Analysis of “The Yellow Wallpaper” by Charlotte Perkins Gilman

Literary Works That Shape Our World: A Critical Analysis - Sykalo Evgen 2023

Analysis of “The Yellow Wallpaper” by Charlotte Perkins Gilman

Historical Context

"The Yellow Wallpaper" by Charlotte Perkins Gilman was published in 1892, during a time of great social and cultural change in the United States. The Victorian Era was coming to an end, and the Progressive Era was beginning. This was a time of rapid industrialization and urbanization, and women were beginning to challenge their traditional roles in society.

Gilman herself was a feminist activist and writer. She was deeply concerned about the social and legal restrictions that were placed on women, and she believed that these restrictions were harmful to women's mental and physical health.

One of the most important aspects of the historical context of "The Yellow Wallpaper" is the role of women in the 19th century. Women were expected to be subservient to men, both at home and in the public sphere. They were also discouraged from pursuing education or careers. This lack of autonomy and opportunity could lead to feelings of frustration, isolation, and depression.

Another important aspect of the historical context is the "rest cure." This was a popular treatment for women who were diagnosed with "nervous debility" or "hysteria." The rest cure involved putting the woman in a quiet, isolated room and restricting her activity. This treatment was often harmful, and it could lead to a worsening of the woman's symptoms.

Gilman's story is a powerful indictment of the ways in which women were treated in the 19th century. The narrator of the story is a woman who is suffering from postpartum depression, but her husband, a physician, dismisses her concerns and insists that she simply needs to rest. As the story progresses, the narrator's mental state deteriorates, and she becomes increasingly obsessed with the yellow wallpaper in the room where she is confined.

The story's ending is both tragic and hopeful. The narrator ultimately escapes from her confinement, but she does so at the cost of her sanity. Her husband finds her dead, torn the wallpaper into shreds.

"The Yellow Wallpaper" is a powerful and disturbing story that remains relevant today. It is a reminder of the importance of mental health and the dangers of isolating and silencing people who are struggling.


Literary Analysis

"The Yellow Wallpaper" by Charlotte Perkins Gilman is a short story that is often interpreted as a feminist critique of the ways in which women were treated in the 19th century. The story is told from the perspective of a young woman who is suffering from postpartum depression. Her husband, a physician, insists that she needs to rest in a secluded room, and he forbids her from writing or engaging in any other stimulating activities.

The narrator's only source of entertainment is the yellow wallpaper that covers the walls of her room. At first, she finds the wallpaper to be simply unsightly, but as her mental state deteriorates, she becomes increasingly obsessed with it. She begins to see patterns and images in the wallpaper, and she becomes convinced that there is a woman trapped behind it.

The wallpaper comes to symbolize the narrator's own confinement and oppression. As she becomes more and more consumed by her obsession, she begins to lose her grip on reality. In the end, she tears the wallpaper down and frees the woman trapped behind it, but she also kills herself.

The story's ending is both tragic and hopeful. It is a reminder of the dangers of suppressing women's voices and denying them their autonomy. However, it also suggests that women have the power to break free from their chains, even if it means sacrificing their own lives.

Here are some key aspects of the story's literary analysis:

  • Symbolism: The yellow wallpaper is the most important symbol in the story. It represents the narrator's confinement, oppression, and madness. It also symbolizes the patriarchal society that seeks to silence and control women.
  • Narrative structure: The story is told in a first-person narrative, which allows the reader to experience the narrator's descent into madness firsthand. The story also uses a variety of other literary devices, such as foreshadowing and imagery, to create a sense of suspense and horror.
  • Point of view: The story is told from the narrator's perspective, which gives the reader a unique and intimate understanding of her thoughts and feelings. However, the narrator is also unreliable, as she is suffering from mental illness. This means that the reader must be critical of the information that she provides.

"The Yellow Wallpaper" is a complex and thought-provoking story that can be interpreted in many different ways. It is a powerful and disturbing work of literature that remains relevant today.


Critical Reception

"The Yellow Wallpaper" by Charlotte Perkins Gilman has been praised by critics for its powerful and disturbing depiction of mental illness and its feminist critique of the patriarchal society of the 19th century.

When the story was first published in 1892, it received mixed reviews. Some critics praised Gilman's writing and the story's psychological realism, while others found it to be too disturbing and depressing.

In the years since its publication, "The Yellow Wallpaper" has become one of the most widely read and studied short stories in American literature. It is now considered to be a classic of feminist literature and a powerful exploration of the human mind.

Some of the most notable critical interpretations of the story include:

  • Feminist critiques: Many feminist critics have interpreted the story as a critique of the ways in which women were treated in the 19th century. They argue that the narrator's confinement and oppression are symbolic of the ways in which women were silenced and controlled by patriarchal society.
  • Psychological interpretations: Other critics have focused on the story's psychological realism. They argue that Gilman's depiction of the narrator's descent into madness is accurate and insightful.
  • Biographical interpretations: Some critics have also interpreted the story in light of Gilman's own life experiences. Gilman suffered from postpartum depression after the birth of her daughter, and she was subjected to the "rest cure" by her husband, a physician. Critics argue that the story reflects Gilman's own experiences and her insights into the nature of mental illness.

"The Yellow Wallpaper" is a complex and multi-layered story that can be interpreted in many different ways. It is a powerful and disturbing work of literature that remains relevant today.


The representation of madness in "The Yellow Wallpaper"

"The Yellow Wallpaper" by Charlotte Perkins Gilman is a classic story about the descent into madness. The narrator, a young woman suffering from postpartum depression, is confined to a room by her husband, a physician, who believes that she needs rest and quiet. The narrator is forbidden to write or engage in any other stimulating activities, and her only source of entertainment is the yellow wallpaper that covers the walls of her room.

At first, the narrator finds the wallpaper to be simply unsightly, but as her mental state deteriorates, she becomes increasingly obsessed with it. She begins to see patterns and images in the wallpaper, and she becomes convinced that there is a woman trapped behind it. The narrator begins to identify with the woman in the wallpaper, and she begins to lose her grip on reality.

In the end, the narrator tears the wallpaper down and frees the woman trapped behind it, but she also kills herself.

Gilman's depiction of madness in "The Yellow Wallpaper" is both realistic and symbolic. The narrator's descent into madness is gradual and believable, and her symptoms are consistent with those of postpartum depression. However, the wallpaper also serves as a symbol of the narrator's confinement and oppression by patriarchal society.

The narrator's husband is a physician, and he represents the authority figures in society who seek to control and silence women. The wallpaper represents the restrictions that are placed on women's lives, and the narrator's obsession with it represents her inner struggle to break free.

The narrator's descent into madness can also be seen as a metaphor for the dangers of suppressing women's voices and denying them their autonomy. When women are silenced and oppressed, they are at risk of developing mental illness.

Gilman's story is a powerful and disturbing indictment of the ways in which women were treated in the 19th century. It is also a reminder of the importance of mental health and the dangers of isolating and silencing people who are struggling.


The relationship between the narrator and her husband

The relationship between the narrator and her husband in "The Yellow Wallpaper" by Charlotte Perkins Gilman is complex and disturbing. On the surface, the husband seems to be a loving and caring husband. He is a physician, and he is deeply concerned about his wife's health. However, he is also a product of his time, and he believes that women are weaker and more fragile than men.

The husband believes that the best way to help his wife recover from her postpartum depression is to rest and avoid any stress or excitement. He confines her to a room and forbids her from writing or engaging in any other stimulating activities. He also dismisses her concerns about the yellow wallpaper, which she finds to be oppressive and disturbing.

As the narrator's mental state deteriorates, her relationship with her husband becomes increasingly strained. She begins to see him as her jailer, and she resents his control over her life. She also begins to feel isolated and alone, as she is forbidden to interact with anyone else.

In the end, the narrator's descent into madness is driven in part by her husband's treatment of her. His confinement and control are symbolic of the ways in which women were oppressed in patriarchal society.

Gilman's story is a powerful indictment of the ways in which women were treated in the 19th century. It is also a reminder of the importance of mental health and the dangers of isolating and silencing people who are struggling.


The role of the supernatural in the story

The role of the supernatural in "The Yellow Wallpaper" by Charlotte Perkins Gilman is complex and ambiguous. On the one hand, the story can be read as a realistic depiction of a woman's descent into madness. The narrator's obsession with the yellow wallpaper and her belief that there is a woman trapped behind it can be seen as symptoms of her mental illness.

On the other hand, the story can also be read as a supernatural tale. The narrator's visions of the woman in the wallpaper become increasingly vivid and realistic as her mental state deteriorates. In the end, the narrator tears the wallpaper down and frees the woman trapped behind it, but she also kills herself.

Whether or not the woman in the wallpaper is real or simply a product of the narrator's imagination is left up to the reader to decide. However, the story's ambiguous ending suggests that the supernatural is a powerful force that can have a real impact on the human mind.

The supernatural can be seen as a symbol of the narrator's inner turmoil and her struggle to break free from the social and psychological constraints that are placed on her as a woman. The woman in the wallpaper represents the narrator's own suppressed desires and her longing for freedom.

The supernatural can also be seen as a metaphor for the dangers of mental illness. When the narrator becomes obsessed with the woman in the wallpaper, she loses her grip on reality and descends into madness. The story suggests that the supernatural can be a powerful and destructive force, especially for those who are already vulnerable.

"The Yellow Wallpaper" is a complex and multi-layered story that can be interpreted in many different ways. The role of the supernatural in the story is one of its most intriguing and disturbing aspects.


The story's influence on other works of literature and culture
"The Yellow Wallpaper" by Charlotte Perkins Gilman has had a significant influence on other works of literature and culture. It is considered to be a classic of feminist literature and a powerful exploration of the human mind.

Some of the works that have been influenced by "The Yellow Wallpaper" include:

  • Literature:

✵ "Mrs. Dalloway" by Virginia Woolf

✵ "The Handmaid's Tale" by Margaret Atwood

✵ "The Bell Jar" by Sylvia Plath

✵ "Carrie" by Stephen King

✵ "The Shining" by Stephen King

  • Film:

✵ "The Shining" (1980) directed by Stanley Kubrick

✵ "The Haunting" (1999) directed by Jan de Bont

✵ "Black Swan" (2010) directed by Darren Aronofsky

✵ "Jane Eyre" (2011) directed by Cary Joji Fukunaga

✵ "The Babadook" (2014) directed by Jennifer Kent

These works all draw on the themes and imagery of "The Yellow Wallpaper" to explore ideas such as mental illness, gender roles, and the nature of reality.

"The Yellow Wallpaper" has also been influential in popular culture. It has been referenced in television shows such as "The Simpsons" and "American Horror Story." It has also been the subject of numerous academic studies and critical essays.

The story's enduring popularity and influence is a testament to its power and relevance. It is a story that continues to resonate with readers and viewers today.