for her. In triumphantly asserting to John, ‘I’ve got out at last … in spite of you and Jane’, the narrator is taking back a form of control over her surroundings.

And given the gender dynamics at play in the story, we also need to engage with another key theme in the story: gender itself.

Women in Society.

In the late nineteenth century in the United States, women were still often dependent on men both financially and socially. John’s strict control over his wife’s behaviour and confinement needs to be understood (though not necessarily condoned) in this context.

Of course, it is worth bearing in mind the context of the narrator’s depression, too: it is postpartum depression – that is, depression that follows giving birth to her son. She has fulfilled the duty of a wife and mother, as nineteenth century society dictates, but the experience has left her suffering from depression.

It is also clear from the narrator’s diary that her own views about herself have been heavily shaped by the men in her life: not only her husband but also her brother. It is clear that she would like to keep writing to help her through her depression, but she is forbidden to do so, on the grounds that it would make her mental state worse.

Of course, there is something symbolic – when we analyse ‘The Yellow Wallpaper’ from a feminist perspective, as many critics have – about the female narrator being forbidden to write or express herself. And there is something quietly triumphant about the fact that she goes ahead and writes her journal despite being told not to do so.

Related to this theme of gender and the place of women in society is the theme of marriage, which is central to ‘The Yellow Wallpaper’ given the narrator’s marriage to John and his strict orders concerning what his wife is and is not allowed to do.

It is revealing that John often views and treats his wife not so much like a fellow adult as like a child: at one point, he even calls her a ‘little girl’. This belittling language indicates that, well-meaning though he might be, John also does not view his wife as his equal, intellectually or emotionally. She is weak and delicate and needs to be told what to do, for her own protection.

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The Yellow Wallpaper Essay Topics & Samples

At some point in your studying, you might be asked to produce “The Yellow Wallpaper” analysis essay. Well, if you’re reading this, you have already received this task! Let’s start by choosing a suitable topic to write about.

Our specialists will write a custom essay specially for you!

This article by Custom-Writing.org experts contains “The Yellow Wallpaper” essay topics, “The Yellow Wallpaper” essay prompts, and writing samples. Go on reading if you want to learn more!

• 🌟 How to Choose
• 💡 Essay Topics
• 🎓 Thesis Ideas
• 📝 Essay Prompts
• ❓ Top 12 Questions
• 🔍 Research Paper Topics
• ✒️ Essay Samples

🌟 The Yellow Wallpaper Essay Topics: How to Choose

First of all, you need to think about the topic of your paper. One way to choose a writing idea is to consider the main facts about “The Yellow Wallpaper”:

• The story was written at the end of the 19th century about mental disorder treatment of that time.
• It is considered one of the strongest and most prominent pieces of feminist literature .

These facts might be your first clue for choosing an essay topic. Try to look at the issues of mental health and gender stereotypes from your perspective.

In case you don’t particularly fancy the theme of feminism in “The Yellow Wallpaper” , there are many other options to choose from. Here are two tips that will help you pick an essay topic:

• Try highlighting the moments that stand out for you in the story. Then, expand on them in your paper.
• Write down any questions you might have during the reading to use them later.

However, if you don’t want to spend too much time on it, jump straight away to our list of topics for “The Yellow Wallpaper” essays.

Just in 1 hour! We will write you a plagiarism-free paper in hardly more than 1 hour

💡 The Yellow Wallpaper Essay Topics

• The meaning of the story’s title.
• “The Yellow Wallpaper”   as a horror story.
• Representation of madness in the story.
• The significance of the unnamed narrator.
• Color symbolism in Gilman’s story.
• Explain why the story’s ending is optimistic.
• Study the use of Gothic elements in the narrative.
• Why ”The Yellow Wallpaper” is still relevant today.
• The meaning of “creeping” in “The Yellow Wallpaper”.
• Comparison of A Rose for Emily and “The Yellow Wallpaper”.
• John as Dr. Mitchel’s double in ”The Yellow Wallpaper”.
• The symbolism of a fixed bed in Gilman’s story.
• Marriage in “The Yellow Wallpaper” and The Story of an Hour .
• Infantilization of the story’s protagonist by her husband.
• Describe the role of nature in ”The Yellow Wallpaper”.
• How a 19 th -century woman’s yearnings are presented by Gilman.
• Examine the trope of the haunted house in ”The Yellow Wallpaper”.
• Writing as a process of self-assertion in “The Yellow Wallpaper”.
• How Gilman’s story influenced mental health treatment of women.
• The perils of marriage and motherhood in “The Yellow Wallpaper”.

📝 The Yellow Wallpaper Essay Prompts

• Study the issue of the gender roles in the story and compare it to modern norms. “The Yellow Wallpaper” highlights the problem of the suppression of women. Your essay on this topic may include some comments on family life as well. Since this topic is quite popular, we also suggest presenting your unique interpretation of this question.
• The Yellow Wallpaper’s conclusion: different versions. How do you understand the ending of the story? Why, in your opinion, did the author cut it at that specific moment? Brainstorm these questions and try to figure out what would be the best interpretation. Don’t forget to support your opinion with fair arguments.
• What is the relationship between the narrator of “The Yellow Wallpaper” and her diary? The main character seems to get some relief from journaling her thoughts and daily life events. Unfortunately, it doesn’t help prevent the total crash of her identity at the end of the story. You can write “The Yellow Wallpaper” character analysis essay about it.
• Draw a parallel between the description of the wallpaper and the mental health of the narrator. We can notice the change in the writing as the mental illness of the narrator progresses. Look into one particular aspect there: the description of the wallpaper. How does the pattern change in foreshadowing future breakdown?
• Compare “The Yellow Wallpaper” to another feminist piece of writing of the same time frame Here it would be perfect if you found some unique elements that Charlotte Perkins Gilman uses in her story. Don’t forget that the focus of this essay should be on the theme of feminism . For better outcomes, add a quotation as a hook at the beginning of your essay.
• “ The Yellow Wallpaper” and marriage : is it the fault of the husband? Most people prefer to blame the husband in this story. Indeed, in the 19th century, women didn’t have much choice. However, we can see that the narrator has the power to resist the control of her husband. She doesn’t understand that she can do it.
• The role of personification as a tool used by Charlotte Perkins Gilman . It’s a great topic for a literary analysis essay on “The Yellow Wallpaper”. Go through the story’s plot again and find out why personification is used at some moments. How does it affect the writing’s mood, and doesn’t Gilman use some other devices there?
• Stigmatizing postpartum depression in “The Yellow Wallpaper”. This issue is related to feminism. Most women’s psychological problems are neglected as only being “in the head.” Miserable were those suffering postpartum depression, as one can see from the treatment plan chosen by John in the story.
• Explore different literary devices that are used to highlight the issue of depression in “The Yellow Wallpaper”. Analyze what the narrator writes about her state and find the literary devices that Gilman uses to relate to it. For instance, repetition points out the confusion on the one hand and hopelessness on the other.
• Can we trust the narrator? The point of view in “The Yellow Wallpaper” plays an important role. The reader can only perceive the events through the narrator’s eyes. However, it means that some things can be not that obvious. Try to analyze the hints and symbolism to find out the missing part of the story.

❓ Top 12 The Yellow Wallpaper Essay Questions

• What is the role of creativity in the protagonist’s journey?
• What imagery helps to convey the main character’s isolation?
• Why does the woman in the wallpaper go in circles?
• How does the protagonist’s mental state change throughout the story?
• How does the main character’s confinement contribute to her mental decline?
• In what ways does Jennie represent a patriarchal woman in ”The Yellow Wallpaper”?
• Why does the main character hide her diary from others?
• How does “The Yellow Wallpaper” portray the 19 th century’s cult of true womanhood?
• Why is S. Weir Mitchel’s real name mentioned in the story?
• How does the story challenge traditional notions of femininity and domesticity?
• How does the setting of the nursery convey the protagonist’s sense of loss and longing?
• How does the protagonist’s journey in ”The Yellow Wallpaper” reflect the broader feminist movement of the time?

🔍 Top 15 The Yellow Wallpaper Research Paper Topics

• Analyze the story through the prism of male gaze.
• The juxtaposition of logical men vs. irrational women in the story.
• “The Yellow Wallpaper” and Freud’s misconceptions about hysteria.
• How Gilman’s story relates to Cixous’ ideas about écriture feminine.
• Foucault’s Panopticon Effect as portrayed in “The Yellow Wallpaper”.
• Analysis of Gilman’s story through the lens of Simone de Beauvoir.
• “The Yellow Wallpaper”: comparison to The Feminine Mystique by Betty Friedan.
• The wallpaper pattern as the bars of a prison constructed by society.
• Analyze the binary opposition presented in the story through the prism of Jacques Lacan’s ideas of the Imaginary and the Symbolic orders.
• Interpret the rhizomatic identity of the main character in “The Yellow Wallpaper” via Deleuze and Guattari’s concept of schizoanalysis.
• How does madness liberate the main character from patriarchal concepts of femininity?
• Daylight universe of masculinity vs. the nighttime world of imagination in “The Yellow Wallpaper”.
• How “The Yellow Wallpaper” had predicted the problem of “the trapped housewife” in America.
• Internalized and shared patriarchal values in women characters from “The Yellow Wallpaper”.
• How the wallpaper in the story represents the main character’s subconscious.

🎓 The Yellow Wallpaper Thesis Ideas

• Spiritual liberation through the awakening of female consciousness in Charlotte Perkins Gilman’s “The Yellow Wallpaper.”
• Dystopian elements in Gilman’s “The Yellow Wallpaper.”
• “The Yellow Wallpaper” through the lens of horror: How terror and subversion are used in the narration.
• The color yellow in relation to psychology through the lens of Gilman’s story.
• Comparative study of female agency in Gilman’s “The Yellow Wallpaper” and Plath’s “The Bell Jar.”
• Psychoanalytic perspectives on Charlotte Perkins Gilman’s “The Yellow Wallpaper” and Edgar Allan Poe’s “The Tell-Tale Heart.”
• How Gilman’s “The Yellow Wallpaper” reflects the theme of a female body.
• “The Yellow Wallpaper” as a biography: The parallels between the protagonist’s experiences and Charlotte Perkins Gilman’s struggles with mental health.
• The rebellion against social norms in Charlotte Perkins Gilman’s story.
• The analysis of John’s character and his role as husband in “The Yellow Wallpaper.”
• Unreliable narration in Gilman’s “The Yellow Wallpaper” and its effect on the reader’s perception.
• How Gilman uses language, storytelling, and images to portray madness.
• The suppression of creativity and artistic expression in the face of social expectations in Gilman’s “The Yellow Wallpaper.”
• Myths and archetypes: Gilman’s story through the lens of Carl Jung’s theory.
• The ending of Gilman’s “The Yellow Wallpaper” as a reflection on late 19th-century women’s mental health treatment and its implications on gendered dynamics.

✒️ The Yellow Wallpaper: Essay Samples

Below you’ll find a collection of The Yellow Wallpaper essay examples. Hope you’ll find them useful!

• “The Yellow Wallpaper” by Charlotte Perkins Gilman: Key Themes
• Alger’s “Ragged Dick” and Gilman’s “Yellow Wallpaper”
• “The Yellow Wallpaper” and “The Laugh of the Medusa”
• Social Values and Norms in Gilman’s “The Yellow Wallpaper”
• American Women in Gilman’s “The Yellow Wallpaper”
• Symbolism in “The Yellow Wallpaper”
• The Story of an Hour and The Yellow Wallpaper: Comparison
• Mental Illness in The Yellow Wallpaper
• The Yellow Wallpaper and Everyday Use Literature: Comparison
• Women Characters in Chopin’s, Gilman’s, Faulkner’s Stories
• Isolation, Patriarchy, Materialism, and Mental Illness in “The Yellow Wallpaper”
• “The Yellow Wallpaper” by Charlotte Perkins Gilman Review
• Plots of Chopin’s “The Story of an Hour” and Gilman’s “The Yellow Wallpaper”
• Feminist “The Yellow Wallpaper” by Charlotte Perkins Gilman
• Literary Elements in Gilman’s “The Yellow Wallpaper”
• The Description of Wallpaper in “The Yellow Wallpaper” by Gilman
• Color in The Yellow Wallpaper by Charlotte Perkins Gilman
• “The Tell-Tale Heart” and “The Yellow Wallpaper” by Perkins
• Gender in The Great Gatsby & The Yellow Wallpaper
• Uncovering the Wallpaper in Gilman’s “The Yellow Wallpaper”
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The Yellow Wallpaper

By charlotte perkins gilman, the yellow wallpaper essay questions.

How would "The Yellow Wallpaper" be different if it were told from John's point of view?

If the story were told from John's perspective, it would be a much more detached view of the narrator's descent into madness. Although the readers do not know what John thinks, it is clear that he believes that the medical treatment is correct. Not only would his perspective add another dimension to the woman's madness, but it would make him a more sympathetic character and perhaps even make their love story more tragic.

Who does Gilman ultimately blame for the narrator's descent into madness? Why?

In some ways, Gilman can seem to blame both John and S. Weir Mitchell for the narrator's ultimate insanity. Although they both mean well, their decision to promote the "rest cure" treatment is certainly the catalyst for the narrator's mental break. However, at the same time, Gilman could blame the society of the time, a society that expected women to be perfect wives and mothers and nothing else.

What is the significance of the first-person perspective of the narrative?

The first-person perspective of the narrative is very important because it allows the reader to understand and experience the narrator's descent into madness on a personal level. Instead of discovering the narrator's insanity from the detached perspective of a third-person narrator, the reader is present in the narrator's head at every stage of her insanity. As a result, the story is much more powerful and ultimately more disconcerting.

Is John the villain in the story? Why or why not?

Many literary scholars have argued that John is the clear villain of "The Yellow Wallpaper." Not only does he confine the narrator to the nursery for the "rest cure" treatment, he will not allow her to express her creativity or have any say in her life. However, at the same time, it is apparent that John loves his wife very much and truly wants her to be happy and healthy again. An argument can be made for either side, but the fact remains that John is simply a product of his chauvinistic society.

What is the significance of the other female characters in the story?

The only other female characters who play any sort of role in the story are Mary and Jennie. As the nanny, Mary is immediately presented as an ideal mother figure. This is emphasized by her name, which evokes the image of the Virgin Mary, a stereotype of ideal motherhood. As the house keeper and John's sister, Jennie fulfills all of the other wifely duties neglected by the narrator. Because of her illness (and perhaps because of her propensity to write), the narrator is unable and unwilling to fulfill her socially-accepted duties as a wife and mother.

What are some additional meanings behind the color of the wallpaper? How do these explanations change an understanding of the narrative?

One additional reading of the color of the wallpaper is that it promotes a counter-intuitive reading. The color yellow is normally associated with happiness and light; in this case, it is linked to a malignant source that drives the narrator insane. Because the reader expects the color yellow to be benevolent and is disappointed, the reader is also forced to question everything else in the novel, especially those things that seem to be obvious. Other possible readings are that the color of the wallpaper relates to illness (specifically, jaundice) or even that it relates to discriminated minorities of the time period (such as the Chinese).

How does "The Yellow Wallpaper" present the conflict between creativity and rationality?

The yellow wallpaper itself is presented as a symbol of creativity. With its endless swirls and ornaments, the wallpaper does not follow any set pattern; in fact, it is this lack of organization and structure that preoccupies the narrator to such an extent. In contrast to the unwieldy creativity of the wallpaper, the majority of the narrator's life is centered in the world of rationality. John, in particular, is devoted to all things rational and criticizes his wife's vivid imagination and penchant for fiction. The narrator is caught in the conflict between these two worlds; her attempt to suppress her creative spirit in favor of John's rationality leads to her mental breakdown.

Does "The Yellow Wallpaper" have a happy or sad ending? Explain your answer.

The story ends with the narrator entrenched in complete insanity, certainly not a typical happy ending. Moreover, it is clear to the reader that the marriage is over, and John has finally lost the woman that he loves. However, the ending can also be read as a triumph for the narrator. She has finally freed herself from the constraints of her oppressive society and can revel in the liberty of her creativity. Unfortunately, this liberation goes hand in hand with the loss of her sanity.

Would the narrator still have gone insane if she had been confined to a room other than the nursery? Why or why not?

At the beginning of the story, it is unclear if the narrator is actually insane. If she is truly ill, then it is likely that she would have gone mad even if she had not been confined to the nursery. If the narrator is not ill at the start of the story, then the mere confinement and inactivity could have been sufficient to cause a mental breakdown. Either way, the yellow wallpaper serves as an obvious catalyst for her mental deterioration, but we do not know if it is merely a symptom of her insanity or the cause.

What happens to the narrator after the story ends?

After the story ends and John returns to consciousness, the narrator would certainly be taken to an insane asylum or sanatorium of some kind. It is possible that John would take her to receive treatment from S. Weir Mitchell, unless the narrator's case was thought to be incurable. The warped liberty that the narrator achieves for herself at the end of "The Yellow Wallpaper" is only transient. If the woman in the wall is not returned to the bars behind the wallpaper, then it is likely that the narrator would be confined behind bars of her own.

The Yellow Wallpaper Questions and Answers

The Question and Answer section for The Yellow Wallpaper is a great resource to ask questions, find answers, and discuss the novel.

Why is the house standing empty after so many years?

We are never apprised of the reason that the house is empty.

8. Throughout the story, the narrator uses the word “creep” and “creeping” to describe the wallpaper figure’s movements. What does this word choice suggest about the narrator?

The words "creep" and "creeping" suggest that the narrator has sensed a disturbing feeling from the wallpaper figure’s movements. The narrator has begun to see the pattern as that of a woman wanting to be free. She related herself with this woman...

6. How does the story’s narrative form contribute to the development of the narrator’s point of view

The first person narrative is instrumental in conveying the events story's events as the narrator experiences them without the use of flashbacks or alternate settings. In turn, we as readers, experience the events alongside the narrator and become...

Study Guide for The Yellow Wallpaper

The Yellow Wallpaper study guide contains a biography of Charlotte Perkins Gilman, literature essays, a complete e-text, quiz questions, major themes, characters, and a full summary and analysis.

• About The Yellow Wallpaper
• The Yellow Wallpaper Summary
• Character List

Essays for The Yellow Wallpaper

The Yellow Wallpaper literature essays are academic essays for citation. These papers were written primarily by students and provide critical analysis of The Yellow Wallpaper.

• Responding to the Wallpaper
• The Stages of Feminine Injustice
• "Personally, I Disagree With Their Ideas"
• Paper, Paper, On the Wall...
• Prescription to Madness

Lesson Plan for The Yellow Wallpaper

• About the Author
• Study Objectives
• Introduction to The Yellow Wallpaper
• Relationship to Other Books
• Notes to the Teacher

E-Text of The Yellow Wallpaper

The Yellow Wallpaper E-Text contains the full text of The Yellow Wallpaper

• Full Text of The Yellow Wallpaper

Wikipedia Entries for The Yellow Wallpaper

• Introduction
• Plot summary
• Interpretations
• Dramatic adaptations

Choose Your Test

Sat / act prep online guides and tips, understanding the yellow wallpaper: summary and analysis.

General Education

Charlotte Perkins Gilman’s classic short story, "The Yellow Wallpaper" tells the story of a young woman’s gradual descent into psychosis. " The Yellow Wallpaper" is often cited as an early feminist work that predates a woman’s right to vote in the United States. The author was involved in first-wave feminism, and her other works questioned the origins of the subjugation of women, particularly in marriage. "

The Yellow Wallpaper" is a widely read work that asks difficult questions about the role of women, particularly regarding their mental health and right to autonomy and self-identity. We’ll go over The Yellow Wallpaper summary, themes and symbols, The Yellow Wallpaper analysis, and some important information about the author.

"The Yellow Wallpaper" Summary

"The Yellow Wallpaper" details the deterioration of a woman's mental health while she is on a "rest cure" on a rented summer country estate with her family. Her obsession with the yellow wallpaper in her bedroom marks her descent into psychosis from her depression throughout the story.

The narrator of "The Yellow Wallpaper" begins the story by discussing her move to a beautiful estate for the summer. Her husband, John, is also her doctor , and the move is meant in part to help the narrator overcome her “illness,” which she explains as nervous depression, or nervousness, following the birth of their baby. John’s sister, Jennie, also lives with them and works as their housekeeper.

Though her husband believes she will get better with rest and by not worrying about anything, the narrator has an active imagination and likes to write . He discourages her wonder about the house, and dismisses her interests. She mentions her baby more than once, though there is a nurse that cares for the baby, and the narrator herself is too nervous to provide care.

The narrator and her husband move into a large room that has ugly, yellow wallpaper that the narrator criticizes. She asks her husband if they can change rooms and move downstairs, and he rejects her. The more she stays in the room, the more the narrator’s fascination with the hideous wallpaper grows.

After hosting family for July 4th, the narrator expresses feeling even worse and more exhausted. She struggles to do daily activities, and her mental state is deteriorating. John encourages her to rest more, and the narrator hides her writing from him because he disapproves.

In the time between July 4th and their departure, the narrator is seemingly driven insane by the yellow wallpaper ; she sleeps all day and stays up all night to stare at it, believing that it comes alive, and the patterns change and move. Then, she begins to believe that there is a woman in the wallpaper who alters the patterns and is watching her.

A few weeks before their departure, John stays overnight in town and the narrator wants to sleep in the room by herself so she can stare at the wallpaper uninterrupted. She locks out Jennie and believes that she can see the woman in the wallpaper . John returns and frantically tries to be let in, and the narrator refuses; John is able to enter the room and finds the narrator crawling on the floor. She claims that the woman in the wallpaper has finally exited, and John faints, much to her surprise.

Background on "The Yellow Wallpaper"

The author, Charlotte Perkins Gilman, was a lecturer for social reform, and her beliefs and philosophy play an important part in the creation of "The Yellow Wallpaper," as well as the themes and symbolism in the story. "The Yellow Wallpaper" also influenced later feminist writers.

Charlotte Perkins Gilman

Charlotte Perkins Gilman, known as Charlotte Perkins Stetsman while she was married to her first husband, was born in Hartford, CT in 1860. Young Charlotte was observed as being bright, but her mother wasn’t interested in her education, and Charlotte spent lots of time in the library.

Charlotte married Charles Stetsman in 1884, and her daughter was born in 1885. She suffered from serious postpartum depression after giving birth to their daughter, Katharine. Her battle with postpartum depression and the doctors she dealt with during her illness inspired her to write "The Yellow Wallpaper."

The couple separated in 1888, the year that Perkins Gilman wrote her first book, Art Gems for the Home and Fireside. She later wrote "The Yellow Wallpaper" in 1890, while she was in a relationship with Adeline Knapp, and living apart from her legal husband. "The Yellow Wallpaper" was published in 1892, and in 1893 she published a book of satirical poetry , In This Our World, which gained her fame.

Eventually, Perkins Gilman got officially divorced from Stetsman, and ended her relationship with Knapp. She married her cousin, Houghton Gilman, and claimed to be satisfied in the marriage .

Perkins Gilman made a living as a lecturer on women’s issues, labor issues, and social reform . She toured Europe and the U.S. as a lecturer, and founded her own magazine, The Forerunner.

Publication

"The Yellow Wallpaper" was first published in January 1892 in New England Magazine.

During Perkins Gilman's lifetime, the role of women in American society was heavily restricted both socially and legally. At the time of its publication, women were still twenty-six years away from gaining the right to vote .

This viewpoint on women as childish and weak meant that they were discouraged from having any control over their lives. Women were encouraged or forced to defer to their husband’s opinions in all aspects of life , including financially, socially, and medically. Writing itself was revolutionary, since it would create a sense of identity, and was thought to be too much for the naturally fragile women.

Women's health was a particularly misunderstood area of medicine, as women were viewed as nervous, hysterical beings, and were discouraged from doing anything to further “upset” them. The prevailing wisdom of the day was that rest would cure hysteria, when in reality the constant boredom and lack of purpose likely worsened depression .

Perkins Gilman used her own experience in her first marriage and postpartum depression as inspiration for The Yellow Wallpaper, and illustrates how a woman’s lack of autonomy is detrimental to her mental health.

Upon its publication, Perkins Gilman sent a copy of "The Yellow Wallpaper" to the doctor who prescribed her the rest cure for her postpartum depression.

"The Yellow Wallpaper" Characters

Though there are only a few characters in the story, they each have an important role. While the story is about the narrator’s mental deterioration, the relationships in her life are essential for understanding why and how she got to this point.

The Narrator

The narrator of the story is a young, upper-middle-class woman. She is imaginative and a natural writer, though she is discouraged from exploring this part of herself. She is a new mother and is thought to have “hysterical tendencies” or suffer from nervousness. Her name may be Jane but it is unclear.

John is the narrator’s husband and her physician. He restricts her activity as a part of her treatment. John is extremely practical, and belittles the narrator's imagination and feelings . He seems to care about her well-being, but believes he knows what is best for her and doesn't allow her input.

Jennie is John’s sister, who works as a housekeeper for the couple. Jennie seems concerned for the narrator, as indicated by her offer to sleep in the yellow wallpapered room with her. Jennie seems content with her domestic role .

Main Themes of "The Yellow Wallpaper"

From what we know about the author of this story and from interpreting the text, there are a few themes that are clear from a "Yellow Wallpaper" analysis. "The Yellow Wallpaper" was a serious piece of literature that addressed themes pertinent to women.

Women's Role in Marriage

Women were expected to be subordinate to their husbands and completely obedient, as well as take on strictly domestic roles inside the home . Upper middle class women, like the narrator, may go for long periods of time without even leaving the home. The story reveals that this arrangement had the effect of committing women to a state of naïveté, dependence, and ignorance.

John assumes he has the right to determine what’s best for his wife, and this authority is never questioned. He belittles her concerns, both concrete and the ones that arise as a result of her depression , and is said so brush her off and “laugh at her” when she speaks through, “this is to be expected in marriage” He doesn’t take her concerns seriously, and makes all the decisions about both of their lives.

As such, she has no say in anything in her life, including her own health, and finds herself unable to even protest.

Perkins Gilman, like many others, clearly disagreed with this state of things, and aimed to show the detrimental effects that came to women as a result of their lack of autonomy.

Identity and Self-Expression

Throughout the story, the narrator is discouraged from doing the things she wants to do and the things that come naturally to her, like writing. On more than one occasion, she hurries to put her journal away because John is approaching .

She also forces herself to act as though she’s happy and satisfied, to give the illusion that she is recovering, which is worse. She wants to be a good wife, according to the way the role is laid out for her, but struggles to conform especially with so little to actually do.

The narrator is forced into silence and submission through the rest cure, and desperately needs an intellectual and emotional outlet . However, she is not granted one and it is clear that this arrangement takes a toll.

The Rest Cure

The rest cure was commonly prescribed during this period of history for women who were “nervous.” Perkins Gilman has strong opinions about the merits of the rest cure , having been prescribed it herself. John’s insistence on the narrator getting “air” constantly, and his insistence that she do nothing that requires mental or physical stimulation is clearly detrimental.

The narrator is also discouraged from doing activities, whether they are domestic- like cleaning or caring for her baby- in addition to things like reading, writing, and exploring the grounds of the house. She is stifled and confined both physically and mentally, which only adds to her condition .

Perkins Gilman damns the rest cure in this story, by showing the detrimental effects on women, and posing that women need mental and physical stimulation to be healthy, and need to be free to make their own decisions over health and their lives.

The Yellow Wallpaper Analysis: Symbols and Symbolism

Symbols are a way for the author to give the story meaning, and provide clues as to the themes and characters. There are two major symbols in "The Yellow Wallpaper."

The Yellow Wallpaper

This is of course the most important symbol in the story. The narrator is immediately fascinated and disgusted by the yellow wallpaper, and her understanding and interpretation fluctuates and intensifies throughout the story.

The narrator, because she doesn’t have anything else to think about or other mental stimulation, turns to the yellow wallpaper as something to analyze and interpret. The pattern eventually comes into focus as bars, and then she sees a woman inside the pattern . This represents feeling trapped.

At the end of the story, the narrator believes that the woman has come out of the wallpaper. This indicates that the narrator has finally merged fully into her psychosis , and become one with the house and domesticated discontent.

Though Jennie doesn’t have a major role in the story, she does present a foil to the narrator. Jennie is John’s sister and their housekeeper, and she is content, or so the narrator believes, to live a domestic life. Though she does often express her appreciation for Jennie’s presence in her home, she is clearly made to feel guilty by Jennie’s ability to run the household unencumbered .

Irony in The Yellow Wallpaper

"The Yellow Wallpaper" makes good use of dramatic and situational irony. Dramatic literary device in which the reader knows or understands things that the characters do not. Situational irony is when the character’s actions are meant to do one thing, but actually do another. Here are a few examples.

For example, when the narrator first enters the room with the yellow wallpaper, she believes it to be a nursery . However, the reader can clearly see that the room could have just as easily been used to contain a mentally unstable person.

The best example of situational irony is the way that John continues to prescribe the rest-cure, which worsens the narrator's state significantly. He encourages her to lie down after meals and sleep more, which causes her to be awake and alert at night, when she has time to sit and evaluate the wallpaper.

The Yellow Wallpaper Summary

"The Yellow Wallpaper" is one of the defining works of feminist literature. Writing about a woman’s health, mental or physical, was considered a radical act at the time that Perkins Gilman wrote this short story. Writing at all about the lives of women was considered at best, frivolous, and at worst dangerous. When you take a look at The Yellow Wallpaper analysis, the story is an important look into the role of women in marriage and society, and it will likely be a mainstay in the feminist literary canon.

What's Next?

Looking for more expert guides on literary classics? Read our guides on The Cask of Amontillado and The Great Gatsby .

Need important and interesting quotes? Check out these 18 To Kill a Mockingbird Quotes and 9 Great Mark Twain Quotes .

For help analyzing literature and writing essays , read our expert guide on imagery , literary elements , and writing an argumentative essay .

Carrie holds a Bachelors in Writing, Literature, and Publishing from Emerson College, and is currently pursuing an MFA. She worked in book publishing for several years, and believes that books can open up new worlds. She loves reading, the outdoors, and learning about new things.

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Home — Essay Samples — Literature — The Yellow Wallpaper — Analytical on the Symbolism in the “Yellow Wallpaper”

Analytical on The Symbolism in The "Yellow Wallpaper"

• Categories: Book Review Symbolism The Yellow Wallpaper

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Words: 1846 |

10 min read

Published: Dec 3, 2020

Words: 1846 | Pages: 4 | 10 min read

Works Cited

• Gilman, C. P. (1890). The yellow wallpaper. The New England Magazine, 5(5), 647-656.
• Schilb, J. (2013). Charlotte Perkins Gilman’s “The Yellow Wallpaper”: A symphony of subversion. The Explicator, 71(4), 277-281. doi: 10.1080/00144940.2013.810129
• Mitchell, S. (2012). Madness and gender in Charlotte Perkins Gilman’s “The Yellow Wallpaper”. Women’s Studies, 41(3), 297-313. doi: 10.1080/00497878.2012.659927
• Jones, J. (2008). Charlotte Perkins Gilman’s “The Yellow Wallpaper”: A psychoanalytic reading. Explicator, 66(4), 215-220. doi: 10.3200/EXPL.66.4.215-220
• Zaretsky, R. (2003). “The Yellow Wallpaper” and women’s discourse. Tulsa Studies in Women’s Literature, 22(1), 43-57.
• Tang, S. (2015). Self-rejection and self-expression in “The Yellow Wallpaper” by Charlotte Perkins Gilman. Open Journal of Modern Linguistics, 5(2), 75-82. doi: 10.4236/ojml.2015.52008
• Berman, J. (1993). “The Yellow Wallpaper”: Charlotte Perkins Gilman’s neglected masterpiece. Studies in American Fiction, 21(1), 77-83.
• Knight, D. (2010). Madness in Charlotte Perkins Gilman’s “The Yellow Wallpaper”. English Studies, 91(2), 200-214. doi: 10.1080/00138381003721618
• Schulz, M. (2013). The gender politics of “The Yellow Wallpaper”: A multidisciplinary discourse analysis. Feminist Media Studies, 13(1), 37-52. doi: 10.1080/14680777.2012.741713
• Landrum, R. E. (2011). “Too terribly good to be printed”: Charlotte Perkins Gilman’s “The Yellow Wallpaper” as a feminist critique of popular psychology. Frontiers: A Journal of Women’s Studies, 32(2), 1-22. doi: 10.5250/fronjwomestud.32.2.0001

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Feminist Criticism of Frankenstein and the Yellow Wallpaper

This essay about the feminist criticism of Mary Shelley’s *Frankenstein* and Charlotte Perkins Gilman’s *The Yellow Wallpaper* explores how both works critique the gender dynamics and societal expectations of their times. In *Frankenstein*, the marginalization of female characters such as Elizabeth Lavenza and Justine Moritz highlights the societal norms that restrict women to passive roles and expose them to systemic injustices. Similarly, *The Yellow Wallpaper* examines the oppressive impacts of patriarchal medical practices and a controlling spouse on the protagonist’s mental health, using the wallpaper as a symbol of her mental and physical confinement. Both narratives showcase the tragic consequences of a lack of female agency and autonomy, reflecting the authors’ critiques of the patriarchal structures of their respective eras. Through their portrayal of women’s struggles, Shelley and Gilman contribute to feminist literary discourse, advocating for women’s rights and autonomy by exposing the harmful effects of gender inequality.

How it works

Mary Shelley’s *Frankenstein* and Charlotte Perkins Gilman’s *The Yellow Wallpaper* are pivotal texts that have been widely discussed and analyzed through a feminist lens. These works, though emerging from vastly different contexts and genres, offer profound insights into the gender dynamics and societal expectations of their times. Both novels explore the marginalization and mental anguish that women experience, albeit in distinct manners, providing a rich terrain for feminist critique.

In *Frankenstein*, Mary Shelley, who herself grappled with the expectations of her gender in a male-dominated literary circle, constructs a narrative that subtly critiques the patriarchal structure of the 19th century.

The novel’s female characters, such as Elizabeth Lavenza and Justine Moritz, are portrayed in passive roles, primarily serving as conduits for the male characters’ actions and emotions. Elizabeth, as Victor Frankenstein’s fiancée, epitomizes the idealized woman who is angelic but lacks depth and agency. Her tragic fate—murdered on her wedding night—underscores the disposability of women, reflecting societal norms that prioritize women’s roles as caregivers and moral supporters, yet often leave them vulnerable and powerless.

Justine Moritz’s story further highlights the consequences of societal misogyny. Accused of William’s murder, Justine faces a biased judicial process that reflects the broader societal inclination to subjugate and silence women. Her eventual execution, based on circumstantial evidence and public pressure, exposes the systemic injustices that women endure, emphasizing the theme of female victimization that Shelley subtly weaves through her narrative.

In contrast, *The Yellow Wallpaper* provides an intimate exploration of a woman’s descent into madness, catalyzed by the oppressive forces of a patriarchal medical establishment and a controlling husband. The protagonist, whose name is Jane, is subjected to the “rest cure” — a treatment based on the assumption that mental and physical rest could cure mental illness, which was often prescribed to women during the 19th century. This treatment, which involved isolation and prohibiting intellectual stimulation, is a direct attack on her autonomy, effectively silencing and imprisoning her within the domestic sphere. Gilman uses the wallpaper as a symbol of the protagonist’s entrapment and her struggle to maintain her sanity against overwhelming odds.

The mental confinement of Jane mirrors the physical and societal constraints placed on women of her time. As she becomes more obsessed with the wallpaper, her mental state deteriorates, symbolizing the destructive impact of enforced helplessness and lack of intellectual freedom on women’s psyche. This mirrors the broader feminist critique of the patriarchal oppression that sought to dictate the proper sphere for women, relegating them to roles of domesticity and obedience.

Both *Frankenstein* and *The Yellow Wallpaper* offer critiques of the gender inequalities of their times, presenting their female characters’ tragedies as indictments of a patriarchal society. While Shelley uses the passive suffering and victimization of her characters to highlight the lack of female agency, Gilman presents a more direct confrontation of the oppressive structures through the mental breakdown of her protagonist. Both narratives underscore the critical need for societal change, advocating indirectly for women’s rights and autonomy by depicting the dire consequences of their absence.

In conclusion, the feminist critiques of *Frankenstein* and *The Yellow Wallpaper* reveal deep-seated gender biases and highlight the struggle for female autonomy and recognition. These works not only reflect the authors’ critiques of their own societies but also continue to resonate with contemporary audiences, encouraging ongoing discussions about gender equality and women’s rights. Through their powerful depictions of women’s experiences, Shelley and Gilman contribute significantly to the feminist literary canon, providing critical insights into the intersections of gender, power, and mental health.

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Feminist Perspective on “The Yellow Wallpaper” Essay

Introduction, feminist critique of the yellow wallpaper, works cited.

The short play, The Yellow Wallpaper , by Charlotte Perkins Gilman is based on the lives of a chauvinistic husband and a sick wife. The over-dominating nature of the husband called John makes the environment unbearable for the mentally ill wife Jane. The wife is involuntarily imprisoned by the chauvinistic nature of her husband who would not listen to any of her suggestions. Moreover, John is quick at relating any of her ‘weak ‘ideas to mental illness. This paper presents a critique of the play The Yellow Wallpaper from a feminist perspective by applying symbolism to understand the 1800s society.

Detained in a mental prison as a result of the machination of her husband, the main protagonist Jane is deeply embodied in an unending struggle that women seeking freedom in their thoughts and actions face. The short play The Yellow Wallpaper is written figuratively to connote the gender struggle between men and women, especially in the institution of marriage. Although an open interpretation would denote a psychological thriller, it is apparent that the play was mainly a commentary on the unfortunate conditions of the women population in the 1800s. Especially, it captures the views of the author of how the then patriarchal society was hurting female freedom. For instance, the character of Jane’s chauvinist husband connotes an over-controlling person who cares very little about the thoughts of his wife. He proceeds to confine Jane in an oppressive environment against her will and would not listen to any of her suggestions (Schroder 39). In the conversations, John’s decision is final and cannot be debated by Jane. Although the wife has attempted on several occasions to confront John to change his stand, the conversations often end with the husband reaffirming an antagonist stand (Schroder 41). From a feminist perspective, John’s dominance in the conversations and decision-making on behalf of Jane is representational of female imprisonment and control by men against their will.

From the interaction between John and Jane, the husband is a typical illustration of a spouse who has mastered the art of absolute control. Specifically, he treats Jane as an inferior partner. The wife says that “John laughs at me, of course, but one expects that in a marriage” (Gilman 1). In the view of the husband, Jane is a partner with weird, laughable, and inconsistent ideas which should not be taken seriously. Moreover, the mockery directed at the sick wife conforms to the expectations of the patriarchal society. However, the dominance is challenged when Jane decided to take command of her thoughts. As a result, the authoritative male figure was trimmed down and he became ‘as weak as a woman’. Jane confesses, “Now why should that man have fainted” (Gilman 17). When John saw the transformation of his wife to an independent thinker, he passes out. He could not believe that a woman could challenge his decision. In this scene, Jane reversed the traditional expectations characterized by male control of the thoughts of women (Golden 23). The shock and eventual fainting of John are triggered by the desire to overexert control over his wife. The husband is determined to conform to the expectations of patriarchal society through exerting dominance in his household.

The ideas and thoughts of Jane are representative of the feminist perspective. For instance, she desires to freely express her thoughts against the barriers imposed by society. Jane is defiant and confesses that “I did write for a while in spite of them” (Gilman 1). As a woman, Jane is depressed until she regains the ability to express her feelings in the hidden journal she is writing. Although she can continue scripting in hiding, Jane is depressed by the need to conceal her activities away from the chauvinistic husband. Specifically, Jane is struggling to remain in the full care of her husband. For instance, she says “he takes all care from me, and so I feel basely ungrateful to value it more” (Gilman 2). Though the actions of the husband to pay the bills are good, Jane’s resentment is figurative of the resulting feeling of uselessness and imprisonment of the female gender (Tischleder 13). Just like other women, Jane feels the negative pressure imposed on her by society to worship the husband as a primary provider.

The entire plot of the play is exposed in a room that reminisces insanity and scorn from the perspective of a feminist. The empty and dull room is accentuated through the surrounding of Jane in thoughts and actions. For instance, her description of the room is emblematic of a prison-like environment where Jane’s requests cannot be heeded. When she requests the husband to consider repainting the walls, Jane gets a negative response from John. The husband says “that after the wall-paper 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 3).

The unwillingness to change Jane’s environment is figurative of the desire of John to continue imprisoning her from free expression. Moreover, the description of the wallpaper is also symbolic of a psychological prison. Jane confesses that “at night in any kind of light, in twilight, candlelight, lamplight, and worst of all by moonlight, it becomes bars” (Gilman 10). Across the play, Jane’s thoughts are concentrated on the wallpaper, and only gets relief when she removes it from the wall. Jane is captivated by the wallpaper to a point that she is unable to ignore the strange pattern on it. She later connected to the perceived image of a trapped woman in the background of the wallpaper (Goodman 18). Jane only gets relief after she gets rid of the paper. From a feminist perspective, the actions of Jane aimed at regaining control over thoughts and actions are representational female emancipation from the yoke of male dominance.

The Yellow Wallpaper story portrays a patriarchal society where men control the actions and thoughts of their wives. In this relationship, women are expected to take orders from men whose decisions are final. The author has expressed underlying feminist perspectives to illustrate the mental and physical hardships encountered by women during the 1800 era. These perspectives are hidden in the dominating actions of John, hidden thoughts of his wife Jane, and the room where the plot is played. However, Jane is determined to escape this prison by directing her thoughts in a hidden journal. Gilman has reflected on the psychological and physical imprisonment of the women through the symbolic use of the wallpaper, poorly painted room, and mental illness.

Gilman, Charlotte. The Yellow Wallpaper . Virago, 1981.

Golden, Catherine, editor. Charlotte Perkins Gilman’s The Yellow Wall-Paper: A Sourcebook and Critical Edition . Routledge, 2013.

Goodman, Lizbeth. Literature and Gender . Routledge, 2013.

Schroder, Marie. Charlotte Perkins Gilman’s the Yellow Wall-Paper from a Feminist Perspective. A Woman’s Place in a Patriarchal World . GRIN Publishing, 2016.

Tischleder, Babette. The Literary Life of Things: Case Studies in American Fiction . Campus Vergal, 2014.

• Summary & Analysis
• Themes & Symbols
• Quotes Explained
• Essay Topics
• Essay Examples
• Questions & Answers
• Charlotte Perkins Gilman: Biography
• Chicago (A-D)
• Chicago (N-B)

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Bibliography

IvyPanda . "Feminist Perspective on "The Yellow Wallpaper"." October 31, 2023. https://ivypanda.com/essays/feminist-perspective-on-the-yellow-wallpaper/.

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