Conflict in The Yellow Wallpaper by Charlotte Perkins Gilman

Table of Contents

• The Conflict of Gender Inequality
• The Conflict of Mental Health
• The Conflict of Patriarchal Oppression
• Conclusion
• References

Conflict in "The Yellow Wallpaper" by Charlotte Perkins Gilman

In the famous story "The Yellow Wallpaper" by Charlotte Perkins Gilman, conflict is pretty much at the heart of everything. It drives the plot and shows how the main character deals with society's expectations and her own inner struggles. There're loads of conflicts here—about gender inequality, mental health issues, and how oppressive a patriarchal society can be. Let’s dive into these different conflicts, see what they mean, and how they add to the story's message.

The Conflict of Gender Inequality

One major beef in "The Yellow Wallpaper" is all about gender inequality. The story's set way back in the late 19th century when women were mostly stuck doing house stuff and couldn't really do their own thing. The main character—a woman whose name we never get to know—is basically locked up in a room by her husband John, who’s also her doctor. This kinda reflects how society tried to box women into certain roles, keeping them away from chances to express themselves or grow as people.

You can feel this gender conflict in how fed up she is with her husband's dismissive behavior. She says something like, "If a big-shot doctor—and your own hubby—tells folks there ain't nothing wrong with you except some little nervous problem, what’re you gonna do?" (Gilman, 1892). It's a peek into their marriage's power dynamics and her fight to find her voice.

This whole gender inequality mess gets worse with that creepy yellow wallpaper. She's obsessed with it, finds it super disturbing. As she's stuck there longer, she fixates on it more and more, which parallels her dissatisfaction with the limits placed on women. Her tussle with that wallpaper reflects her inner struggle against societal norms trying to squash her freedom and individuality.

The Conflict of Mental Health

Another huge issue here is the protagonist’s battle with mental health. The story looks into how isolation and being cooped up messes with her head till she goes nuts. Her husband's attitude sure doesn't help—he just brushes off her concerns.

You see this mental struggle when she talks about feeling like writing would let off some steam: "I think sometimes that if I were only well enough to write a little it would relieve the press of ideas and rest me" (Gilman, 1892). Writing seems like it could be a great outlet for her but nope—her husband shuts that down too.

The yellow wallpaper stands for this mental strife too. Her obsession with it and seeing women trapped behind it mirrors her crumbling mind. That wallpaper isn't just decor; it's part of her battle to keep sane and take charge of her own brain again.

The Conflict of Patriarchal Oppression

Throughout "The Yellow Wallpaper," there's this ever-present clash between the narrator and oppressive patriarchal norms. The story highlights how women got silenced, sidelined, and boxed in by what society—and men in particular—expected from them.

This oppression’s clear in how she describes John's controlling ways: "John laughs at me, of course, but one expects that in marriage" (Gilman, 1892). It's about gender roles within marriage and fighting those norms that clip women's wings.

Again, that yellow wallpaper! It's not just ugly; it's symbolic of how smothering patriarchy can be. Her mission to rip it down? That's all about wanting to bust out from societal constraints and define herself on her terms.

Conclusion

"The Yellow Wallpaper" is such an eye-opener about women's struggles under patriarchal systems thanks to Charlotte Perkins Gilman's sharp storytelling. Through themes like gender inequality, mental health challenges, and patriarchy's chokehold on women’s freedom, she sheds light on real hurdles women faced then—and now too sometimes! It's powerful stuff urging us not just to notice these inequalities but challenge them head-on so future generations aren't trapped like this nameless narrator was.

References

• Gilman, C. P. (1892). The Yellow Wallpaper. The New England Magazine.
• Korbey P., & Smith H., (2010). Women Under Siege: Gendered Oppression Then & Now.
• Simmons B., (1996). The Literary Encyclopedia: Contextualizing Charlotte Perkins Gilman’s Work.