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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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146 The Yellow Wallpaper Essay Topics

🏆 best essay topics on the yellow wallpaper, ✍️ the yellow wallpaper essay topics for college, 👍 good the yellow wallpaper research topics & essay examples, 🎓 most interesting the yellow wallpaper research titles, 💡 simple the yellow wallpaper essay ideas, 📌 easy the yellow wallpaper essay topics, ❓ the yellow wallpaper essay questions.

• The Yellow Wallpaper and The Story of an Hour Comparison
• Critique on “The Yellow Wallpaper” by Charlotte Perkins Gilman
• Gilman’s “The Yellow Wallpaper” From a Feminist Perspective
• Literary Elements in Gilman’s “The Yellow Wallpaper”
• Gilman’s “The Yellow Wallpaper” vs. Chopin’s “The Story of an Hour” Comparison
• “The Yellow Wallpaper” by Charlotte Perkins Gilman: Analysis and Reflection
• Ibsen’s “A Doll’s House” vs. Gilman’s “The Yellow Wallpaper”
• Isolation, Patriarchy, Materialism, and Mental Illness in “The Yellow Wallpaper” “The Yellow Wallpaper” utilizes a broad range of literary devices to explore the subservient state of women and the neglect of their mental health in late 19th-century America.
• Color in The Yellow Wallpaper by Charlotte Perkins Gilman American writer Charlotte Perkins Gilman’s novella The Yellow Wallpaper details the deteriorating mental health of a woman experiencing postpartum depression.
• Literature Comparison of The Yellow Wallpaper and Everyday Use The issue of loneliness and the slow descent into madness discussed in the two famous novels, The Yellow Wallpaper and Everyday Use. These two novels share a number of common and different elements.
• The Yellow Wallpaper. Mrs. Spring Fragrance. Review Both stories focus attention on the behavior of individuals and thus could be easily compared with our daily life.
• Gender in The Great Gatsby & The Yellow Wallpaper The complexities of men and women in the texts were examined and evaluated on the basis of sexuality and relationship and the inferences would be supported by the text itself.
• Analysis of “The Yellow Wallpaper” by Charlotte Gilman “The Yellow Wallpaper” is not simply a story of a particular unfortunate female but a depiction of what can happen to anyone who lives in isolation and faces oppression.
• “The Yellow Wallpaper” and “The Laugh of the Medusa” In light of Charlotte Perkins Gilman’s “The Yellow Wallpaper,” the paper explores various key points displayed in the fiction in the light of Hélène Cixousa’s “The Laugh of the Medusa.”
• “The Second Sex” by De Beauvoir and “The Yellow Wallpaper” by Gilman Both “The second sex: Author’s introduction” by De Beauvoir and “The yellow wallpaper” by Gilman demonstrate a woman’s role as belittled to the patriarchal male figure.
• Analysis of “The Yellow Wallpaper”: The Villain Being undeniably sad and having no human antagonist, “The Yellow Wallpaper” is a chilling metaphor for the devastating effects of the patriarchy.
• “Gender Inequality in “”The Yellow Wallpaper””, “”A Rose for Emily””, and “”Trifels””” The paper focuses on analyzing A Rose for Emily, written by William Faulkner, The Yellow Wallpaper, by Charlotte Perkins Gilman, and Susan Glaspell’s Trifles.
• “The Yellow Wallpaper” by Gilman as a Symbol of Oppression The Yellow Wallpaper by Charlotte Perkins Gilman is a story about a woman feeling trapped and suffering because of her isolation.
• Symbolism in “The Yellow Wallpaper” by Charlotte Perkins The symbolism of the yellow wallpaper on the house walls, Gilman conveys the mental health state of the protagonist throughout “The Yellow Wallpaper.”
• “The Tell-Tale Heart and the Yellow Wallpaper” by Perkins Gothic authors submerge their readers into the dark and depressing atmosphere as they slowly lead the characters through the traps of their minds.
• Mental Health in “The Tell-Tale Heart” by Edgar Allan Poe and “The Yellow Wallpaper” by Charlotte Perkins Gilman The stories The Tell-Tale Heart and The Yellow Wallpaper highlight how schizophrenia can arrive unnoticed in both men and women and only result in an episode after it is too late.
• “The Yellow Wallpaper” a Story by Charlotte Perkins Gilman In Charlotte Perkins Gilman’s short story, The Yellow Wallpaper, the narrator suffers from PPD after delivering a child. Her husband takes her to an old mansion in summer.
• Allegory and Symbolism in “The Chrysanthemums” and “The Yellow Wallpaper” The story is based upon the life events and psychological issues the author herself faced. She is forced to abide by what her husband feels is best.
• “The Yellow Wallpaper” by Charlotte P. Gilman Charlotte Gilman’s “The Yellow Wallpaper” depicts the inner struggle of a woman unbalanced by post-partum depression, a problem for which even today’s doctors have no treatment.
• Gilman’s “The Yellow Wallpaper” and Chopin’s “The Story of an Hour” It is possible to compare literary elements in Gilman’s “The Yellow Wallpaper” and Chopin’s “The Story of an Hour” when determining similarities and differences in these works.
• Neglect and Psychosis in Gilman’s The Yellow Wallpaper This essay investigates the relationship between insanity and neglect as described in Charlotte Perkins Gilman’s The Yellow Wallpaper.
• “The Yellow Wallpaper” by Charlotte Perkins Gilman The story of Charlotte Perkins Gilman – “The Yellow Wallpaper” – is rightfully considered one of the brightest examples of female prose.
• Similarities Between “The Yellow Wallpaper” by Gilman and “The Story of an Hour” The paper comparisons “The Yellow Wallpaper” and “The Story of an Hour” connecting the readers and the characters through well-structured examples relating to the plight of women.
• “The Story of an Hour” and “The Yellow Wallpaper” The stories “The Story of an Hour” and “The Yellow Wallpaper” illustrate the struggles which women face at homes with domestic violence.
• The Short Story “The Yellow Wallpaper” by Charlotte Perkins Gillman “The Yellow Wallpaper” by Charlotte Perkins Gillman, is usually seen as a revolutionary story, which aims to provoke a feminist response in the reader.
• The Short Story “The Yellow Wallpaper” by Charlotte Perkins Gilman In Charlotte Perkins Gilman’s short story “The Yellow Wallpaper”, patriarchy plays an essential role in the deterioration of the narrator’s physical and mental state.
• Literary Elements in “The Yellow Wallpaper” by Gilman The story “The Yellow Wallpaper” by Charlotte Perkins Gilman, illustrates social and physiological attitudes toward women in the 19th century which are still relevant today.
• Faulkner’s “A Rose for Emily” vs. Gilman’s “The Yellow Wallpaper” The paper compares Faulkner’s “A Rose for Emily” and Gilman’s “The Yellow Wallpaper”, highlighting their differences in terms of themes, genre, and female protagonists.
• Gilman’s “The Yellow Wallpaper”: A Psychological Approach The short story “The Yellow Wallpaper” by Charlotte Perkins Gilman, discusses the limitations imposed on women by society and domestic life.
• Repression and Depression in “The Yellow Wallpaper” by Charlotte Perkins Gilman In “The Yellow Wallpaper” by Charlotte Perkins Gilman, the author highlighted the connection between repression and depression.
• “The Yellow Wallpaper” by Charlotte Perkins Gilman Review The short story The Yellow Wallpaper by Charlotte Perkins Gilman is an example of feminist literature, which explains the choice of the topic and the images the author uses.
• Plots of Chopin’s “The Story of an Hour” and Gilman’s “The Yellow Wallpaper” Two short stories, “The Story of an Hour” by Kate Chopin and “The Yellow Wallpaper” by Charlotte Perkins Gilman, are simultaneously similar and different.
• Review of “The Yellow Wallpaper” Story The article discusses the point of view showing that the story is told from the perspective of an unreliable narrator.
• “The Yellow Wallpaper” by Gilman: Literary Analysis In writing the short story “The Yellow Wallpaper,” Gilman describes the protagonist and narrator, a young woman giving in to a mental disorder upon giving birth.
• Feminist “The Yellow Wallpaper” by Charlotte Perkins Gilman The Yellow Wallpaper by Charlotte Perkins Gilman is about feminism and gender relations in America at the end of the XIX century.
• “A Rose for Emily” and “The Yellow Wallpaper”: Similarities and Differences The main difference between “A Rose for Emily” and “The Yellow Wallpaper” lies in the sending of the authors or the main themes of the works.
• Marriage in “The Story of an Hour” by Chopin and “The Yellow Wallpaper” by Gilman The institute of marriage is one of the core pillars of social structure, and a family unit is anchored on marriage.
• Impact of Gilman’s “The Yellow Wallpaper” on Life The paper discusses the impact of “The Yellow Wallpaper” by Charlotte Gilman on one’s life. It influences the decision to work in healthcare.
• The Description of Wallpaper in “The Yellow Wallpaper” by Gilman There are many ways to describe the wallpaper used in the story, and they form the very plot of it and create a comic effect.
• “A Rose for Emily” by W. Faulkner and “The Yellow Wallpaper” by C. Perkin “A Rose for Emily” and “The Yellow Wallpaper” are focused on female protagonists who experience some form of life-changing isolation.
• The Theme of Feminism in “The Yellow Wallpaper” by Charlotte Perkins Gilman The story “The Yellow Wallpaper” focuses on topics related to the prevailing attitudes towards women, their place in society and their physical, emotional and mental health.
• Uncovering the Wallpaper in Gilman’s “The Yellow Wallpaper” In Gilman’s “The Yellow Wallpaper”, readers can immediately realize the shifts of emotions felt by the woman who is narrating the story.
• Strong Woman in Gilman’s “The Yellow Wallpaper” Gilman’s “The Yellow Wallpaper” portrays the values and social traditions of Victorian women, their problems, and their social position in society.
• “The Yellow Wallpaper”: A Short Story by Charlotte Perkins Gilman “The Yellow Wallpaper” is a first person narrative with a woman describing her mental health problems and the development of her disease.
• Female World in Gilman’s “The Yellow Wallpaper” In her famous short story “The Yellow Wallpaper,” Charlotte Perkins Gilman explored the challenges women of the nineteenth century had to face.
• Spiraling into Insanity: “The Yellow Wallpaper” by Perkins Being a perfect example of a gothic novel, “The Yellow Wallpaper” by Charlotte Perkins sets its readers on a journey through the dark realms of human nature.
• “The Yellow Wallpaper” by Charlotte Perkins Gilman At the very beginning of the story the author presents the main idea of the discussion, the author points at the problem which is the result of men’s domination in the family.
• Alger’s “Ragged Dick” and Gilman’s “Yellow Wallpaper” The paper illustrates the changes in contemporary American society by analyzing Horatio Alger’s “Ragged Dick” and Charlotte Gilman’s “Yellow Wallpaper”.
• Charlotte Perkins Gilman’s “The Yellow Wallpaper” The Yellow Wallpaper is a tragic story of women of the 19th century. The portrayal of the societal norms and values is clearly hyperbolized in The Yellow Wallpaper.
• American Women in Gilman’s “The Yellow Wallpaper” Charlotte P. Gilman’s The Yellow Wallpaper novel describes the plight of discriminated women during the 19th-century American period.
• “The Yellow Wallpaper”: Post Partum Depression, Hysteria and Gender Literature Review Sample
• The Similarity Between “The Yellow Wallpaper” and “Jane Eyre”
• Gothic and Feminist Elements of “The Yellow Wallpaper”
• “The Yellow Wallpaper”: Autobiography or Fiction
• The Descent Into Madness in “The Yellow Wallpaper”’s Tragic Story by Charlotte Perkins Gilman
• How Does The Narrative Mimic The Mental State of The Narrator on Yellow Wallpaper?
• Similarities Between “The Yellow Wallpaper” and a Doll’s House
• The Challenges Women Are Faced Within “The Yellow Wallpaper” by Charlotte Perkins Gilman and What if Shakespeare Had a Sister
• Charlotte Perkins Gilman´s “The Yellow Wallpaper”: Subjugation and Insanity
• Dealing With Personal Obstacles Differently in “The Yellow Wallpaper” by Charlotte Perkins Gilman
• Prose Court for Female Lead in “The Yellow Wallpaper”
• Going Against Social Norm Will Imprison an Individual in “The Yellow Wallpaper”, a Short Story by Charlotte Perkins Gilman
• Removing Wallpaper Reveals Wall in “The Yellow Wallpaper” by Charlotte Perkins Gilman
• Charlotte Perkins Gilman’s “The Yellow Wallpaper”: A Commentary on The Male Oppression of Women in a Patriarchal Society
• Jane’s Search for Self-Identity in “The Yellow Wallpaper”
• How John`s Attitude Toward the Narrator in “The Yellow Wallpaper” Mirrors Social Attitudes Regarding Mental Illnesses
• The Wallpaper, The Husband, The Mental Illness in “The Yellow Wallpaper” by Charlotte Perkins Gilman
• Daisy Miller and “The Yellow Wallpaper” and Women Stereotypes
• “The Yellow Wallpaper”: Feminist Viewpoint
• The Movement for Women’s Rights Inside “The Yellow Wallpaper” by Charlotte Perkins Gilman
• Depression Turned Into Insanity in “The Yellow Wallpaper” by Charlotte Gilman
• “The Yellow Wallpaper” Through The Lens of Lacan – The Mirror Stage Manifest Critical Thinking
• Postpartum Depression and “The Yellow Wallpaper”
• Charlotte Perkins Gilman’s “The Yellow Wallpaper” and an Infantile Narrator
• Jane Eyre and “The Yellow Wallpaper” in Respect to Haunting
• Behind “The Yellow Wallpaper”: Women and Mental Illness
• The Link Between Feminism, “The Yellow Wallpaper”, and Jackson’s “The Lottery”
• “The Yellow Wallpaper” From The Point of View of a Doctor’s
• Oppression and Need for Escape in “The Yellow Wallpaper”
• Disappointments From Positive Intentions in The Short Story, “The Yellow Wallpaper” by Charlotte Perkins Gilman
• Caged In: Breaking Through The Walls of Oppression – Analysis of “The Yellow Wallpaper”, a Short Story by American Writer Charlotte Perkins Gilman
• “The Yellow Wallpaper”: Fighting The Oppression
• How Does The Character in “The Yellow Wallpaper” Destroy Her Reality
• Oppression and Misunderstanding Towards Women and The Mentally Ill in The 19th Century in “The Yellow Wallpaper” by Charlotte Perkins Gilman
• “The Yellow Wallpaper”: Male Oppression of Women in Society
• Looking Behind the Wallpaper: Symbolism in “The Yellow Wallpaper” by Charlotte Perkins Gilman
• The Different Character Changes in “The Yellow Wallpaper” by Charlotte Perkins Gilman
• How The Author’s Writing Style Affected The Protagonist in “The Yellow Wallpaper”
• “The Yellow Wallpaper”: Criticism Methods and Perspectives
• Self Presentation, Insecurity, and Anxiety in ‘“The Yellow Wallpaper”’ by Charlotte Perkins Gilman
• Women’s Roles, Irony, and Symbolism in “The Yellow Wallpaper” by Charlotte Perkins Gilman
• The Roles and Responsibility of John and The Narrator in “The Yellow Wallpaper”, a Novel by Charlotte Perkins Gilman
• “The Yellow Wallpaper”: Exemplifies Women’s Position in The 19th Century
• “The Yellow Wallpaper” From The Point of View of a Doctor’s Wife
• Female Confinement and Escape in “The Yellow Wallpaper”
• Escaping The Feministic View by Kate Chopin and “The Yellow Wallpaper”
• The Role and Identity of Women in “The Yellow Wallpaper”, a Short Story by Charlotte Perkins Gilman
• How “The Yellow Wallpaper” Drives the Main Character Insane
• Victorian Gender Roles Exemplified by “The Yellow Wallpaper”
• The Different Issues That Woman in The 19th Century Had to Deal Within “The Yellow Wallpaper” by Charlotte Perkins Gilman
• Women’s Freedom From Oppression: An Analysis of “The Yellow Wallpaper”
• Charlotte Perkins Gilman’s “The Yellow Wallpaper” and Liberation
• The Traditional Relationship Between a Man and Wife in The 1980’s in “The Yellow Wallpaper”, a Short Story by Charlotte Perkins Gilman
• The Three Stages Towards Feminine Freedom in “The Yellow Wallpaper”
• Oppressive Male Dominance Over Women in 20th Century, to the Extremes, in “The Yellow Wallpaper”
• “The Yellow Wallpaper” Through The Perspective of Vladimir Propp Critical Thinking Example
• Mental Illness and Misogyny in “The Yellow Wallpaper”
• The Link Between Feminism in  “The Yellow Wallpaper”, and “The Story of an Hour”
• Madness and “The Yellow Wallpaper” by Charlotte Perkins Gilman
• “The Yellow Wallpaper”: Becoming The Woman Behind The Paper
• Solitary Confinement and Exclusion in “The Yellow Wallpaper” by Charlotte Perkins Gilman
• Woman’s Descent Into Depression in The Tragic Story of “The Yellow Wallpaper”
• Women and 19-Century Domesticity in ‘“The Yellow Wallpaper”
• Overcoming The Excessive Hold on Women in “The Yellow Wallpaper” by Charlotte Perkins Gilman
• Setting, Symbolism, and Oppression of Women in “The Yellow Wallpaper”
• How Gender and Class Shaped the Narrator in “The Yellow Wallpaper”?
• What Is a Good Thesis Statement for “The Yellow Wallpaper” by Charlotte Perkins Gilman?
• Which Are the Gothic Elements in “The Yellow Wallpaper”?
• What Does the Wallpaper in “The Yellow Wallpaper” Symbolize?
• How Does the Narration Mimic the Narrator’s Mental State in “The Yellow Wallpaper”?
• What Contemporary Issues Would You Say That “The Yellow Wallpaper” Evokes?
• What Happened to the Women at the End in “The Yellow Wallpaper”?
• What Are Some Examples of Literary Devices in “The Yellow Wallpaper”?
• How Does the Atmosphere Change Throughout “The Yellow Wallpaper”?
• Why Did the Narrator in “The Yellow Wallpaper” Have a Mental Breakdown?
• How Can We Apply “The Yellow Wallpaper” With Freud’s Opinions and Thinking?
• Why Are the Events in “The Yellow Wallpaper” in the Order That They’re In?
• How Is the Theme of the Rest Cure Developed in “The Yellow Wallpaper”?
• What Are Some Similarities Between “The Yellow Wallpaper” and “The Miss Brill”?
• What Is a Metaphor for the Sky in “The Yellow Wallpaper”?
• What Inspired Charlotte Perkins Gilman to Write the Short Story “The Yellow Wallpaper”?
• How the Author’s Writing Style Affected the Protagonist in “The Yellow Wallpaper”?
• What Is the Symbolism of a Finger in “The Yellow Wallpaper”?
• What Effect Does the First-Person Point of View of “The Yellow Wallpaper”?
• How Would You Describe the Character Development in “The Yellow Wallpaper”?
• Was “The Yellow Wallpaper” by Gilman Written as a Part of the Feminist Movement?
• Why “The Yellow Wallpaper” Is Considered as One of the Most Disturbing Short Stories?
• What Are the Symbolic Orders in “The Yellow Wallpaper”?
• How Women Entrapment and Flight Are Depicted in Gilman’s “The Yellow Wallpaper”?
• What Is Female Predicament’s Place in the Novel “The Yellow Wallpaper”?

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These essay examples and topics on The Yellow Wallpaper were carefully selected by the StudyCorgi editorial team. They meet our highest standards in terms of grammar, punctuation, style, and fact accuracy. Please ensure you properly reference the materials if you’re using them to write your assignment.

This essay topic collection was updated on January 9, 2024 .

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79 The Yellow Wallpaper Literary Analysis – Essay Topics & Prompts

Charlotte Perkins Gilman published this short story in 1892, and it immediately resonated among the public. It is a secret diary of a young lady suffering from postpartum depression and gradually falling into madness. Meanwhile, her husband, “a physician of high standing,” ignores her wishes and treats her as a child who needs mentorship.

Gilman writes about her painful experience. It was one of the first feministic stories and is still topical nowadays. Below you will find dozens of The Yellow Wallpaper essay topics to boost your writing inspiration.

📌 Top 10 The Yellow Wallpaper Essay Topics

• ✅ The Yellow Wallpaper Literary Analysis
• 📝 The Yellow Wallpaper Essay Topics with Prompts

🔤 The Yellow Wallpaper Theme Essay Topics

• 👩 Character Analysis Essay Topics
• ❓ 20 The Yellow Wallpaper Essay Questions

🗨 References

• Can the reader trust the narrator, and why?
• Would the story end differently if the husband agreed to change the wallpaper?
• Did the diary help the narrator keep afloat?
• Is the husband the antagonist in the short story?
• Which stereotypes ruin a woman’s life, according to Gilman?
• Psychology of young mothers: the most controversial issues.
• What would help the narrator recover?
• How does the wallpaper mirror the narrator’s psychological condition?
• Imagine what would happen after The Yellow Wallpaper ends.
• Which literary devices does the author use to describe depression?

✅ The Yellow Wallpaper Literary Analysis Essay – Ideas

The Yellow Wallpaper is a “what if” dystopia . The author had experienced the borderline condition and imagined a situation where her symptoms would intensify and develop until the worst possible scenario. Here are the essential analysis points for your essay:

• Jane’s condition does not look alarming at first. Moreover, she spends days chilling at a mansion doing nothing (that would be a dream for many of us). Life in the same room without books, writing, or even socializing for months resembles a prison.
• The protagonist is imprisoned not only within the country mansion. Her marriage contributes to her isolation. The husband (her doctor at the same time) ignores the worsening of her condition. Jane writes in her diary, “John laughs at me, of course, but one expects that in marriage.”
• Jane projects her mental condition onto the yellow wallpaper and gradually starts seeing some girl behind it. She finally tears the wallpaper off the wall to free the girl living there. But the reader understands she was trying to free herself from the oppressive relationship and cruel treatment.

The Yellow Wallpaper essay prompts below will help you understand the author’s message better. They will guide you through feminism, marriage, mental health, and other topics. The Yellow Wallpaper essay questions we’ve listed here are only a tiny part of what you could be asking yourself. We wish you an inspired and rewarding writing session!

📝 The Yellow Wallpaper Essay Prompts

• The yellow wallpaper as a representation of the narrator’s life. The parallel between the wallpaper extensively described in the story and the protagonist’s life and mental state can be linked through the illustration of similarities. Thus, the topic generates opportunities to present the wallpaper as a projection of the protagonist’s life: depressive, outdated, and causing her an immense sense of discomfort.
• Women’s oppression through psychiatric interventions . One of the elements of the story is the narrator’s mental state and the intervention that has been prescribed, involving a lack of physical and intellectual effort and isolation. The topic facilitates a reflection on the systems that were put in place to dismiss women, such as mental health approaches.
• The husband in The Yellow Wallpaper: Villain of a product of society? John is portrayed through first-person descriptions, which implies the readers see him through the eyes of the narrator, who suggests him being a loving and caring husband. The story can be analyzed concerning John as a family member versus John as the representation of men at the time.
• The physical and psychological prison in The Yellow Wallpaper. While the protagonist was confined to one room, is this the only prison she is a prisoner in? Is the room a representation of her life? Feeling trapped was not only associated with the narrator’s experimental conditions but also her mind, a topic that can be expanded further for analysis.
• Postpartum depression in The Yellow Wallpaper. Postpartum depression was not diagnosed with adequate treatment at the time, and the protagonist’s rest cure portrayed the inadequate approach to the issue. This can be analyzed concerning the dismissal of mental health issues in women and the burden of psychological challenges a woman was to overcome on her own.
• Discuss symbols introduced in The Yellow Wallpaper. Many elements presented in the novel act as symbols that help understand the narrative better. Consider the color and pattern of the wallpaper, the mysterious image of a woman, and the room itself. Explain their meaning within the story.
• The association between the author and the narrator of The Yellow Wallpaper. Explore Gilman’s biography and analyze whether her life has connections with the experiences of the story’s main character. In your discussion, consider why the protagonist remains unnamed throughout the novel and why it may be necessary from the feministic viewpoint.
• Identify literary devices in The Yellow Wallpaper and explain their usage. Gilman utilizes several literary devices to accentuate the issues of depression and feminism in the novel. For instance, the author employs repetition to demonstrate the narrator’s confusion. Discuss how each literary device assists in unraveling the meaning of the story.
• Analyze the differences in gender roles in The Yellow Wallpaper. The story’s protagonist is a lady living in a patriarchal society with a husband who does not listen to her needs. Examine how the narrative demonstrates men’s and women’s roles and compare the representation to that of another feminist novel of the same period.
• Explore the main character’s point of view in The Yellow Wallpaper. Despite having some dialogues, the novel is presented from a single person’s perspective in the form of diary entries. Discuss why the author decided not to include other characters’ standpoints and explore the significance of the protagonist being the one to unravel the story.
• Explain your understanding of The Yellow Wallpaper’s ending. The novel is gradually revealed from one character’s perspective, yet the narrator’s identity seems to change toward the finale, which is somewhat perplexing. Identify and quote the exact moment when the main character’s personality transforms and debate potential reasons and the importance of the modification.
• Study the social impact of The Yellow Wallpaper. Gilman’s novel is one of the most prominent literary works that regard feminism and patriarchy. Investigate whether the narrative’s influence on the public’s perception of gender roles has been positive or negative since its publication. Consider lessons that modern-day society can learn from the story.
• Patronizing husband and mental illness in The Yellow Wallpaper. The main character in the novel suffers from postpartum depression and is convinced that her spouse, a physician, can aid her in overcoming the condition. Describe John’s reaction to his wife’s mental wellness and discuss whether his advice was helpful or harmful.

🖊️ The Yellow Wallpaper Literary Analysis Essay Topics

• First-person narration in The Yellow Wallpaper. The Yellow Wallpaper entirely consists of first-person narration from the protagonist’s point of view. The literary element allows the reader to see the events from her perspective and perceive the subjective standpoint of reality in the wife’s imagination. Thus, the story becomes more realistic and generates compassion and realism.
• The Yellow Wallpaper as a partly autobiographical literature work. Charlotte Perkins Gilman wrote the short story based on her experience with postpartum psychosis. Hence, the mental breakdown illustrated in the literature piece shows the real-life experience of a woman at the time. The parallel between the writer’s life and the story itself gives a basis for a reflective essay.
• The feminist agenda is portrayed in The Yellow Wallpaper. The topic allows for an extensive reflection on women’s issues highlighted in the literature piece, including a lack of freedom, choice, and opportunities. Moreover, the discussion can encompass subjects such as motherhood and family life, as these aspects of womanhood are portrayed from the perspective of a woman’s experience.
• The Yellow Wallpaper in the realm of feminist literature. The Yellow Wallpaper is one of the many feminist literature pieces written at a time when gender inequality would prevent women from having the same opportunities as men. The topic allows for a reflection of feminist literature as a genre, a comparison with other similar stories and novels, and a contrast of various pieces.
• The ending of The Yellow Wallpaper: Mental health decline or psychological escape? The end of the short story is ambiguous. Did the protagonist lose the connection with reality, or did she let go of the psychological boundaries and gives freely in her imagination despite being physically trapped? Examining the ending from two perspectives is an excellent topic for reflection.

🎨 The Yellow Wallpaper Symbolism Essay Topics

• The Problem of Suppressing Women in The Yellow Wallpaper. Are modern attitudes toward women different from those described in the story? Analyze the family relationship between the narrator and her husband. Why does the man treat her like a child ? Identify the characteristics of society’s attitudes toward women at that time.
• The abrupt end of The Yellow Wallpaper. What did the author want to convey to the reader? Why did the narrator cut the story short at this point? There are many suggestions for continuing the story. Which one do you think is the most appropriate? Explain your point of view.
• How does the narrator feel about her diary? As you read the story, you can see that the journal helps the narrator get a little relief from her heartache. Analyze the narrator’s attitude toward the diary. Does she use it only because she lacks communication or for other reasons? Argue the answer.
• The Meaning of Yellow Wallpaper in Charlotte Perkins Gilman’s Story. Why does the author focus so much on describing wallpaper? How does the pattern change as the disease progresses? Analyze the narrator’s attitude toward wallpaper and give examples from the text. Identify what you think the color of the wallpaper symbolizes.
• The yellow wallpaper: What does the narrator’s room symbolize? How does the narrator’s room emphasize her husband’s attitude toward her? Analyze how the narrator describes it and conclude her attitude toward the room. Do you think the narrator is a prisoner or surrounded by her husband’s care and love?
• The Uniqueness of Charlotte Perkins Gilman’s Story. What distinguishes The Yellow Wallpaper from other nineteenth-century works? Give specific examples of the differences. Does the description of attitudes toward women in The Yellow Wallpaper differ from other stories? Note the problem of the suppression of women and describe it in more detail.
• Problems of 19th-century family life . In your opinion, whether the narrator’s husband is guilty of The Yellow Wallpaper, argue your answer. Why does the narrator not contradict her husband? Explore in more detail the relationship between husband and wife in the 19th century as described in the story.
• Symbols in The Yellow Wallpaper. Do a literary analysis of The Yellow Wallpaper. Why the author uses symbols in work, and how do they affect the reader’s experience? Analyze the main characters in the story and explain them, giving specific examples of the use of these symbols in the story.
• Postpartum depression in The Yellow Wallpaper. How does 19th-century society view women’s problems, and do they take them seriously? Analyze women’s behavior and conclude their condition after childbirth. Do you think women of that time who suffered from postpartum depression were treated incorrectly or vice versa?
• Literary devices used in The Yellow Wallpaper. Analyze the story by giving specific examples of literary devices and explaining their significance. How does the author convey the mood and experiences of the narrator through the use of literary devices? How do these techniques affect the reader, and why are they used?
• Gender Differences in The Yellow Wallpaper.
• Stigmatization of Mental Illnesses in The Yellow Wallpaper.
• Faulkner’s “A Rose for Emily” and Gilman’s “The Yellow Wallpaper” Stories.
• The Yellow Wallpaper and the Perception of Postpartum Depression.
• The Representation of Feminism in The Yellow Wallpaper.
• The Yellow Wallpaper: The Exploration of Freedom.
• Identity, Creativity , and Self-Expression in The Yellow Wallpaper.
• Marriage and Family in The Yellow Wallpaper.
• Isolation in Charlotte Gilman’s The Yellow Wallpaper.
• The Yellow Wallpaper: Madness and Horror.
• A Lack of Communication in The Yellow Wallpaper.

👩 The Yellow Wallpaper Character Analysis Essay Topics

• Analyze John’s role as a patriarchal figure. It is important to note that John is a complex character who cares about the narrator but restricts and confines her to her room. Using his example in The Yellow Wallpaper, explore how patriarchy might not be intentionally oppressive towards women.
• Analyze the relationship dynamic between John and the Narrator. The Yellow Wallpaper provides a highly complex relationship dynamic between the husband and the wife. Use evidence from sources on feminism, patriarchy, and domestic abuse . Assess whether mental health justifies what John does to the Narrator in The Yellow Wallpaper.
• The role of Jennie in the feminist framework. Jennie, John’s sister, demonstrates a form of contentment with the domestic function she performs for the couple. However, it should be noted that she shows care for the narrator. You can refer to sources on Women Against Feminism to analyze how some women also promoted a patriarchal social structure.
• Assess the relationship dynamic between John and Jennie. Jennie, John’s sister, works for him as a housekeeper. Their relationship can be explored based on socioeconomic differences, siblinghood, and gender roles. You can use evidence on gender roles in families to arrive at insightful conclusions.
• Explore how John balances between being a physician and a husband. In The Yellow Wallpaper, John is related to the narrator not only as her husband but also as her physician. You might consider referring to sources on the patriarchal nature of medicine and healthcare establishments in the modern social context.
• The narrator’s socioeconomic status and mental health. The Yellow Wallpaper provides in-depth details on its central characters, such as the narrator being an upper-middle-class woman. Explore how a person’s socioeconomic status affects their ability to deal with mental health using national sources and databases to gain more insight.
• The Narrator and discouragement: a bigger picture. In The Yellow Wallpaper, John constantly discourages the narrator from doing what she desires to do, further constrains her restrictive treatment. Use sources on how self-expression affects one’s identity and reflect on the narrator’s situation, focusing on her self-perception.
• Stigmatization and prejudice in the narrator’s mental illness. The story profoundly explores the main character’s perspective, but how others perceive her mental health, mainly John could use more analysis. The language used to define and describe her problems provides a substantive subject to discuss using historical evidence.
• The effect of the rest cure on the narrator. He justifies confinement, restriction, and isolation imposed by John on the narrator as being a rest cure. Use sources on her possible mental health issue to assess the validity of the rest cure as a treatment and its role in the story.
• Guilt in the relationship dynamic between the Narrator and Jennie. It should be noted that The Yellow Wallpaper focuses on themes of patriarchy and gender roles, and the latter can also have an impact relationship between two women. Explore how gender role expectations invoke guilt in the narrator due to Jennie’s housekeeping abilities.

❓ The Yellow Wallpaper Essay Questions

• How does John represent patriarchy?
• Is John truly well-intentioned in his treatment?
• How power imbalance dictates the relationship between John and the Narrator?
• Is John domestically abusing the narrator?
• Is Jennie an antifeminist figure in The Yellow Wallpaper?
• Does Jennie’s contention with housekeeping constitute feminism?
• How the gender roles affect the relationship between John and Jennie?
• How does siblinghood change the gender roles between John and Jennie?
• Can gender roles be inherited through John/Jennie’s family values?
• How does the narrator’s socioeconomic status relate to her mental health?
• Is the rest cure imposed on the narrator effective?
• Is John more of a doctor or husband for the narrator?
• How John’s discouragement of writing affects the narrator?
• How the narrator’s mental health is communicated in the story?
• Are there signs of prejudice against the narrator’s mental state?
• Why does Jennie make the narrator feel guilty?
• How the rest cure imposed on the narrator exemplifies situational irony?
• Why does the narrator perceive the room to be a nursery?
• What would be the best way to treat the narrator?
• What could John do to the narrator to make her feel better?
• House of horror: the poisonous power of Charlotte Perkins Gilman’s ‘The Yellow Wallpaper – The Guardian .
• Analysis of ‘The Yellow Wallpaper by C. Perkins Gilman – ThoughtCo.
• The Yellow Wallpaper: a 19th-century short story of nervous exhaustion and the perils of women’s ‘rest cures’ – The Conversation.
• The Yellow Wallpaper – Britannica.
• The Yellow Wallpaper: Psychological Analysis – HubPages.
• ‘The Yellow Wallpaper Questions for Study – ThoughtCo.

The Yellow Wallpaper

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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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Literary Analysis: The Yellow Wallpaper

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Published: Jan 30, 2024

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Table of contents

Plot summary, analysis of the narrator's descent into madness, exploration of the symbolism of the wallpaper, examination of the theme of gender inequality, discussion of the use of setting to enhance the story.

• Gilman, C. P. (1892). The Yellow Wallpaper.
• Korb, R. (2018). The Yellow Wallpaper Study Guide. Retrieved from https://www.coursehero.com/lit/The-Yellow-Wallpaper/
• Wilson, S. (2019). The Yellow Wallpaper Analysis. Retrieved from https://www.gradesaver.com/the-yellow-wallpaper/study-guide/summary

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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

The Yellow Wallpaper - Essay Samples And Topic Ideas For Free

The Yellow Wallpaper by Charlotte Perkins Gilman, a seminal piece of feminist literature, explores themes of mental illness, patriarchal oppression, and female autonomy. Essays could delve into the narrative structure, the symbolism of the wallpaper, and the psychological descent of the protagonist. They might also discuss the historical context of women’s mental health during the late 19th century, and how Gilman’s personal experiences influenced her work. Discussions could extend to the story’s influence on feminist literary criticism, its relevance in contemporary discussions on mental health and gender, and how “The Yellow Wallpaper” resonates with or challenges modern readers in understanding the historical and ongoing struggles for women’s autonomy and well-being. We’ve gathered an extensive assortment of free essay samples on the topic of The Yellow Wallpaper you can find at PapersOwl Website. You can use our samples for inspiration to write your own essay, research paper, or just to explore a new topic for yourself.

Feminism in the Yellow Wallpaper and the Story of an Hour

Throughout “The Yellow Wallpaper”, written by Charlotte Perkins Gillman, the protagonist is described as a woman of the 1800’s facing oppression by male dominance. In comparison, the protagonist from Kate Chopin’s, “The Story of an Hour”, experiences the same oppression. Both protagonists are dealing with some type of loss over the course of their short story, but in contrast the effectiveness of their loss differs on opposite ends of the spectrum. Ultimately both protagonists are portrayed as women who experience […]

Symbolism in the Yellow Wallpaper

In Charlotte Gilman's short story "The Yellow Wallpaper," the storyteller is found at the highest point of an old home in a room decorated in a yellow wallpaper. The lady depicted had recently given birth to a child but is presently experiencing what she describes as a "nervous condition.As the lady stays in the room, she becomes fixated on the yellow wallpaper of her room. Inside the strict components of the story are images that demonstrate the hidden message of […]

Irony and Symbols: the Way of Gilman and Poe

If Edgar Allan Poe had lived to see the days that Charlotte Perkins Gilman was alive and writing, he would have commended her for her excellent taste in literary devices. It may be true that the father of dark romanticism and this social reformist have little in common, between their life stories and the messages they aimed to portray in their works. However, Gilman and Poe both utilized a combination of literary devices, specifically symbolism and irony, to solidify the […]

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The Yellow Wallpaper Character Analysis

“The Yellow Wallpaper” is a feminist short story by Charlotte Perkins- Gilman. The meaning of the story is beyond belief as it see the sights into the basic issues of a woman's place in society, and women's rights in the 19th century. Charlotte Perkins-Gilman's theme behind the short story was an awareness approach and a feminist approach. The main character in the story struggles against the masculine ways of thinking and society norms or standards. She also struggles with mental […]

The Yellow Wallpaper Feminism

Any literary work intends to evoke some profound feelings and impressions that readers link to their personal experience and reality around. Charlotte Perkins Gilman presents a feminist gothic story “The Yellow Wallpaper” that discloses the issues of female suffering and lack of freedom in the patriarchal society that limits women’s choices and desires. The protagonist faces discrimination and neglect that result in her physical and psychological breakdown, broken illusions about self-identity, and madness as a response to inside and outside […]

Psychological and Physical Well-being of Women in the XIX Century

The Yellow Wallpaper is a short story by American author Charlotte Perkins Gilman, first published in January 1892 at the New England press. It is considered as an important first study of American feminist writing, because of its example of the attitudes towards psychological and physical well-being of women in the nineteenth century. Narrated in the first person, this story is a collection of diary entries written by a woman whose physician partner (John) has rented the ancient house for […]

Jane’s Depression in the Yellow Wallpaper

The Yellow Wallpaper is written by Charlotte Perkins Gilman. This story is about a young woman by the name of Jane who is a wife, trapped in a room. Jane suffers from depression following the birth of her child. Her husband, John, diagnoses her behavior as melancholia. He prescribes her rest and leases a house in the country for her rehabilitation. John is a respected physician, so Jane initially needs his advice. He does not let her write, which is […]

The Yellow Wallpaper: the Symbolism between the Mental Conditions and the Wallpaper

       In Charlotte Perkins Gilman’s, “The Yellow Wallpaper”, there is a connection between the narrator's mental structure and the wallpaper itself. As the woman works to gain back her sanity, she rips the paper down to free herself from that confinement, as she watches her mental state deteriorate day by day. Niko Kazantzakis, a Greek novelist, states “A person needs a little madness or else they never dare cut the rope and be free”. On a larger scale, […]

“Dragos Tenter” Fiction Paper

The Oscars, the Emmys and the Tonys are awards given to the best of the arts. Literature is an inspiration for TV programs and Broadway plays. There are four nominees for the Best American short story of all time. The nominees are “Young Goodman Brown” by Nathaniel Hawthorne, “Hills Like White Elephants” by Ernest Hemingway, “Story of an Hour” by Kate Chopin and “The Yellow Wallpaper” by Charlotte Perkins Gilman. The winner is “The Yellow Wallpaper” by Charlotte Perkins Gilman […]

Feminist Criticism in Charlotte Perkins Gilman’s “The Yellow Wallpaper”

In the 1890 's women were not allowed to have a voice for themselves, their husbands were the ones that were allowed to make all the decisions in the house. Charlotte Perkins-Gilman had a feminist approach to this story, due to the protagonists' struggles against male thinking and society norms. The story tells of the close-mindedness of how postpartum depression was treated and dealt with by society. It tells of a woman who is the narrator, who is going through […]

The Yellow Wallpaper Victorian Era Gender Roles

The Civil War had just recently come to a close bringing about many changes in American culture. The archaic class system had been shaken, leaving the wealthy and middle class void of social standards and in search of a new identity. In an act of desperation, Americans adopted European culture, a culture tyrannized by men, as their own. In the 1890s short story, The Yellow Wallpaper, Charlotte Perkins Gilman tells the story of a woman who is diagnosed with hysteria […]

About Charlotte Perkins Gilman’s the Yellow Wall-Paper

Charlotte Perkins Gilman's The Yellow Wall-Paper is a short story that is told in entries of a secret diary. The story starts when Jane, the narrator and her husband, John, move into an estate that they will be spending three months in. When they first move in, the narrator asks for the room on the very first floor with roses that surround the window. Her husband, however, had other ideas and bluntly refuses, saying the room is extremely small as […]

The Yellow Wallpaper Time Setting Analysis

The Yellow Wallpaper was allegory gothic literature by charlotte Gerkins Gilman written in 19th century a period of social change and the beginning of industrial revolution a time where man dominated everything including, social, economic and domestic issues, although it was a time of abolition of slavery, social injustice against women was prevalence where woman symbolises assets to acquire just like furniture or an object of bearing children for the family. The woman at that time lack locus standing and […]

The Examination of Literary Devices in “The Yellow Wallpaper”

During the nineteenth century, women were seen as property rather than human beings with rights. Because of this ordeal, women became active feminists and social reformists in order to change their social rank in society, known as the Women’s Suffrage Movement. Among these women was Charlotte Perkins Gilman, who wrote many works pertaining to the discrimination and minority of women during these times to change how people viewed women in society. This progressive movement had a heavy impact on Gilman’s […]

About Postpartum Depression in the Yellow Wallpaper

Charlotte Perkins Gilman's The Yellow Wallpaper does not, in my opinion, reflect contemporary concerns of women. Gilman's short story focuses on the idea that men control the lives of women in essentially every aspect. The narrator's husband tells her not to do anything to stimulate her brain. He asks her not to write, think about her condition, or to talk to anyone in a stimulating fashion. Her whole life at this point is decided by her husband and brother, who […]

The Yellow Wallpaper Theme

The Yellow Wallpaper by Charlotte Gilman is a short story of a young woman’s journal entries, who is seemingly mentally unstable. She shows symptoms of anxiety, depression, and “hysteria”. The narrator’s name is not definitive but is alluded to being Jane and for the sake of clarity in this essay, she will be mentioned as such. John, her husband, is a physician and believes she just needs to rest to be cured; he rents a mansion for 3 months in […]

Position of Women

"In "Their Eyes Were Watching God", women are confined as objects of desire to men. In the novel, Janie’s first husband, Logan, believes that having a wife is to make his life easier so he would not be constantly working. Logan insists that Janie helps him with his stuff when he says, “You ain’t got no particular place. It’s wherever Ah need yuh. Git uh move on yuh, and dat quick” (Hurston 30). It is obvious that Janie is seen […]

Symbolizing the Control of Women in the Yellow Wallpaper

The Yellow Wallpaper is a short story in which Charlotte Perkins Gilman, the author, symbolizes the control of women and their subjugation in society around that era. The narrator, Perkin's main character in the story, suffers from postpartum depression and was prescribed by her husband, John, a physician, bed rest. Later, the narrator is placed in a room with a yellow wallpaper. The narrator believes that behind the wallpaper she can visualize a woman. Her obsession grows, finds clues towards […]

The Narrator of the Yellow Wallpaper

In the beginning of the story, the narrator explained the house as being a beautiful, silent, far away from the village, gated, and a haunted house. She already described the home as something devil-like possessed and wondered why else the house went on sale for so cheap and why it was abandoned for so long. Has strict rules by her husband to stay in the house all day with some exercise outside in the gated garden. While being indoors all […]

Analysis of the Yellow Wallpaper

The yellow wallpaper ends with the narrator and her husband are subsequently leaving soon, and employees pack up the furniture. John desires to remain round the nearby area, and the narrator is aware this is her last probability to free the lady in the wallpaper. Jennie wishes to set down with the narrator; in any case, the narrator uncovers to her that she will relaxation better besides any different individual. Right when the moon turns out, the woman in the […]

The Story the Yellow Wallpaper

The story starts with the narrator suffering from postpartum depression after childbirth. On the old days, this was known as woman hysterics. Due to people who were supposed to rent the house were wealthy people who lost their money, the house was rented for a low price. The narrator expresses the hate she has for the room she is locked in because of the ugly wallpaper, so ugly it drives her crazy. John is the husband of the narrator, who […]

“One Hour Story” by Kate Chopin and “Yellow Wallpaper” by Charlotte Perkins Stetson

In the late 1800’s, the roles of women placed them in conditions which much less power and opportunity than is available in the modern era. The Story of An Hour, by Kate Chopin and The Yellow Wall-Paper, by Charlotte Perkins Stetson are both short stories written by women in the late 1800’s and the tone displayed by the authors is that of oppression. Both stories bear similar themes. The following paper will compare and contrast the message’s in both stories […]

The Role of the Yellow Wallpaper

Charlotte Perkins Gilman's short story "The Yellow Wallpaper" showcases the female narrator's seclusion from society while attempting to come to terms with her rather horrifying dementia. It takes the form of a horrific tale, detailing the hidden internal struggles of domestic abuse. What's more, it is a flat-out rejection of the role Gilman believes women are forcibly pushed into isolation at the hands of patriarchal abuse. Her psychological pain is diagnosed as a sort of nervous disorder by none other […]

Gender Oppression in “The Yellow Wallpaper”

In Charlotte Perkins Gilman’s short story “The Yellow Wallpaper” the narrator is suffering from post-partum depression; however, her husband who happens to be a physician, ignores her and just assumes she needs rest. In doing so, the narrator’s illness progressed and eventually lead to her insanity. During the 1800’s men were superior to women and were expected to be a dutiful housewife and obey their husband. However, in the narrator’s case obeying her husband was detrimental to her sanity. Gender […]

Comparative Study on the Yellow Wallpaper and Young Goodman Brown

The book "Young Goodman Brown" by Nathaniel Hawthorne is about a man (Goodman Brown) who leaves home to attend an unholy meeting at the heart of a forest, only to find that most of his pious friends are actually ardent devil worshippers. He remains wary of them when he goes back home till his dying moments. The author is an American novelist and short story writer. Most of his literary works revolve in and around England, most of which features […]

The Feminist Views on the Yellow Wallpaper

In the short story, The Yellow Wallpaper, written by Charlotte Perkins Gilman was a story about feminist literature and what it was like for women in the nineteenth century. Women in that century faced several obstacles that nobody would ever understand. This woman was placed in a room and that was all she knew was being in that room. She was placed in there by her husband which also was her physician who thinks she is suffering from a temporary […]

A Comparative Analysis of Female Characters in Literature and Television

While the Story of an Hour and the Yellow Wallpaper are two distinctly different stories written by two separate authors, they share many of the same themes and elements. Both works depict a woman facing oppression through marriage and society, longing for freedom and autonomy. This theme is still very relevant and is at the center of Sansa Starks character arc in Game of Thrones. All three women face an oppressive society and desire freedom and independence. In all three […]

Critical Evaluation the Yellow Wallpaper

In the story of The Yellow Wallpaper, the narrator, Jane, is diagnosed with nervous depression. This condition is brought up multiple times throughout the story in many parts but in different forms. This is what ultimately leads her to go insane staring at the yellow wallpaper. The narrator puts enormous emphasis on this condition in subtle ways. Her choice of wording in the above text has more than one meaning, it is an extremely important choice of words for the […]

Control and Feminism in the Yellow Wallpaper

Acquiring Basic Rights for women has been a nonyielding fight since the beginning of time, and it was through such strife that the movement known as feminism was born. Feminism can be defined in the dictionary as “ Advocacy of women's rights on the basis of the equality of the sexes”, this type of advocacy occurs in many different ways but some of the earliest and most influential came from literature. The early-to-mid-nineteenth century was a landmarking time for women […]

The Historical Context in Charlotte Gilman’s the Yellow Wallpaper: Women’s March

The views of current society, along with past generations, have shown women have been relatively domesticated, only having a purpose when it comes time to bear children and take charge of all household affairs. The men, on the other hand, have tendencies to go out in the world and provide for their families by doing the “harder” labor. For too long, this has been seen as the status quo. Women are heads of the household only and are inferior in […]

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How To Write an Essay About The Yellow Wallpaper

Introduction to charlotte perkins gilman's the yellow wallpaper.

"The Yellow Wallpaper" by Charlotte Perkins Gilman is a pivotal work in feminist literature, exploring themes of mental illness, female oppression, and the struggle for self-expression. Your essay should begin with an introduction to the short story, outlining its plot which centers on a woman's descent into psychosis and her obsession with the yellow wallpaper in her room. It's important to contextualize the story within the era it was written, highlighting the 19th-century attitudes towards women's health, both physical and mental. This introduction sets the stage for an analysis of the story's key themes and Gilman's commentary on the societal norms of her time.

Analyzing Key Themes and Symbolism

The body of your essay should delve into the story's themes and symbols. One of the main themes to explore is the treatment of women's mental health in the 19th century, particularly the practice of the "rest cure" prescribed to the protagonist. Discuss how the yellow wallpaper itself becomes a symbol of the protagonist's mental state and her struggle against the patriarchal structures that confine her. The story's exploration of identity and self-expression through the protagonist's secret journal entries can also be a critical point of analysis. Support your discussion with specific examples and quotes from the text, and consider how Gilman uses narrative techniques to convey the protagonist’s gradual loss of reality and her increasing obsession with the wallpaper.

Contextual Analysis

Offer a contextual analysis of "The Yellow Wallpaper," considering it within the broader framework of feminist literature and its historical context. Explore how the story reflects Gilman's own experiences and views on women's rights and the societal expectations of women during her time. Discuss the public and critical reception of the story when it was first published and how perceptions of it have evolved over time. This analysis should demonstrate an understanding of how "The Yellow Wallpaper" goes beyond a simple tale of psychological horror to become a powerful feminist statement.

Concluding Thoughts

Conclude your essay by summarizing the key points of your analysis, emphasizing the significance of the story in both literary and historical contexts. Reflect on the enduring relevance of "The Yellow Wallpaper" in modern times, particularly in discussions surrounding mental health and gender equality. Your conclusion should not only reiterate the main themes of the story but also invite readers to consider its impact and relevance in today's society. A well-crafted conclusion will leave the reader with a deeper understanding of Gilman's work and its contribution to feminist literature.

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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.

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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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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

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