The Yellow Wallpaper Woman

Charlotte Perkins Gilman was born in 1860, in Hartford, Connecticut. She was a distinguished writer of many short stories. “The Yellow Wallpaper” is to an extent an autobiography of her life documenting her postpartum psychosis. Charlotte Perkins Gilman was also known for being a feminist and socialist who fought for social reform. Her beliefs come across very strong in her writings. She uses characters, point of view, and theme to create a story that is a symbol of social issues that she hopes to reform. “The Yellow Wallpaper” is Gilman’s most popular short story that highlights her life through a real experience and uses symbolism to highlight other aspects of numerous women’s lives during that time. “The Yellow Wallpaper” is about a woman,
As mentioned previously the narrator displays great potential in her writing ability and John does everything he can to obstruct her writing. John asserts his superiority by discounting any claim that she may be ill. “John laughs at me”, “scoffs openly … of things not to be felt and seen…”, “perhaps he is the reason I do not get well faster”, “he does not believe I am sick!” (Gilman, 1899), these are examples of the many times throughout the story John scoffs at her claims of being ill. Although John does not believe the narrator to be ill, he still prohibits her from writing, “There comes John, and I must put this away - he hates to have me write a word” (Gilman, 1899). John additionally forbids her from leaving the mansion; he must have complete control of her actions at all times. The narrator realizes the wallpaper is a metaphor of her life, “I wonder if they all come out of that wall-paper as I did?” “I’ve got out at last… in spite of you and Jane. And I’ve pulled off most of the paper, so you can’t put me back!” (Gilman, 1899). The wallpaper that represents the domestic life of women, which the narrator finds “horrid”, has been torn down and the narrator now has the opportunity to live the life she has been capable of