Millett Argues, “the Private Sphere Is Just Like the Public Realm”. How Far Do You Agree That This Criticism May Be Applied to the Yellow Wallpaper?
Millett argues, “the private sphere is just like the public realm”. How far do you agree that this criticism may be applied to the Yellow Wallpaper?
In the ‘Yellow Wallpaper’ the reader sees a parallel between the yellow wallpaper, and a female entrapped within the domestic sphere. When thinking about how the private sphere and public realm may apply to this metaphorical figure, it may be suggested that daytime represents the ‘public realm’ as this is when the wallpaper, alongside the metaphorical figure behind it, is most shown and observed. Contrastingly, nighttime is the equivalent to the ‘private sphere’, as this is when the wallpaper and metaphorical figure is most alone and least observed. By progressing with this ideology, during the daytime, and in the ‘public realm’ the wallpaper is described to have a “silly and conspicuous front design” suggesting that the female behind the wallpaper is portraying a somewhat fake and “silly” persona. This links with the traditional stereotype of a female within the patriarchal society of the novella. The choice to describe this as “conspicuous” suggests that this persona is obviously false. Perhaps Gilman is implying that the way women were compelled to conform to this persona should be addressed. However, in nighttime, and in the ‘private realm’, the wallpaper changes and is as “plain as can be” suggesting that the “silly” persona that this female gives off within the public realm has perhaps sucked the life and soul out of the female. It may also be argued that the term “plain” is Gilman suggesting that females within the 20th century were purely blank canvases, restricted from embracing their own true and colourful persona; and instead were metaphorically ‘painted’ to fit the stereotype in which they were limited to. It may be suggested that the fabricated persona of women within the 20th century was disregarded at night, giving such a persona little significance. More importantly, it could be argued that the focus
In the ‘Yellow Wallpaper’ the reader sees a parallel between the yellow wallpaper, and a female entrapped within the domestic sphere. When thinking about how the private sphere and public realm may apply to this metaphorical figure, it may be suggested that daytime represents the ‘public realm’ as this is when the wallpaper, alongside the metaphorical figure behind it, is most shown and observed. Contrastingly, nighttime is the equivalent to the ‘private sphere’, as this is when the wallpaper and metaphorical figure is most alone and least observed. By progressing with this ideology, during the daytime, and in the ‘public realm’ the wallpaper is described to have a “silly and conspicuous front design” suggesting that the female behind the wallpaper is portraying a somewhat fake and “silly” persona. This links with the traditional stereotype of a female within the patriarchal society of the novella. The choice to describe this as “conspicuous” suggests that this persona is obviously false. Perhaps Gilman is implying that the way women were compelled to conform to this persona should be addressed. However, in nighttime, and in the ‘private realm’, the wallpaper changes and is as “plain as can be” suggesting that the “silly” persona that this female gives off within the public realm has perhaps sucked the life and soul out of the female. It may also be argued that the term “plain” is Gilman suggesting that females within the 20th century were purely blank canvases, restricted from embracing their own true and colourful persona; and instead were metaphorically ‘painted’ to fit the stereotype in which they were limited to. It may be suggested that the fabricated persona of women within the 20th century was disregarded at night, giving such a persona little significance. More importantly, it could be argued that the focus