Summary Of Charlotte Perkins Stetson's The Yellow Wallpaper

“The Yellow Wallpaper” by Charlotte Perkins Stetson was written using components of feminist criticism. This story deals with many inequalities between John and his wife, it also uses female and male perspectives throughout the whole story. “If a physician of high standing, and one’s own husband, assures friends and relatives that there is really nothing the matter with one but temporary nervous depression- - slight hysterical tendency- - what is one to do?” the narrator explains that her husband shrugs away her illness, and just thinks she’s being dramatic. She also suggests different treatment for herself and thinks it may work better but her husband doesn’t listen. He believes that there is nothing wrong with his wife, which adds to her illness.
He is very paternal towards her, and dismisses a lot of her worries, and her opinions on things.
“The he took me in his arms and called me a blessed little goose, and said he would go down to the cellar, if I wished , and have it Whitewashed into the bargain”, this further proves that he treats her like an adolescent rather than his equal, and wife. John disregards his wife’s judgment, he makes her live in a room she loathes, and in an isolated environment that makes her incredibly unhappy. He also seems to be rather controlling, and doesn't like her to write. Women in this time period weren’t treated well, and were oppressed. Because of her husband's lack of care for her illness she also dismisses it to. He also tell her that there is no reason to suffer, and she believes that satisfies
him.

This story by far greatly depicts women in western society who are treated as objects or men's properties. There is some symbolism in the story as well. The wallpaper that the women hates so much becomes the symbol for imprisonment. My reason for thinking this is when she says, “The faint figure behind seemed to shake the pattern, just as if she wanted to get out”. The representation of it is she’s not aloud to remove the wallpaper, and she’s restricted to a room because of her husband. She further describes the wallpaper as bars at night when the “twilight, candlelight, lamplight, and worst of all moonlight…” reflects on it. It becomes a prison she can’t escape, and further shows how little control she has in her life.

The Author shows many different sides of women during this time period during the story was written in. “I meant to be such a help to John, such a real rest and comfort, and here I am a comparative burden already!” This is one of them, the women feels likes she a burden to her husband because she keeps on telling him that she doesn’t like the wallpaper even though he said he isn’t changing it. The other side of the women is when she finally peels off most of the wallpaper. “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” She finally does something that makes her happy, and breaks away from their control.

“The Yellow Wallpaper” is an important story, and has done so much for women in the way that it has had a positive connotation. This story greatly exhibits the struggle of women all over in circumstances where they aren’t heard or made to feel they are just as important as men. A lot has changed since this paper was written, and women have gotten even more well deserved rights. But there is still misogyny, and we still have a long ways to go towards equality.