The Use of Metaphors in The Yellow Wallpaper

Charlotte Perkins Gilman's short story "The Yellow Wallpaper" is a masterpiece of the feminist literary movement. The story's protagonist, a woman under the control of her husband and trapped inside a room in a Victorian mansion, uses the descriptive power of metaphor to convey her inner turmoil to the reader. The metaphors used in the story are central to its meaning, as they paint a complex picture of the protagonist's mental state and her subjugation to patriarchal norms. In this essay, I will explore the use of metaphors in "The Yellow Wallpaper" and analyze how they contribute to the story's central themes.

The Yellow Wallpaper as a Metaphor

The most prominent metaphor in the story is the yellow wallpaper itself. Throughout the story, the protagonist, who is unnamed, describes the wallpaper in great detail, noting its various patterns and how they seem to shift and change over time. The wallpaper is a central symbol in the story, representing the protagonist's deteriorating mental state and her increasing sense of being trapped and oppressed by her surroundings. The wallpaper is also a metaphor for the patriarchal society that surrounds the protagonist, which is rigid, oppressive, and stifling to her creativity and autonomy.

The protagonist's relationship to the wallpaper changes over the course of the story, reflecting her changing mental state. Initially, she describes the wallpaper as "dull enough to confuse the eye in following, pronounced enough to constantly irritate and provoke study," suggesting a sense of boredom and frustration with her surroundings. However, as her mental state deteriorates, she begins to see the wallpaper as an active force that is trying to control and trap her. She describes how the wallpaper seems to "stoop down and creep about behind that pattern," suggesting a sense of paranoia and fear.

Obsession with the Pattern

Another key metaphor in the story is the protagonist's obsession with the shape of the wallpaper's pattern. She notes how the pattern seems to resemble "topsy-turvy heads" that are "running into each other." This metaphorical language suggests a sense of confusion and chaos, as if the protagonist's thoughts are jumbled and disconnected. She also notes how the pattern seems to resemble "bars," which she feels are trapping her inside the room. This metaphorical language suggests a sense of imprisonment and a lack of freedom.

Relationship to John

The protagonist's relationship to the pattern reflects her relationship to her husband, John. John is a physician who believes that his wife's mental state can be cured through rest and isolation. He forces her to stay inside the room with the yellow wallpaper, which she sees as a metaphorical prison. The protagonist's fixation on the pattern of the wallpaper is a metaphor for her inability to escape from the patriarchal norms that are trapping her. As she becomes more obsessed with the pattern, she becomes increasingly disconnected from reality and her sense of self.

The Woman in the Wallpaper

One of the most complex and subtle metaphors in the story is the protagonist's relationship to the woman she sees in the wallpaper. The protagonist begins to see a woman trapped inside the wallpaper, who seems to be struggling to break free. This woman is a metaphor for the protagonist herself, who is trapped inside a society that does not allow her to fully express herself or achieve her potential. The protagonist's desire to free the woman from the wallpaper is a metaphor for her own attempts to break free from patriarchal norms and assert her own agency.

Conclusion

In conclusion, "The Yellow Wallpaper" is a masterful use of metaphor to convey complex themes and ideas. The use of metaphorical language allows the reader to understand the protagonist's inner turmoil and her relationship to the world around her. The yellow wallpaper itself is a central symbol in the story, representing both the protagonist's deteriorating mental state and her oppression by patriarchy. The pattern on the wallpaper is also a metaphor for the protagonist's confusion and her sense of being trapped. Finally, the woman in the wallpaper is a metaphor for the protagonist herself, representing her desire to break free from the constraints of patriarchal society. Through these metaphors, Gilman creates a powerful and moving portrait of a woman struggling to assert her identity and achieve freedom.