The Yellow Wallpaper was such a fascinating story to read. I have never read Charlotte Perkins Gilman’s stories, so I decided to investigate more about her, and I found interesting information about her life. First the author was born on July 3, 1860, in Hartford, Connecticut. She published her best-known short story "The Yellow Wall-Paper" in 1892. During her life, Gilman also experienced a severe depression and underwent a series of unusual treatments for it. This experience is believed to have inspired her best-known short story "The Yellow Wall-Paper". When I read part of her biography, the story had a deepest meaning for me. Now, I feel that it could be a reflection of her life and it makes the story more interesting and easy to believe. Even though it is somewhat scary, it is absolutely amazing how she describes every single detail. The colonial mansion in which they go to spend summer is a key element in the story, and we have this clear with the words “there is something queer about it” or “there is something strange about the house-I can feel it”. The description of the room is also important, the windows are barred, and there are rings and things in the walls, in this part we can infer that there is something suspicious because it is not the ideal and cozy room that we might expect. For me, the most important element is the yellow wallpaper because it reflects or represents her illness. At the beginning, the wallpaper was only something ugly and uncomfortable, but then it became worse when a shape or a woman’s figure appears in it. In this part, we can notice that she is not getting better because she gets obsess with this woman, and she tries to “help” her, so her condition becomes worse as well as her visions of the wallpaper. Another important element that called my attention was John’s role and her wife’s role. He was the one who controlled everything and he always made all the decisions as we can read at the end of page 88 in the first column. On the other hand, the woman’s role is repressive and submissive as she says “Nobody would believe what an effort it is to do what little I am able -to dress and entertain, and order things”. She cannot work because she is sick, but also she cannot make any decision in her life, and that’s why she feels imprisoned as the wallpaper’s figure. She also does not have a name in the story as a way of downplaying.
Nadia, good for you for looking up more information about the author and the story! You are also absolutely right about noticing what else is in the room. The fact that the windows have bars and that there were rings on the walls IS VERY SUSPICIOUS. Also, the fact that the bed is nailed to the floor is also important--perhaps so that the woman will not be able to move the bed and hang herself...These are elements that you would encounter in a mental institution, not a child's nursery...
Knowing the story of the author and the context in which the tale could have been written, the story does change some of its meaning and we can see it through different eyes. I agree with Nadia that the main character may be a reflection of the own author. Also I agree that the meaning of the whole room in which she is trapped, because she is a kind of prisoner in it, and all the elements that characterized the room, including the yellow wallpaper, the bed, and bar windows, make it looked like it was meant to behold a mental-ill person.
It's really interesting to read about the author's story. It helps as you say, to give some context to the story and give it a different perspective.And I also agree with what you wrote about she feeling like prisioner because I think that she feels oppressed by those who are meant to take good care of her. She sees herself in that woman on the wall and she wants to set the woman and herself free.
The Yellow Wallpaper was such a fascinating story to read. I have never read Charlotte Perkins Gilman’s stories, so I decided to investigate more about her, and I found interesting information about her life. First the author was born on July 3, 1860, in Hartford, Connecticut. She published her best-known short story "The Yellow Wall-Paper" in 1892. During her life, Gilman also experienced a severe depression and underwent a series of unusual treatments for it. This experience is believed to have inspired her best-known short story "The Yellow Wall-Paper". When I read part of her biography, the story had a deepest meaning for me. Now, I feel that it could be a reflection of her life and it makes the story more interesting and easy to believe. Even though it is somewhat scary, it is absolutely amazing how she describes every single detail. The colonial mansion in which they go to spend summer is a key element in the story, and we have this clear with the words “there is something queer about it” or “there is something strange about the house-I can feel it”. The description of the room is also important, the windows are barred, and there are rings and things in the walls, in this part we can infer that there is something suspicious because it is not the ideal and cozy room that we might expect. For me, the most important element is the yellow wallpaper because it reflects or represents her illness. At the beginning, the wallpaper was only something ugly and uncomfortable, but then it became worse when a shape or a woman’s figure appears in it. In this part, we can notice that she is not getting better because she gets obsess with this woman, and she tries to “help” her, so her condition becomes worse as well as her visions of the wallpaper. Another important element that called my attention was John’s role and her wife’s role. He was the one who controlled everything and he always made all the decisions as we can read at the end of page 88 in the first column. On the other hand, the woman’s role is repressive and submissive as she says “Nobody would believe what an effort it is to do what little I am able -to dress and entertain, and order things”. She cannot work because she is sick, but also she cannot make any decision in her life, and that’s why she feels imprisoned as the wallpaper’s figure. She also does not have a name in the story as a way of downplaying.
ReplyDeleteNadia, good for you for looking up more information about the author and the story! You are also absolutely right about noticing what else is in the room. The fact that the windows have bars and that there were rings on the walls IS VERY SUSPICIOUS. Also, the fact that the bed is nailed to the floor is also important--perhaps so that the woman will not be able to move the bed and hang herself...These are elements that you would encounter in a mental institution, not a child's nursery...
ReplyDeleteKnowing the story of the author and the context in which the tale could have been written, the story does change some of its meaning and we can see it through different eyes. I agree with Nadia that the main character may be a reflection of the own author. Also I agree that the meaning of the whole room in which she is trapped, because she is a kind of prisoner in it, and all the elements that characterized the room, including the yellow wallpaper, the bed, and bar windows, make it looked like it was meant to behold a mental-ill person.
ReplyDeleteIt's really interesting to read about the author's story. It helps as you say, to give some context to the story and give it a different perspective.And I also agree with what you wrote about she feeling like prisioner because I think that she feels oppressed by those who are meant to take good care of her. She sees herself in that woman on the wall and she wants to set the woman and herself free.
ReplyDeleteI have a question so what is the atmosphere and mystery of suspense in the yellow wallpaper.
ReplyDeleteand what was the Omens, visions, and dreams about coming events
ReplyDeleteand what was so suspicious about the yellow wallpaper
ReplyDelete