The Yellow Wallpaper by Charlotte Perkins Gilman Essay Example
The Yellow Wallpaper by Charlotte Perkins Gilman Essay Example

The Yellow Wallpaper by Charlotte Perkins Gilman Essay Example

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The theme of oppression of women is evident in Charlotte Perkins Gilman's "The Yellow Wallpaper". This is depicted through the husband's controlling behavior, which confines his wife to domesticity and drives her into madness despite his supposedly kind nature. Throughout the story, John remains ignorant of his wife's basic human needs.

John, the husband who was a doctor, failed to recognize his wife's desires, longings, and wishes, resulting in her feeling imprisoned. Despite this, she acknowledges his love and care by stating "He takes all care from me, and I feel so basely ungrateful not to value it more. . ."

He gave me a warm embrace and lovingly called me a lucky little goose.

The protagonist's spouse in the book affectionately called her his beloved and solace, encouraging her to prioritize her well-being f

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or his benefit. However, she feels misconstrued and voices that he fails to fully grasp the severity of her distress. Gilman (1997) points out that he is satisfied with the notion that she has no valid reason to suffer. The flowery adorned wall inside depicts the domestic confinement and subjugation of women within the narrative, while the protagonist remains imprisoned in a world of wallpapers.

In Gilman's story, the narrator sadly shares her struggle of not being alone when trying to help the poor thing that shakes the pattern once it's moonlight. She ran to assist her and peeled off yards of paper with her by pulling and shaking. Despite her desire to write and be free from literal captivity, the narrator was overprotected by her husband John, who didn't allow her to work during her illness. He also hates it when she writes, bu

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she insists that she must put it away. John cannot find a reason for her illness.

The woman's husband disregarded her illness and treated her like a child, causing her to feel imprisoned in her own home. Despite attempting to communicate with him, he ignored her and prevented her from participating in any activities.

Despite having a caring spouse, the narrator remained unhappy as she longed for independence. However, John disregarded her thoughts which left her disappointed. She expressed frustration towards him for not believing that she was unwell despite being in that state. The narrator felt confused about what to do when both a trustworthy doctor and her partner assured others that her ailment was just temporary nervous depression and slight hysterical tendency. Ultimately, she failed to convince John of the seriousness of her condition.

Gradually, the narrator is being driven to insanity by her depression and unfulfilled desires to write and connect with others. She is prohibited from writing and receiving visitors, causing her to express despair over the absence of guidance and support for her artistic endeavors.

Despite her growing attachment to the wallpaper, the woman is unable to have any exciting company. Her companion expresses his aversion to it by stating that he would rather put fireworks in her pillowcase. Nevertheless, her affection towards the room continues to intensify each day.

Her desire to visit her cousins was met with opposition from her husband who was concerned for her well-being as well as for their child's. He cautioned her against entertaining the idea, citing the dangers of such a thought, especially for someone with her temperament. The society at the time treated women unequally, relegating them

to vessels of fertility and denying them their humanity.

The novel centers around women's rights, indicating the author's strong feminist beliefs. The characters in the book also support women's rights - especially the protagonist-narrator who faces oppression in a society dominated by men. Despite her husband John's attempts to constrain her, she works towards self-empowerment.

The narrator's lack of experience and vulnerability is consistently depicted, ultimately leading to her descent into madness. Her husband's behavior reinforces her immaturity, which is often described as childlike. Additionally, societal constraints confine her to the role of a dependent woman confined to her home. This existence can be compared to that of a butterfly struggling to emerge from its cocoon and reveal its true beauty.

The narrator's descent into depression and insanity is depicted throughout the story, as she struggles to maintain her composure. Despite being intelligent, she remains subservient to her dominant husband, which accounts for her mental state.

As the play nears its conclusion, the narrator becomes overwhelmed by pressure and loses control, despite her strong feminist beliefs. Throughout her speech, these ideologies are apparent, as she expresses her subordination to her husband John's belief in a woman's perceived frailty and inability to make decisions. The narrator's desire for a full and meaningful life, as well as her staunch feminism, prevented her from remaining trapped in a restrictive environment controlled by her husband. Thus, her home felt like a prison to her during this time.

Despite having doctors for a brother and husband, the narrator received constant supervision. However, neither of them comprehended her thoughts as they concentrated solely on her physical recovery. Consequently, the narrator was unable to pursue her

desire to write, which she believed would help her express her depression through words. She was convinced that engaging in both mental and physical activity would alleviate her troubles.

Despite her lack of desire for physical rest, her husband and brother did not understand and forced her to stop all activities. They failed to understand her and the male-dominated society did not want husbands to comprehend their wives.

According to the narrator, her husband and brother ignored her guidance. The novel's environment reflects a period when men held the belief that women were physically, mentally, and intellectually inferior. Women encountered oppression from various sources such as culture, race, religion among others. Therefore, young girls were anticipated to imitate their mothers by engaging in domestic chores such as cooking, cleaning and taking care of children so they can become successful homemakers in future.

Over time, women have been considered inferior to men and limited to jobs that don't require as much physical power. Furthermore, motherhood has often been seen as the sole acceptable role for females. In the book, the main character experiences detachment from society and is forbidden from communicating with anyone beyond her confinement. Consequently, she becomes despondent and eventually insane because of societal restrictions placed upon her.

The play depicts the narrator's persistent attempts to free herself from the limitations of her existence, akin to a butterfly striving to break out of its cocoon. Despite being cherished by her spouse John, she finds married life and motherhood overly confining, which has led her to become an advocate for women's empowerment. The narrator detests the oppressive and self-centered viewpoints propagated by her husband and his male-dominated community.

The narrator's

journey of self-discovery involved standing up against the oppression of women by men. John, representing orthodox society, believed his wife to be inferior and treated her as a foolish possession, exerting controlling behavior over her. In contrast, the narrator advocated for feminism and gender equality, firmly believing in her own worth and value.

The narrator's feminist convictions emerged when she realized that she had been an ignorant toy in her marriage to John. This caused her to become depressed and eventually angry. John treated his wife as if she were just another object, denying her basic human rights. The author's feminist beliefs abhorred John's attitude, as she always wanted to express her true self. Finally, the narrator acknowledged her own rights and became enlightened.

The woman ceased her pretense and embraced her true self, seeking empowerment and control over her own fate. However, her spouse held a limited notion of marriage, viewing her as merely a symbol of his status and expecting her to dutifully cater to his needs.

According to the writer, females are often perceived as powerless and disconnected from both reality and moral influence. In the novel, the main character-the narrator-embodies feminist ideals through self-discovery and personal growth. Despite her tragic outcome, she serves as a positive representation of feminist principles. As a result, the book is an exceptional reflection of how even distressed, unstable, or unsuccessful characters can champion feminist beliefs. Overall, the narrator's disposition is an indication of the author's firm endorsement of feminist ideology.

The protagonist longed to escape from her husband's grasp, feeling unhappy with societal and cultural expectations and requirements. Despite her inability to fully overcome her own impulses, she remains

a beloved figure as she fought for the cause of women's liberation and can be considered a hero.

During the period in which the novel is set, women held a very low status. They were limited to being housewives, with no rights to vote, own property, or make significant transactions. The narrator of the story acknowledged her enslavement and chose to break free in order to lead a life of liberty. Her bravery in fighting against oppression made her one of the most admirable stage heroines of her century. The actions she took are fully understandable according to modern ideology and culture.

Despite the societal constraints of male dominance and inferior treatment of women, she served as a heroic symbol for resistance. As a modern female role model, she sought to break free from her husband's expectations and embrace a larger world beyond his shadow. While unsuccessful in some personal endeavors, she remained a successful feminist determined to convince her husband to accept her aspirations.

She triggered a significant historical shift and instigated a traditional redirection.

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