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Charlotte Perkins Gilman, a renowned feminist writer of the 19th century, penned the chilling tale of "The Yellow Wallpaper" in the 1890s. This period was characterized by rigid gender roles, where women were expected to maintain immaculate households, care for children, and obediently listen to their husbands, while men were the primary breadwinners and heads of households. Gilman's own battle with depression served as the inspiration for this haunting narrative, shedding light on the oppressive nature of the era's societal norms.
In this essay, we will delve into the significance of "The Yellow Wallpaper" as a feminist critique, exploring the narrator's struggle against societal constraints and her descent into madness, as well as the symbolism behind the infamous yellow wallpaper.
The story unfolds with an unnamed female narrator, who finds herself in a profoundly dependent position within her marriage to a successful physician, John. She is subjected to the stifling confines of her prescribed gender role, which is further exacerbated by her husband's condescending attitude and dismissive behavior.
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Throughout the narrative, the narrator attempts to convey her discomfort regarding the mansion they inhabit and the unsettling yellow wallpaper that adorns her bedroom. She implores John to recognize the eerie atmosphere of the house, stating, "That spoils my ghostliness, I am afraid, but I don't care- there is something strange about the house- I can feel it" (677).
However, John consistently disregards her concerns, attributing her distress to a mere "temporary nervous depression" and a "slight hysterical tendency." He prescribes rest as the cure, dismissing her experiences and emotions (677).
This highlights the prevalent belief during the 1890s that women's concerns and mental health were often trivialized and ignored. The narrator's frustration and helplessness in the face of her husband's indifference reflect the stifling oppression of gender roles during the era.
The yellow wallpaper in the narrator's bedroom serves as a central symbol in the story, representing her mental deterioration and entrapment. Her vivid descriptions of the wallpaper reveal her growing obsession with its patterns and her descent into madness. She describes the wallpaper as follows:
The paint and paper look as if a boy's school had used it. It is stripped off- the paper- in great patches all around the head of my bed, about as far as I can reach, and in a great place on the other side of the room low down. I never saw a worse paper in my life. One of those sprawling, flamboyant patterns committing every artistic sin. It is dull enough to confuse the eye in following, pronounced enough to constantly irritate and provoke study, and when you follow the lame uncertain curves for a little distance they suddenly commit suicide- plunge off at outrageous angles, destroy themselves in unheard-of contradictions. The color is repellent, almost revolting: a smouldering unclean yellow, strangely faded by the slow-turning sunlight. It is a dull yet lurid orange in some places, a sickly sulphur tint in others (678).
The description of the wallpaper not only underscores the narrator's deteriorating mental state but also symbolizes the societal expectations and constraints placed upon women during the 1890s. The "sprawling, flamboyant patterns" that commit "artistic sin" mirror the confining and contradictory expectations that women faced in their roles (678).
The wallpaper's "dull yet lurid orange" and "sickly sulphur tint" evoke a sense of confinement and decay, reflecting the narrator's own feelings of entrapment and degradation within her gender role (678). Furthermore, the wallpaper's erratic patterns and suicidal curves parallel the narrator's own descent into madness, as she becomes increasingly obsessed with its design. The wallpaper, thus, serves as a powerful symbol of the oppressive gender norms and their detrimental effects on women's mental health.
The story further delves into the tragic isolation experienced by the narrator. Confined to her bedroom by John's orders, she is deprived of meaningful social interaction and forced to endure her deteriorating mental state in solitude. This isolation amplifies her anxiety and contributes to her obsession with the yellow wallpaper.
Wang, a literary critic, aptly notes, "The narrator lives a life like a prisoner who is being gazed and observed all the time" (53). In this regard, her husband John and the hired nurse Mary become her unintentional wardens, exacerbating her sense of captivity. The lack of agency and autonomy further underscores the oppressive nature of the gender roles enforced during the era.
John's demeaning language and treatment of the narrator reveal the infantilization of women during the 1890s. He often addresses her using terms like "little girl" and "blessed little goose," reinforcing the perception that she is a child rather than an equal partner in their marriage (682). His paternalistic attitude is emblematic of the patriarchal society's view of women as subordinate and incapable of making decisions about their own well-being.
This infantilization not only undermines the narrator's agency but also exacerbates her mental distress. She is denied the opportunity to assert herself or have her concerns taken seriously, further contributing to her isolation and despair.
As the story progresses, the narrator's obsession with the yellow wallpaper intensifies, and her mental state deteriorates rapidly. She becomes convinced that there is a woman trapped behind the wallpaper, struggling to break free. She identifies with this imaginary figure, seeing herself as a reflection of the trapped woman. Her fixation on the wallpaper and her identification with the imprisoned woman symbolize her own entrapment within the confines of societal expectations.
The narrator's descent into madness is a poignant commentary on the damaging effects of gender roles and the dismissal of women's mental and emotional struggles. Her cries for help and her attempts to communicate her anguish are met with indifference and condescension, pushing her further into the depths of insanity.
"The Yellow Wallpaper" by Charlotte Perkins Gilman serves as a powerful critique of the gender norms and societal expectations that oppressed women during the 1890s. Through the story of the unnamed narrator, Gilman highlights the stifling nature of gender roles, the symbolic entrapment represented by the yellow wallpaper, the tragic isolation experienced by the protagonist, the infantilization of women by the male-dominated society, and the harrowing descent into madness.
This narrative underscores the urgent need for societal change and the recognition of women's agency and autonomy. Gilman's work continues to resonate as a feminist masterpiece, shedding light on the historical struggles of women and the importance of breaking free from oppressive gender roles.
In today's world, the themes explored in "The Yellow Wallpaper" remain relevant as women continue to strive for equality and the dismantling of societal constraints. Gilman's narrative serves as a timeless reminder of the consequences of denying women their voice and agency.
A Feminist Exploration of "The Yellow Wallpaper". (2016, Dec 29). Retrieved from https://studymoose.com/gender-role-effects-in-the-yellow-wallpaper-essay
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