Representation of Gender in Books

The Yellow Wallpaper

The Yellow Wallpaper by Charlotte Perkins Gilman explores the mental deterioration of a depressed young woman (the narrator) who is confined to a room with yellow wallpaper by her husband, through the form of journal entries which are written by her. It critiques the gendered nature of early forms of mental health treatment, but also seems to question what is and is not madness. It is a famous text of early feminist modernism. The story is sometimes critiqued for limiting itself to the troubles of only wealthy women.

The story places the narrator in the role of the inferior. This is seen in the use of condescending names by her husband when he refers to her. She obeys her husband when it comes to everything.

The reason for the narrator's confinement is her gender. "There are hedges and walls and gates that lock, and lots of separate little houses for the gardeners and people. (1.19) "The structure of the house itself highlights her confinement. By being confined, she begins losing touch with the outer world.

The lack of her name reinforces the notion that she is speaking as the voice of women collectively, rather than as an individual. The traits of her gender, class and marriage provide the context, central conflict that drives the story. "John laughs at me, of course, but one expects that in marriage." -This reveals how common it is for her husband to belittle her.

We are placed inside the narrator's head and are allowed to empathize with her through the constant use of 'I'. The 'diary' is a symbol of her rebellion against her husband's commands.

Gilman intended the story to be a cautionary tale about what supposed 'rest cures' could do to the mental stability of patients, not a gothic horror. "It was not intended to drive people crazy, but to save people from being driven crazy, and it worked." - Gilman. It is a piece of writing that illustrates 19th-century attitudes towards women's mental and physical health.

 Themysterious figure of a woman trapped behind the yellow wallpaper becomes asymbol of how she feels trapped by her role in the family. During the 19thcentury, women of the narrator's class were expected to stay in the house,perform the function of a hostess, and submit to their husband's authority. TheNarrator has nothing but negligence in her life as she is being treated like achild who needs to be cared for. The mental decline of the narratordemonstrates what can happen when women lack suitable work. "Women needmeaningful work that is suited to their natural abilities and inclinations."- Charlotte Gilman.