The Evolving Role Of Women In The Yellow Wallpaper, By Charlotte Gilman

Human behavior changes rapidly- each passing era creates a new wave of ideas and lifestyles contrasting previous generations. A generation is molded by the ideas of predecessors, and through literature, the past can be explored from an otherwise lost point of view. Authors from varying times offer insight into what was once modern culture. Charlotte Gilman was one such author whose work has defined the movement towards equality. Gilman's story, "The Yellow Wallpaper" is such a piece that offers a unique take on women during the Progressive Era. Dialogue shared between the two main characters, as well as inner monologue offers acumen into a women's life during such times. Through the husband’s actions, clearly what was considered the best was,
“The Evolving Role of Marriage 1950-2010” offers a much broader scope of social normality through the decades; “In recent decades, the social and legal significance of marriage has eroded. . . Changes in social norms have also played a role: the stigmas associated with nonmarital sex, cohabitation, nonmarital fertility, and divorce have declined dramatically.” (Lundberg, Pollak 31). Marriage beforehand was considered sacred, and if there was to be a divorce the couple would be castaway. The circumstances of the marriage are unknown, as little is shared about the couples’ past. The marriage was not out of necessity, but out of actual feelings. The wife, although she appears to completely scrutinize John at first, does remark multiple times that she does indeed love him. “It is so hard to talk with John about my case, because he is so wise, and because he loves me so.” (Gilman 532) John’s inner monologue is not presented in the story; however, the wife offers at least one take of John’s
This feeling is not completely shared between the two. A condition customarily affects both spouses; however, John stays hopeful regardless. A study conducted by Brigham University concluded that “partners who are able to find the closeness they needed in marriage were less likely to be depressed and that levels of depression in one spouse influence those in the other.” (Harper, Sandberg 547) Despite the wife’s belief of her condition worsening, John believed that it was unsafe to believe in such things; so much so that professions held more base than marriage itself. Negativity, likely the causation of depression, was the catalyst that started the slow decay of the wife. Neither character took to heart what the other had to say, further dividing the