The Yellow Wallpaper is a famous literary work highlighting women’s significance in society. The plot contains journals written by a woman who was tackling post-partum depression. This book discussed the struggles of women in 19th century.
Overview
This article will provide information on the following things:
- Author
- Characters
- Summary
- Analysis
- Themes
- Symbolism
- Conclusion & FAQS
Author
The Yellow Wallpaper was written by Charlotte Perkins Gilman in 1892. Gilman, a renowned American writer, is often thought to have based the story on her own life. One of the notable aspects of her writing style is her advocacy for women’s rights and feminism.
Characters: The Yellow Wallpaper
The story has two characters:
John
He was husband of protagonist(woman).He rented a mansion in a neat environment for her. This was all done to assist her in recovery from depression.
Women
In the story, the protagonist was struggling with postpartum depression. She found solace in documenting her life through journal entries.
The Yellow Wallpaper Short Summary
The story’s plot consists of an unnamed woman suffering from postpartum depression. It’s a state of depression that happens after delivery. The women moved to new house that was far from city. This was idea by her husband John. He was a doctor in story who wanted to help her in recovery from depression.
The doctor forbade her from performing tasks. She was told to stay inside in bedroom. In the start, she believed that some strange forces lived in their house. She shared it with her husband but he said it’s a sign of her health severity.
The woman mentioned her life events in a diary. She had yellow wallpaper on the wall in her bedroom. She becomes obsessed with it. Every time, she looked at wallpaper and thought that there is a woman captivated by it She wanted to help women in freedom.
One day, narrator locked her room. She tore the yellow wallpaper and started crawling on the ground. This was all a gesture to highlight that she succeeded and helped the locked women. She always believed that the captivated woman behind yellow wallpaper was the narrator himself. The story ends with the arrival of John who looked concerned for his wife.
The Yellow Wallpaper Analysis
The story shared the hardships of women during Victorian age. Many critics believed that this story is related to Charlotte Perkins Gilman’s life. She faced depression in childhood. Her father left her mother and then she lived with her aunt. She suffered from postpartum depression after delivering her baby girl. Doctors told her to stay away from work but she joined feminist society. She delivered great writings on women’s empowerment. In last days of life, she suffered from breast carcinoma. She took her own life in 1935.
This story exposed the patriarchal norms of the past. The narrator’s life is true example of gender discrimination. She was not supported by John and her family during her bad phase. Further, she was not allowed to work enhanced her frustration level. The term ”Yellow Wallpaper” symbolizes the oppression of narrator. She thought there was someone captivated behind the wallpaper. The wallpaper was like a lock. She become obsessed with wallpaper and tore it.
The women behind wallpaper define the suppressed desires of narrator. She wanted to enjoy her life but social norms depressed her.
Themes: The Yellow Wallpaper
The Yellow Wallpaper explores the following themes:
Feminine Oppression
The rude attitude of narrator’s husband illustrates the boundaries & limitations placed on girls in the past. This is a classic example of gender discrimination in the 90s.
Escapism and Freedom
The yellow wallpaper has symbolized the chains that suppressed women. The women behind wallpaper symbolized the urges of narrator to live an independent & happy life.
The Dangers of Patriarchy
John paid lil bit of attention to narrator’s opinions. This is another example of patriarchal dominance in the past century.
Self-Destruction and Liberation
The narrator tore the yellow wallpaper. This symbolizes her desire to escape gender differences.
The Yellow Wallpaper Moral Lessons
- Challenge inequalities.
- Stand for your rights.
- Support your partner on bad days.
- Believe in freedom
- Never suppress anyone.
Conclusion: The Yellow Wallpaper Short Summary And Analysis
In nutshell, the story was all about the struggles and difficulties faced by women in 19th century. The title of story illustrated the hurdles in narrator’s life. Her obsession with the yellow wallpaper describes her desire to get freedom. If you had found our blog helpful, share it.
FAQS
How do you interpret the ending of The Yellow Wallpaper?
The story ends by sharing many great lessons. This story introduces readers to the roles assigned to women in past. Further, the arrogance of narrator’s husband is a factor that defines patriarchy.
What are the main themes in The Yellow Wallpaper?
The Yellow Wallpaper explores the themes of depression, escape, suppression and escape.