HenryKim Ms.Effinger LanguageArts 8313 TheYellowWallpaperLiteraryAnalysis Wouldyouratherreadadrearyandforgettablestory,orlickyourlipsatdelicious drippingsfromstorieswithjuicydetails?Theanswerisobvioustothosewhosavorthe qualityofanexceptionalstory.TheYellowWallpaperbyCharlottePerkinsGilman incorporatesaneeriesetting,realisticcharacters,andcomplexfigurativelanguageto createanunforgettablestory.Theingenioustellingofawomensufferingfromdepression entitlestheauthorswritingtobeamasterpiece.Icanpromiseyouthatthistalewillsatisfy youwithflavorsofensuinganticipationandsuspendinganxiety. Thestorytakesplacein19thcenturyruralcountry.Backinthosedays,women wereexcludedfromthefreedomtomakedecisions.Themaincharacterismovedtoan isolatedmansion.

Acolonialmansion,ahereditaryestate,Iwouldsayahaunted house(C.Gilman,TheYellowWallpaper).Hermentalillness,postpartumdepression, distortsherperceptionofreality,thereforechangingherwordsfortheviewers.Thedenial ofherindependence,leadshertotakeherhusbandswordsatfacevalue.Theplotshows herundeniabledescentintomadness,fueledbyherhusbandandsociety. Theauthorusesfirstpersonperspectivewhichallowsreaderstolivethroughthe narrator'smentalbreakdownatamorepersonallevel.Insteadofbeingtoldaboutthe narrator'sinsanityfromadetachedperspective.Thereaderispresentateverystageofher

insanity.Asaresult,thestoryismuchmorepowerfulandultimatelymoredisconcerting. Herdistortedperceptionofrealitymakesthereaderfeelconflictedanddeeplyinvolved becauseoftheknowledgeoftherealsituation.Sinceherhusbandisapridefulmanof prestige,hestubbornlyrefusestobelievetheseverityofhiswifescase.Johnispractical intheextreme.Hehasnopatiencewithfaith,anintensehorrorofsuperstition,andhe scoffsopenlyatanytalkofthingsnottobefeltandseenandputdowninfigures.(C. Gilman,TheYellowWallpaper).Heinsteadprescribesrest,becauseaccordingtohim,he believeshersituationistemporary.Theprotagonistdoubtsherhusbandmoreandmore untilaconflictbetweenthetwocomestothesurface.Themaincharacterhasa possessiveattitudetowardstheyellowwallpaper,wantingitonlyforherself,which representsherattempttoavoidsocietalexpectations.. Oneoftheimportantsymbolsistheyellowwallpaper.Itrepresentsthedomesticlife thattrapsmanywomen....andworstofallbymoonlight,itbecomesbars!Theoutside patternImean,andthewomanbehinditisasplainascanbeBydaylightsheis subdued,quiet.Ifancyitisthepatternthatkeepshersostill.(C.Gilman,TheYellow Wallpaper).Theyellowwallpaperincitesthemaincharactersmadnessafterconstant interactions.Ittriggersdiscordwithotherfamilymemberswhenshebecomesobsessed aboutit."Idon'tliketolookoutofthewindowseventherearesomanyofthosecreeping women,andtheycreepsofast."(C.Gilman,TheYellowWallpaper).Thewindowis anotherpotentsymbol.Shecannotentertotheotherside,literally,becauseJohnwillnot lether,(therearebarsholdingherin),butalsobecausethatworldwillnotbelongtoher. Shewillstillbeforcedtostifleherselfexpressionandcreepbehindpublicseye.These

symbolsendowthestorywithmemorableeffects,becausecontrarytotheusageinthis story,windowsareusedtoexpressfreedomtoviewtheoutsideandwallpapersareused toputthemindtorest. CharlottePerkinsGilmanisabletoexposethetruemeaningthroughbelievable characters,agloomysetting,andfigurativelanguage.Hermessageisthatconfining womentotypicalfemininerolescouldcallforthdepreciation.She,John'swife,istrapped andsheevensays"whatisonetodo"inthestory.Themaincharactergoesoutofher mindwhensheispreventedfromwriting,whichisheroutletofselfexpression.What aspectsofthestorywouldbedifferentifitwasJohnspointofview?