The Yellow Wallpaper
“The Yellow Wallpaper,” by Charlotte Perkins Gilman, tells a story of a woman’s struggle in a patriarchal society, during postpartum. Her main oppressor is her husband John, “a physician of high standing.” Since she is his wife, he has to maintain that he is in charge of the situation, he removes her from her home, a place where women generally feel at ease, to an alleged resting-place in a “colonial mansion.” After all, “one’s own husband, assures friends and relatives that there is really nothing the matter with one but temporary nervous depression—a slight hysterical tendency—what is one to do?” This statement shows her sense of powerlessness of the situation and her life in general. Sadly, her brother, who is also a physician in high standing, feels the same as John. Although she feels “that there is something queer about” the “colonial mansion” that they are residing in for the summer, she is laughed at and forced to stay. This supports the theory that the female voice is not valued much. Like other women, she has grown to expect that sort of treatment, and does not think anything of it. There is reason behind her feelings; mansions are generally in exclusive locations and
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Some common words found in the essay are:
Perkins Gilman, yellow wallpaper, patriarchal society, paper yellow, sick child, Yellow Wallpaper, unable express, paper yellow wallpaper, society lives, outside pattern, physician standing, colonial mansion,
Approximate Word count = 1173
Approximate Pages = 5 (250 words per page double spaced)
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