The Violence of Achieving of The Victorian Ideal of Femininity in The Yellow Wallpaper

The Victorian Rest Cure and Its Implications

The Victorian rest cure, a diagnosis prescribed to upper-class white Victorian women believed to suffer from "hysteria" or "trauma related to an unsuccessful role adjustment," aimed to enforce "childlike submission to masculine authority" (Ammons 35). Charlotte Perkins Gilman, a victim of this treatment, uses "The Yellow Wallpaper" to illustrate the violence of achieving the Victorian ideal of femininity and the sacrifices required for a woman to assert her right to self-determination.

The Role of Masculine Authority

John, the narrator's husband and physician, embodies the 'compassionate' male expert, imposing his will upon his wife under the guise of care. He restricts her autonomy, forbidding even minimal independence, and confines her to a nursery, symbolizing both her subjugation and her evolving self-awareness. The barred windows and nailed-down bed serve as stark reminders of her imprisonment, reinforcing male dominance over both her body and mind.

The Symbolism of the Room

The narrator's nursery-like confinement represents her regression into a state of infantilization. The immovable bed, the barred windows, and the walls covered in ominous wallpaper reinforce her loss of agency. The wallpaper itself becomes a central motif, shifting from mere decor to a symbol of the narrator’s struggle. Initially despised, it later reveals a hidden figure—one that mirrors her entrapment and eventual awakening.

Rebellion Through Writing

Despite her oppression, the narrator clandestinely writes, defying John and his brother, both of whom represent patriarchal scientific authority. Writing, viewed as a dangerous act of defiance, allows her to assert control over her narrative. As Helene Cixous notes, "Woman must put herself into the text — as into the world and into history — by her own movement" (Ammons 38). Through her writing, the narrator reclaims her identity and power.

The Wallpaper as a Catalyst for Liberation

The wallpaper evolves from an object of disdain to an instrument of revelation. Under moonlight, its patterns transform into bars, trapping a woman within. This imprisoned figure becomes the narrator’s focal point, representing both her suffering and her potential escape. As she watches the woman struggle, she gains resolve to free her, symbolizing her own journey towards independence.

The Act of Defiance

The final act of tearing down the wallpaper signifies the narrator's complete break from societal expectations. She no longer passively accepts her imprisonment; instead, she actively dismantles the barriers imposed upon her. Her transformation culminates in her crawling over John’s fainted body—a powerful metaphor for her dominance over the male figure who sought to control her.

Conclusion

"The Yellow Wallpaper" exposes the violence and horror endured by Victorian women in pursuit of an unattainable ideal. The narrator’s descent into madness is not a sign of weakness but a necessary rebellion against an oppressive system. Through her breakdown, she achieves freedom, proving that Victorian women would rather embrace madness than succumb to infantilized dependence (Ammons 39).

References

• Ammons, E. (1986). Conflicting Feminine Ideals in Victorian Literature.
• Gilman, C.P. (1892). The Yellow Wallpaper.
• Cixous, H. (1975). The Laugh of the Medusa.