Throughout the text, one main theme is persistently shown. That theme is confinement. All through the story, the narrator speaks of her husband John belittling her every move. "He laughs at me so about this wall-paper!" Tells the narrator of the story. The narrator's husband also tries to trick the narrator into thinking that everything she believes is all fake.An example is, "Then he took me in his arms and called me a blessed little goose..." The theme of confinement is to believed to be shown so often because in reality, that is how life was for women during the Victorian Era. Often times throughout the story, the narrator keeps things to herself and does not express her beliefs about her health to anyone but the paper she writes on. "Of course I never mention it to them any more- I am too wise..." Writes the narrator. This causes the narrator to become sneaky and very paranoid of her surroundings. Not only does the she become sneaky around her husband, but also around their housekeeper. "There comes John's sister... I must not let her find me writing." Between being belittled and paranoid, the narrator is left with but one option to occupy herself; staring at the wallpaper. In the end of the story, "I've got out at last,' said I, 'in spite of you and Jane? And I've pulled off most of the paper, so you can't put me back!" Cries out the narrator. This ending can only lead a reader to believe that the idea of people being confined and belittled will only drive one mad.
Works Cited: Gilman, Charlotte P. The Yellow Wallpaper. Boston. Small and Mayard,1899. Print.
Link to photo of yellow wallpaper : http://b68389.medialib.glogster.com/media/be4995c4752a25ee3e324c6e03f64357e0f967013a5890b642abd7b4c837b43c/8271-full.jpg
No comments:
Post a Comment