Essay On Charlotte Perkins Stetson's The Yellow Wallpaper
To be a woman during the 19th century, one had to submit fully and wholeheartedly, for being a woman gave you an infinite and definite place in society the moment of conception. Women have been defined by not possessing the power to define themselves. For Charlotte Perkins Stetson, this was too overwhelmingly real. In the story The Yellow Wallpaper, Stetson displays the perspective of the plague it was to be a woman. Purposeless and fickle, the narrator in the tale is a woman married to a physician of high standing named John. Prominent in the art of submission, the narrator is a dynamic symbol of what the author is trying to portray. Uncertain of her emotions, the narrator struggles with her “condition,” and her feelings towards her husband.
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In this story, the author describes the feelings of the narrator towards the house. Even though the narrator seems to fancy the house, the setting goes on to contradict with the emotional standpoints of the characters. According to page 648 “It is a big, airy room…with windows that look all ways, and air and sunshine galore,” (Stetson). Although this would typically symbolize freedom, openness, and positivity, the wife and John both have a closed minded view on things. John is the typical 19th century male who believes in the complete submission of the woman. The woman or narrator has no way of expressing herself except for writing in one room. The contradiction lies in the open, free expressive environment with close minded, traditional people. The environment is what ultimately drove the narrator to insanity. In conclusion, The Yellow Wallpaper symbolizes what it meant to be a woman, not only in a male dominated family but world. Symbols ranging from internal struggles to environmental illusions, the author looked to emphasize the pain from which women suffered. Thanks to Stetson and many other feminist authors, the world has benefitted greatly from women being equal, and their stories continue to influence our world
In this story, the author describes the feelings of the narrator towards the house. Even though the narrator seems to fancy the house, the setting goes on to contradict with the emotional standpoints of the characters. According to page 648 “It is a big, airy room…with windows that look all ways, and air and sunshine galore,” (Stetson). Although this would typically symbolize freedom, openness, and positivity, the wife and John both have a closed minded view on things. John is the typical 19th century male who believes in the complete submission of the woman. The woman or narrator has no way of expressing herself except for writing in one room. The contradiction lies in the open, free expressive environment with close minded, traditional people. The environment is what ultimately drove the narrator to insanity. In conclusion, The Yellow Wallpaper symbolizes what it meant to be a woman, not only in a male dominated family but world. Symbols ranging from internal struggles to environmental illusions, the author looked to emphasize the pain from which women suffered. Thanks to Stetson and many other feminist authors, the world has benefitted greatly from women being equal, and their stories continue to influence our world