Point of Views in "The Yellow Wallpaper"

Introduction to "The Yellow Wallpaper"

Charlotte Perkins Gilman's story, "The Yellow Wallpaper," is one of those classics that hits hard. It talks about mental health, gender roles, and how women were pretty much trapped in the 19th century. But here's something not everyone picks up on: the point of view. Looking at how the story's told helps us really get into the main character's headspace. This essay's gonna dive into that and show how the first-person angle makes you really feel for what she's going through.

The Narrator's Perspective

So, right off the bat, we're hearing from the main character herself. That means we're right there with her thoughts and feelings as she slowly loses it. At first, she seems like someone we can trust; she's just talking about her room and what's up with her husband. But then, things start getting weird, and you can tell she's not all there anymore.

What's wild about this first-person thing is that it's unreliable. She's dealing with postpartum depression and stuck in this room with some nasty yellow wallpaper that she gets obsessed with. We're in her head, hearing all these thoughts and seeing what she sees—even if it's not real. Like when she spots a woman behind the wallpaper trying to break free—it's creepy but also tells us how trapped she feels.

Feeling What She Feels

Being stuck in that room sounds awful, doesn't it? No one to talk to or anything to do. Her husband, John, just brushes off her worries like they're nothing—treating her like some delicate flower instead of an actual person. Because we're getting everything from her point of view, we really feel how desperate she is to get out.

This whole perspective thing also shows us what life was like for women back then. She's constantly being put down by John and other guys around her. They don't care about what she wants or thinks—she's just supposed to sit back and be quiet. By letting us hear directly from a woman's voice in that time period, Gilman shines a light on how unfair it all was.

The Slide into Madness

Another thing is how we watch her mind unravel bit by bit. The way the story’s laid out matches how scrambled her brain's getting—her thoughts are all over the place by the end. And as readers, we start feeling uneasy too because everything's so jumbled up; it’s like walking through a fog.

Wrapping It Up

In conclusion (if I can say that!), having this first-person view really lets us understand what’s going on inside her head—and why it matters for everyone else too. By getting wrapped up in her emotions and thoughts, Gilman paints a picture of isolation and struggle that women faced back then. Sure, the narrator isn’t always seeing things clearly—but that just adds more layers to what's being said here about society’s restrictions on women during those times.

Anyway, “The Yellow Wallpaper” still grabs people today because of its unique style—it sticks with you long after you finish reading!

References

• Gilman, C.P., "The Yellow Wallpaper." The New England Magazine, 1892.
• Korbey, H., "Revisiting ‘The Yellow Wallpaper’: A Look at Feminist Symbolism." Women’s Studies Journal.
• Martin, J.R., "Historical Context of 'The Yellow Wallpaper.'" American Literature Review.
• Pekarsky, S., & Smithfield R., "Psychological Themes in 'The Yellow Wallpaper.'" Mind & Literature Journal.
• Williams, A.M., "Gender Roles and Oppression: Insights from 'The Yellow Wallpaper.'" Social History Quarterly.