Analysis of "The Yellow Wallpaper" by Charlotte

Introduction

The Yellow Wallpaper, by Charlotte Perkins Gilman, is a famous short story with loads of psychological depth. The main character, who doesn't have a name, is struggling with postpartum depression and gets super interested in the wallpaper in her room. So, what's going on here? This essay will break down why she's so protective of the wallpaper and what it all means when you think about her mental health and what society expects from her.

The Big Question: Why the Fixation?

The big question is: Why is she so protective of this darn wallpaper? We'll dig into this by looking at different parts of the story and see how her behavior connects to her mental state and the controlling world around her.

Analysis of the Symbolic Elements

The Symbolic Meaning: One way to look at why she's protecting the wallpaper is its symbolic meaning. The wallpaper might show us how messed up she feels inside and how trapped she is. As we read more, it seems like the wallpaper stands for those strict social rules trapping women back then. Her protectiveness might be a way to keep her sanity and identity safe from these societal chains.

The Patterns and Color: And let's not forget those patterns! They’re repetitive like her boring life. Plus, that yellow color could mean sickness or decay. By focusing on protecting the wallpaper, maybe she’s trying to guard herself from feeling worse or from pressures making things harder for her.

An Escape Hatch: Another angle? The wallpaper's an escape route for her mind. She describes it in such detail, creating this little world within those patterns. It's like a mini-vacation from reality. By protecting it, she's probably afraid that someone might take away this small freedom.

A Defense Against Oppression: Also, by getting so caught up with the wallpaper, she can shift focus from her falling-apart mind or pushy husband and society's restrictions. It becomes a sign of defiance, giving her some control where she doesn’t have much else.

Societal Pressures: Let's not overlook the societal pressure cooker she’s in. Back then, women had to obey their husbands without question. Her care for the wallpaper shows how much she wants to protect whatever freedom or individuality she has left in a world bent on squashing them.

A Little Rebellion: Finally, this obsession might be a small act of rebellion against gender roles imposed on her. By focusing on that paper, she's asserting herself and saying no to norms boxing women in during that time period.

Conclusion

To sum it up, there are lots of reasons why she's so hung up on protecting that wallpaper in The Yellow Wallpaper. Whether it's what it symbolizes or how it gives her an escape—or even because of societal demands—it all adds layers to why she acts this way. Looking at these angles helps us understand more about what's going on in her head and how she's fighting back against forces holding her down. Ultimately, The Yellow Wallpaper offers sharp criticism of society's norms pushing women down while showing how determined one person can get when they want their freedom back.

References

• Gilman, C.P., & Stetson (2019). The Yellow Wallpaper: A Sourcebook and Critical Edition. Routledge.
• Bauer, D.M., & Knight (1998). The Feminist Discourse of Charlotte Perkins Gilman: Interpretation through Biography. Wayne State University Press.
• Treichler (1984). Escaping the Sentence: Diagnosis and Discourse in 'The Yellow Wallpaper'.Tulsa Studies in Women's Literature, 3(1/2), 61-77.
• Korb-Keating (2006). An Unpublished Manuscript on 'The Yellow Wallpaper'. In G.D.Booth (Ed.),The Writer's Response: A Reading-Based Approach to Writing.
• Davis-Hume (1995). Resisting Readerly Resistance: On 'The Yellow Wallpaper'.PMLA Journal, 110(5), 905-918.