Comparing Gilman's The Yellow Wallpaper And The Birth-Mark

Gilman’s “The Yellow Wallpaper” and Hawthorne’s “The Birth-Mark” are strong writings that grasp symbolism as their main point of explanation and interpretation. Gilman’s short story expresses a young woman that is in peaceful captivity by her husband and uses her surroundings to create an imaginary world. Hawthorne’s story uses the birthmark of a woman, a scientist’s wife, which drives the scientist to extreme measures of dealing with the mark. While both writings use symbolism as their main point of expression for the reader to interpret, each writer’s means to carry the plot has many differences and similarities. The interpretation of the symbols that reveal the conflict, character’s persona, and even resolution are the similarities and
At the end of Hawthorne’s “The Birth-Mark” Aylmer finally took care of the mark on Georgiana’s cheek. Then finding out the check that is an imperfection to Aylmer’s eyes, is also a connection to Georgiana’s humanity and dieing without it, “The fatal Hand had grappled with the mystery of life, and was the bond by which an angelic spirit kept itself in union with a mortal frame” (326). The symbol itself acts as a finisher to the conflict, leaving Aylmer alone without his wife. In comparison, Gilman’s “The Yellow Wallpaper” uses symbolism to show the freedom of the unnamed women from her and the captivating husband. In this example unnamed woman finally rips all the wallpaper down and is confronted by the husband, “ but I looked at him over my shoulder. “I’ve got out at last,” said I, “in spite of you and Jane. And I’ve pulled off most of the paper, so you can’t put me back!” (344). Again the symbolism that is portrayed reveals an end to the conflict between her and the husband, but also with herself. In spite that both authors do use symbolism to reveal their resolution inside the story, one major difference is the level of personal connection between that symbol and the