The Yellow Wallpaper: A Feminist Analysis

In 1892, Charlotte Perkins Gilman wrote the 6,000-word short story, “The Yellow Wallpaper.” It is viewed as a significant primary work of American feminist literature, explaining attitudes in the 19th century toward women’s well-being, both physical and mental. When this novel was first published, most readers thought that the woman in the story was in an extreme state of consciousness. However, after being rediscovered and re-analyzed, the interpretations became more complex. “The Yellow Wallpaper” is displayed as a collection of journal entries and is told in the first person. The journal entries follow a woman who is married to a doctor, who believes that his wife is suffering from what he calls a “temporary nervous depression – a slight hysterical tendency,” which was a common diagnosis for women in that period. Her husband believes that the best way for her
This piece of literature can be interpreted in many different ways. From a feminist approach, this short story demonstrates how traditional etiquettes of behavior could have overwhelming effects on the woman of Gilman’s time. “The Yellow Wallpaper” showcases the demotion of women in marriage. Throughout “The Yellow Wallpaper,” Gilman showcases the position women hold within the establishment of marriage. Gilman’s story was written during a period of significant change; middle class women, within their homes, were situated as the spiritual and ethical leaders. Such a position proposed that women were to remain in the privacy of their home in order to carry out their predetermined roles as a wife and mother. In