Character Analysis: The Yellow Wallpaper
February 28, 2014
English 204
The Ill-Treatment of Women and The Yellow Wall-Paper
“Never let the hand you hold, hold you down.”-Anonymous.
The Yellow Wallpaper written by Charlotte Perkins Gilman is a comprised arrangement of journal entries written in first person, by a woman who has been put on “rest cure” by her physician/husband John. Even though, the woman in the narrative remains anonymous, she eventually becomes obsessed with the yellow wallpaper that is located in her bedroom. Gilman’s story is about how women during the 19th century, struggled for their independence and individuality while being stuck in a male dominated society that did not allow them to vote nor own property in their own name.
From the beginning of the …show more content…
Unfortunately, the narrator is treated like a child rather than a woman who is ignored by all; she writes, “I am absolutely forbidden to “work” until I am well again. Personally, I disagree with their ideas. Personally, I believe that congenial work, with excitement and change would do me some good.” The narrator is implying that no one is listening to her and, she disagrees with both her husband and brother as well. She believes that some pleasant work will do her some good. These men decided what is best for the narrator without taking her thoughts into consideration. Just as most men during this time would have. If John or her brother would have shown symptoms of depression they would be told to “man up” and get back to work, but because she is a woman she is told to lie down, take walks, get exercise, and forbade to work.
“What is it, little girl? ... Don’t go walking about like that you’ll get cold.” said John. When John refers to his wife as a little girl he is not only belittling her but, following traditions as men before him did. Prior to the woman rights movement, men often treated woman as delicate flowers or wounded birds, because they were afraid that woman would be more competitive, have more thought provoking ideas and resolutions. Or did men during the 19th century really believe that women were …show more content…
The emphasis on reading and writing also illustrated the importance of the wallpaper as her personal diary of her experience in the mansion. Since the narrator was not allowed to read nor write in her journal, she would begin to "read" the wallpaper until she found what she was looking for, which was an escape out of her reality of being trapped inside of her room. While the narrator began to “see” women in the wallpaper, she realizes that she is not in the struggle by herself, but the struggle for women and equal
English 204
The Ill-Treatment of Women and The Yellow Wall-Paper
“Never let the hand you hold, hold you down.”-Anonymous.
The Yellow Wallpaper written by Charlotte Perkins Gilman is a comprised arrangement of journal entries written in first person, by a woman who has been put on “rest cure” by her physician/husband John. Even though, the woman in the narrative remains anonymous, she eventually becomes obsessed with the yellow wallpaper that is located in her bedroom. Gilman’s story is about how women during the 19th century, struggled for their independence and individuality while being stuck in a male dominated society that did not allow them to vote nor own property in their own name.
From the beginning of the …show more content…
Unfortunately, the narrator is treated like a child rather than a woman who is ignored by all; she writes, “I am absolutely forbidden to “work” until I am well again. Personally, I disagree with their ideas. Personally, I believe that congenial work, with excitement and change would do me some good.” The narrator is implying that no one is listening to her and, she disagrees with both her husband and brother as well. She believes that some pleasant work will do her some good. These men decided what is best for the narrator without taking her thoughts into consideration. Just as most men during this time would have. If John or her brother would have shown symptoms of depression they would be told to “man up” and get back to work, but because she is a woman she is told to lie down, take walks, get exercise, and forbade to work.
“What is it, little girl? ... Don’t go walking about like that you’ll get cold.” said John. When John refers to his wife as a little girl he is not only belittling her but, following traditions as men before him did. Prior to the woman rights movement, men often treated woman as delicate flowers or wounded birds, because they were afraid that woman would be more competitive, have more thought provoking ideas and resolutions. Or did men during the 19th century really believe that women were …show more content…
The emphasis on reading and writing also illustrated the importance of the wallpaper as her personal diary of her experience in the mansion. Since the narrator was not allowed to read nor write in her journal, she would begin to "read" the wallpaper until she found what she was looking for, which was an escape out of her reality of being trapped inside of her room. While the narrator began to “see” women in the wallpaper, she realizes that she is not in the struggle by herself, but the struggle for women and equal