The Role Of Insanity In The Yellow Wallpaper

Normalcy is the conforming to a standard created by the expectations of society. People are demanded to conform to social norms. The more emphasis placed on norms, the more behavioural changes to become closer to the norm; however, when this is not attained, it has social ramification for the individual, such as being destroyed, stigmatized and attacked by society. The views and standards of society can lead to one becoming mad. In the text, “The Yellow Wallpaper”, by Charlotte Gilman, the narrator struggles to maintain her sanity after failing to find her place in the world as a new mother. To begin, the society’s views on gender roles and the lack of feminism force the narrator to negatively destroy her confidence and self-control. Moreover, society’s lack of knowledge about mental illness creates improper treatment and care associated with madness. Unequal, unfair and unattainable standards in society are detrimental to one’s success as one can never achieve perfection, ultimately leading to complete mental insanity of the unnamed narrator within “The Yellow Wallpaper”. To
First, women are devalued in society and this destroys any self-worth the narrator has to create a healthier and more successful future. Likewise, the absence of mental insanity knowledge in society inflicts a discouraging atmosphere to overcome madness; instead she wholly succumbs to her madness. Overall, the text, “The Yellow Wallpaper”, by Charlotte Gilman, confirms the unrealistic standards in society aids in the destruction of one’s sanity. In order to overcome madness; one must challenge society to modify its ethics. Without acting upon the idea of altering society, it will continue its original ways. Change the normal. Mental illness awareness is the first step in mental illness