The Yellow Wallpaper. Point of view
The Yellow Wallpaper.
1. Consider the writer's decision regarding narrative point of view. Why do you think she chose this point of view over other possibilities? Comment on the problem her choice creates for the realism of the story's end.
I think the author chose the woman's point of view over other possibilities because that makes the story interesting. The perspective allows us to «see» into the woman's mind as her thinking deteriorates. The readers are intrigued from the beginning about what happened, why it happened and what is going to happen next. The choice creates a problem at the end of the story because we are not certain what is fantasy.
2. Examine the portrayal of the narrator's husband. a) Write one paragraph, encapsulating personality description. The narrator tells us John is a complex and sometimes contradictory character. He is very practical, «he scoffs openly at any talk of things not to be felt and seen and put down in figures». He is a controlling type as we see from how he always tells what needs to be done and how. We also see his character is patronizing. For example, he calls his wife « a blessed little goose» and treats her like a little kid. However, despite of this negative character traits, John is a grateful and loving husband.
b) In what way and to what degree is such a characterization necessary in order for this story to arrive at the outcome it does? Could the story achieve the same effect without the presence of such a character? Explain. Such a characterization is necessary for contrast. It helps to understand how out of touch with reality the woman is. In addition, John's controlling and isolating behavior contributes to her madness.
c) Could the same story be written today, in the twenty first century? Would the characters be as plausible? Comment. I am sure that the story could be written not only today in the twenty first century but in the future also. Nervous
1. Consider the writer's decision regarding narrative point of view. Why do you think she chose this point of view over other possibilities? Comment on the problem her choice creates for the realism of the story's end.
I think the author chose the woman's point of view over other possibilities because that makes the story interesting. The perspective allows us to «see» into the woman's mind as her thinking deteriorates. The readers are intrigued from the beginning about what happened, why it happened and what is going to happen next. The choice creates a problem at the end of the story because we are not certain what is fantasy.
2. Examine the portrayal of the narrator's husband. a) Write one paragraph, encapsulating personality description. The narrator tells us John is a complex and sometimes contradictory character. He is very practical, «he scoffs openly at any talk of things not to be felt and seen and put down in figures». He is a controlling type as we see from how he always tells what needs to be done and how. We also see his character is patronizing. For example, he calls his wife « a blessed little goose» and treats her like a little kid. However, despite of this negative character traits, John is a grateful and loving husband.
b) In what way and to what degree is such a characterization necessary in order for this story to arrive at the outcome it does? Could the story achieve the same effect without the presence of such a character? Explain. Such a characterization is necessary for contrast. It helps to understand how out of touch with reality the woman is. In addition, John's controlling and isolating behavior contributes to her madness.
c) Could the same story be written today, in the twenty first century? Would the characters be as plausible? Comment. I am sure that the story could be written not only today in the twenty first century but in the future also. Nervous