Literary Analysis Of The Yellow Wallpaper

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Literary Analysis of "The Yellow Wallpaper"

Charlotte Perkins Gilman wrote a short story called "The Yellow Wallpaper" which she showed how times were in the Victorian ages and how people were viewed. Gilman was a feminist writer who expressed her opinion through her story. Women were treated as less important people and were viewed differently. Gilman uses symbolism in "The Yellow Wallpaper" to show the different perspectives of men and women.

One can analyze through the male perspective in "The Yellow Wallpaper." Gilman's work gives a powerful statement about males in the Victorian years. The men treated the women as if they were children. John gave his wife nicknames such as " little goose" or "little girl" as if …show more content…
The reader may even infer that he believes she is imagining things about how she feels. He wants her to do the rest-cure because she thinks something is wrong. He feels if she does nothing but sit in her room all day she will get better. He believes there is truly nothing wrong with her, hence he ignores the problem. He does not see that she is depressed; he believes it is all in her mind. Gilman demonstrates how women were during this time period by using the thought processes of the male perspective.

One can also see the female perspective in "The Yellow Wallpaper." The wife goes along with the belief that her husband has subconsciously imposed on her that women are less important than men. Gilman says, " I mean't to be such a help to John, such a real rest and comfort, and here I am comparative burden already!" She believe she is a burden on him because sh complains about "aloof" problems such as how she hates the wallpaper and wants a different room or how she wants to be able to do things for herself. Because she is not allowed to do anything but rest, she feels imprisoned. She starts to the like the new wallpaper toward the end of the story. The reader could begin to infer that she becomes attached to the wallpaper because she feels like it is a part of her. She overcomes her depression by the end of the story. Gilman says, "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 felt trapped and finally felt free. She finally said what she had been wanting to say. Throughout the story, Gilman shows the oppression of the female mind and the obstacles that it has to
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