On Feminism and ‘the Yellow Wallpaper’ by Charlotte Gilman

On Feminism and ‘The Yellow Wallpaper’ by Charlotte Gilman On the poets forum Feminism is based on the assumption that women have the same human, political and social rights as men, furthermore, that women should have the same opportunities as men in their personal choices regarding careers, politics and expression. A feminist text states the author’s agenda for women in society as they relate to oppression by a patriarchal power structure and the subsequent formation of social ‘standards’ and ‘protocols’. A feminist text will be written by a woman, and it will point out deficiencies in society regarding equal opportunity, and the reader will typically be aware of this motive. In a work of fiction, the main character, or heroine,†¦show more content†¦In the world of yellow wallpaper, a woman would naturally be fascinated by a garden. Gilman’s character is a naà ­ve, faithful wife who does as her husband instructs her to. She blames herself for being ‘unreasonably angry’ and is critical of her nervo us disorder, as she is pressured to think so by her husband and doctors. Despite her intuitive objections, she agrees to treatment for her depression because her husband wishes her to. It is the wallpaper, though, that is the focal-point of the story, and it holds within it many descriptive and fruitful metaphors for the insidious discrimination and oppression of women. With steady patience and a methodical rhythm, Gilman exposes more and more insight into the meaning of the wallpaper throughout the story. She uses a slow and steady pace to release tidbits of metaphor that clue the reader to see the wallpaper as a symbol of male authority. The main character’s fascination with the ugly paper begins as an innocent annoyance, builds to a pastime, and crescendos to an obsession. The beauty of the story, however, is that this build-up is very subtle, and only after reflection and contemplation can the symbols of the wallpaper be seen. Indeed, the character in the story cannot recognize them herself, and it is the struggle to see what is in the wallpaper that moves the reader along. The text isShow MoreRelatedInsanity and Feminism in The Yellow Wallpaper by Charlotte Perkins Gilman504 Words   |  3 PagesInsanity and Feminism in The Yellow Wallpaper by Charlotte Perkins Gilman â€Å"The Yellow Wallpaper† by Charlotte Perkins Gilman reflects the intense struggle with of a woman during the late 1800’s. However, as the story unfolds, we realize the reasons for this insanity and the connections of this breakdown to the main character’s husband, John. What we discover is the way women were treated during the late 1800’s and the significance of this treatment on their lives. The storyRead MoreFeminism Of An Hour And Charlotte Perkins Gilman s The Yellow Wallpaper1596 Words   |  7 Pages Evelyn Gomez Mrs. Kehrmeyer AP English 11 3 December 2014 Feminism in the 1960 s Feminism is the push for woman’s rights considering their political, social and economic equality to men. The feminist movement of the 1960 s demonstrated how women demanded equal rights since they wanted to be included into the world around them not only as mothers and house wives but as a vital part society. Women realized there were more opportunities for them in the world rather than staying home cleaning andRead MoreThe Yellow Wallpaper by Charlotte Perkins Gilman is Centered Around Individualism and Feminism644 Words   |  3 PagesIn â€Å"the Yellow Wallpaper† theme is centered around individuality and feminism. The woman in the story is suffering with depression but does not know how to deal with her illness due to her husband insensitivity and lack of belief of her illness. During this time period women were oppressed and were to be â€Å"seen and not heard.† Women were not seen as an equal individual to men but more like children. It is very clear that the wife is made inferior to her husband John. By him being a physicianRead MoreSexism and Feminism in the Late 1800s in accordance with The White Heron by Sarah Orne Jewett and The Yellow Wallpaper by Charlotte Perkins-Gilman1483 Words   |  6 Pagesright to vote, equal pay, and all around equality is what they demanded. But feminism was not only found at suffrage rallys or Grange meetings, it made its way in to every medium, including literature. A bit more subtle than rallys and protests, short stories were an effective tool for a feminist with the disposition for exposition. Among these women wordsmiths were Charlotte Perkins Gilman, author of The Yellow Wallpaper, and Sarah Orne Jewett who wrote A White Heron. Both of these stories focusRead MoreWomen During The Nineteenth Century Essay991 Words   |  4 PagesWomen began standing up for themselves using literature in the nineteenth century. The time periods of the feminism booms were called waves. There are three waves of feminism starting f rom the nineteenth century to now. They all occurred in the United Kingdom, Britain, France, and the United States. These waves lead to women getting closer to being treated equal to men. The first wave was in the United Kingdom and the United States within the nineteenth century to the early twentieth century. ThisRead MoreThe Yellow Wallpaper By Charlotte Perkins Gilman Essay1208 Words   |  5 Pagesthat wallpaper as I did?† the woman behind the pattern was an image of herself. She has been the one â€Å"stooping and creeping.† The Yellow Wallpaper was written by Charlotte Perkins Gilman. In the story, three characters are introduced, Jane (the narrator), John, and Jennie. The Yellow Wallpaper is an ironic story that takes us inside the mind and emotions of a woman suffering a slow mental breakdown. The narrator begins to think that another woman is creeping around the room behind the wallpaper, attemptingRead MoreDepiction Of Gender Roles And The Stigma Of Mental Illness1273 Words   |  6 PagesThe depiction of gender roles and the stigma of mental illness in â€Å"The Yellow Wallpaper† can be elucidated in different ways. When reading the a ctual piece, the narrator really does seem to have a very difficult time in her life. It is obvious through several of the articles that she has had a difficult time trying to find her identity, and it has shown through her mental stability. The comparison of the Panopticon method and Gilman’s own experiences helps to provide a clearer view as to what sheRead MoreThe Yellow Wallpaper By Charlotte Perkins Gilman885 Words   |  4 Pagesthere has been a stigma around mental illness and feminism. â€Å"The Yellow Wallpaper† was written by Charlotte Perkins Gilman in the 1900’s. â€Å"The Yellow Wallpaper† has many hidden truths within the story. The story was an embellished version her own struggle with what was most likely post-partum depression. As the story progresses, one can see that she is not receiving proper treatment for her depression and thus it is getting worse. Gilman uses the wallpaper and what she sees in it to symbolize her desireRead MoreCh arlotte Perkins Gilm Domestic Insanity And Feminism1072 Words   |  5 PagesMelanie Bottini ENGL 222 TTh 11:30 AM Chris Ruiz-Velasco 10 February 2014 Charlotte Perkins Gilman – Domestic Insanity and Feminism Charlotte Perkins Gilman was an author who lived from 1860 to 1935 who represents the movement of American women towards intellectual freedom and empowerment during the turn of the century. Gilman was a great lecturer who used her fame to spread her ideas across the country, speaking at various organizations at cities from coast to coast. She was also a poet, novelistRead MoreAnalysis Of The Yellow Wallpaper1073 Words   |  5 PagesThe short story The Yellow Wallpaper by Charlotte Perkins Gilman can be interpreted in many ways. Some scholars debate that it is written as an autobiography, some say it is an isolated work, a complete fantasy, or simply just a feminist uprising. One particular scholar even relates the feminism aspect with a feline creature within one scene of the story (Golden 1). Although there are many aspects throughout the text that represent feminism, the main theme that shines through is the story of a woman