The Yellow Wallpaper

A detailed Summary of The Yellow Wallpaper

The Yellow Wallpaper by Charlotte Perkins Gilman uses symbolism and imagery to convey a sad story of the repression that women faced during the late 1800's. As well as being representative of the turmoils that women face today, Gilman writes "The Yellow Wallpaper" from her own personal experiences of having to face the overwhelming fact that this is a male- dominated society, and sometimes women suffer because of it. The narrator, being female, is suffering from a "temporary depression." She states right from the beginning that her husband (John) "is a physician, and perhaps--(I would not say it to a living soul, of course, but this is dead paper and a great relief to my mind)-- perhaps that is the one reason I do not get well faster." She obviously loves her husband and trusts him but has some underlying feeling that maybe his prescription of total bed rest is not working for her. The narrator, feeling alone and trapped, sets up an image to the reader, that shows the reperc!

ussions a woman faces in the care of a man.

One of the most significant symbols used in the story is the "Yellow Wallpaper." The wallpaper symbolizes the narrator's need to escape her confinement. The story mentions that she has an older brother who is also

a physician, and he agrees with her husband's theory. This leaves her no choice but to subject herself to the torment of being totally alone in a room with the ugly wallpaper. She stares at the wallpaper for hours on end and thinks she sees a woman behind the paper. "I didn't realize for a long time what the thing was that showed behind, that dim sub-pattern, but now I am quite sure it is a woman." She becomes obsessed with discovering what is behind that pattern and what it is doing. "I don't want to leave now until I have found it out." The

I see her in that long shaded lane, creeping up and down. I see her in those dark grape arbors, creeping all around the garden.... I don't blame her a bit. It must be very humiliating to be caught creeping by daylight! I always lock the door when I creep by daylight. I can't do it at night, for I know John would suspect something at once.

Some common words found in the essay are:
Yellow Wallpaper, Jane I've, Perkins Gilman, image reader, yellow wallpaper, woman struggling, creeping outside, woman creeping outside, creates image reader, getting woman, woman free, narrator woman, creates image, story mentions, woman creeping,

Approximate Word count = 1148
Approximate Pages = 5 (250 words per page double spaced)

Category: English

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The Yellow Wallpaper

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