Summary:
The Yellow Wallpaper, by Charlotte Gilman, is a story representing the weight of a patriarchal society that still lingers today. It motivated the female mind of creativity and mental strength through a patriarchal order of created gender roles and male power during the nineteenth century
Patriarchy and "The Yellow Wallpaper"
"The Yellow Wallpaper" motivated the female mind of creativity and mental strength through a patriarchal order of created gender roles and male power during the nineteenth century and into the twentieth century. While John represented characteristics of a typical male of his time, the yellow wallpaper represented a controlling patriarchal society; a sin of inequality that a righteous traitor needed to challenge and win. As the wallpaper deteriorates, so does the suppressing effect that male hierarchy imposed on women. Male belief in their own hierarchy was not deteriorating. Females began to think out of line, be aware of their suppression, and fight patriarchal rule. The progression of the yellow wallpaper and the narrator, through out the story, leads to a small win over John. This clearly represents and motivates the first steps of a feminist movement into the twentieth century.
The nineteenth century was a time of male domination and female suppression. Women faced economic social and freedom of rights barricades. Men's interests and efforts were towards the important people; themselves. We see this when the narrator is genuinely concerned about something strange in the house. John shows no empathy or support towards his own wife. Alternatively john responds by telling her it "was a draught, and shut the window" (Gilman 904). Perhaps this carelessness for women contributed to the mistreatment of the female illness by just giving them drugs to cope with sickness. The narrator continuously reminds us of the social expectations of the male in relation to females. The narrator uses phrases like "one expects that" and "John says..." to reinforce male's normal actions and treatment aimed at the female population.
Males conduct also mirrored women's social position. Women were discouraged to be "over stimulatingly intellectual" (Treichler 191) or to develop "foolish fantasies" but were pushed to "exercise self control." Women could not vote or be in leadership positions political or religiously. Women would never be "elected of God" to minister a church. No main stream religion had ever or would ever allow a woman to lead and make decisions after her mistake in the Garden of Eden. Main stream society has always been influenced by main stream religion. Women's gender roles (Kendal 343) were learned from a young age. Education would be substituted with learning motherly skills and how to be a good house keeper. As a result, females would aspire to be the best women and fill her role in life. Jenny shows us the conformed house keeper who "hopes for no better profession" (Gilman 906). As the industrial revolution matured and technology increased, many opportunities for women arose. Some women were able to work. They may have felt it a privilege or a disgrace; Either way, women continued to face male capitalism. If wages were even paid to women workers, "wage gap" (Kendal 361) was present between males doing the same job. After work "double day" or a "second shift" would be worked when arriving home so they could fulfill their responsibilities as a house keeper (Kendal 361). In the opening line the narrator suggests that john and she follow society's normal patriarchal order by telling us they are "mere ordinary people." John shows us how ordinary he is. The narrator continues throughout the story in a battle with doing what's right or doing what should be right.
The yellow wallpaper symbolizes the patriarchal society restrictions and imprisonment of women in a patriarchal society. "Like all good metaphors, the yellow wallpaper is variously interpreted by readers to represent the pattern which underlies sexual in-equality, the external manifestation of neurasthenia, the narrators un-conscious, the narrator's situation within patriarchy" (Treichler 192). The narrator is very descriptive about her surroundings. We see an isolated bounded house "standing well back from the road" (Gilman 903). The house is surrounded by "hedges and walls and gates that lock" (Gilman 903). She is restricted to a room where the "the windows are bared for little children, and there are rings and things in the walls" and a gnawed bed nailed to the ground. She continues to depict the ugliness of the furniture and the floor. "But I don't mind it a bit - only the paper" (Gilman 906). Among imprisoning, depressing, and trashy conditions the only element of the environment that harassed and restricted her enjoyment of her stay was the wallpaper. The wallpaper is said to be worse than the prison characteristics it is compared to. This demonstrates the effect and force patriarchy has in her time. As the narrator becomes more aware of the male forces, the wallpaper begins to reveal itself more and more. At night bars become visible and there is a women trapped behind the "horrible wallpaper." "The women behind shakes it!", "but nobody could clime through that pattern - it strangles so" (Gilman 955). The yellow wallpaper would not let a women's voice be heard. The women behind is trapped. The patriarchal barrier continues to damn her social progression and suffocates the wayward female efforts. Finally her feelings of liberty come when she tears the wallpaper down. The triumph over the wallpaper is then symbolically celebrated by creeping over top of john. It is no coincidence that john happens to be there and collapses at the sight of her state. Here's the dominate male of the story being present at the time of the removal of the entrapping wallpaper and collapses to the floor when he sees it. Now at a lower position than his wife she does some creepy victory laps. When the wallpaper came down so did the patriarch of the home, thus demonstrating the wallpaper symbolism.
John represents a typical male dictator in this patriarchal order. He continually shows us that his wife is much less than he is through his language, actions, and attitude. "He has no patience with faith, an intense horror of superstition, and he scoffs openly at any talk of things not to be felt and seen and put down in figures"(Gilman 902). John treats his own wife as a child. The narrator is talked down too and referred too as a "little girl" and his "darling." John's position as a physician enforces the husband's superior knowledge and dictatorship. "If a physician of high standing and ones own husband, assures friends and relatives that there is really nothing the matter with one but temporary nervous depression... what is one to do""(Gilman 902). What John the doctor and husband say's, stands. It does not help the narrators situation that "her brother is also a physician, and also of high standing, and he says the same thing" (Gilman 902). John's dictatorship also comes through the narrators reactive thoughts when she says "I did not make out a very good cause for myself." She is controlled in a fascist system of marriage.
John never takes the narrators concerns seriously. John fails to show any care or love towards his own wife; the one women in the world that john should respond too. John is constantly on a platform laughing at his wife. "I supposed john was never nervous in his life. He laughs at me so about this wallpaper!"(Gilman 905). In this instance we see in the narrator's defensive and sarcastic response. Her husband takes no second thought to sending his wife away to Weir Mitchel. Additionally his wife dreaded the idea of leaving. "But she doesn't want to go there at all" (Gilman 907). Against her desires, John will not hesitate to send her if he needs to. This shows his lack of sensitivity to her feelings .John has just become a physician instead of her husband. "Hence husband and wife have come as physician and patient" (Treichler 193). John is number one. On two occasions john demonstrates his hierarchy mentality and selfishness. "I beg of you, for my sake and for our child's sake, as well as for our own" (Gilman 907). John also says "she must take care of herself for his sake" (Gilman 907). Who should his wife work for and go through effort and pain for? John thinks the first reason and priority of his wife should be himself. He casually mentions that his spouse should get well for herself yet has no intentions of emphasizing her. Then "He says no one but myself can help me out of it, and I must use my will and self control and not let any silly fancies run away with me"(Gilman 905). John has a self centered attitude where everyone is working for his comfort and success. He is a controlling dictator who "hardly lets her stir with out direction" (Gilman906). He perfectly concurs with the yellow wallpaper society.
In the early stages of the story, the narrator shows a few signs of a female's role that acknowledges and recognizes male dominancy. She gradually moves away from the conforming female role revealing the deterioration of the patriarchal influence. At first, she is obedient in her thought. As discussed earlier john will mockingly laugh at her, "but one expects that." She expects to be openly ridiculed. She expects her ideas to be seen as uneducated or ridicules. Although she partially accepts men's position in her life, she shows an embedded spot of hope and objection to the state that she lives in. As she repetitively questions "what is one to do"" she demonstrates a helpless plea. More importantly she reveals that she is pondering rebellion to society. There is a seed of innovation behind her plea that will grow when nourished. Another issue causing the narrator to be torn is obligation to her hard working husband. "He takes all care for me, and I feel basely ungrateful not to value it more." She feels obligated to obey only because of her husbands care. Ironically it is her husband's care that restricts her.
As she continually uses the Phrase "John says..." she demonstrates how reliable she is supposed to be on John's knowledge and suggestions. In the introduction to John's ideas and expertise, the narrator gives us a sense of her doubt in his views and prescriptions. ""personally I disagree with there ideas" (Gilman 902). Following this comment, every time the narrator begins a statement with "John says..." John's judgment and knowledge becomes weak. The underlying doubt in John is continuously present as his wife carelessly talks of his diagnosis and demands.
In the face of a stiff husband and the sticky wallpaper, the narrator progresses and moves forward through the diversity. The narrator and even Jenny, the perfect woman, develop active rejection of masculinity. The woman's image behind the wallpaper becomes clearer as time moves on, while the wallpaper reveals and performs its metaphorical role. The frequency of creeping increases as the wallpaper obtains gaps and openings. More women are seen trying to escape the wallpaper which was not an option earlier. "They get through, and then the pattern strangles them off..." (Gilman 913). The torn wallpaper is patriarchy weakened, patriarchy realizing a threat, and patriarchy suffocating any attempt of women getting through. Unsurprisingly, John rejects the idea of removing the wallpaper because of the consequences that would follow. "Disturbed by the wallpaper she asks for another room or for different paper; her husband urges her not to give into her fancies. Further, he claims that any change would lead to more change: "after the wallpaper was changed it would be the heavy bedstead, and then the barred windows, and then the gate at the end of the stairs and so on"" (Treichler 194). John detests the idea of change that would result in a chain reaction, obviously due to a potential loss of control over women. The narrator also gains strength as she pursues freedom. Opposite to John's idea that writing is what exhausts her, she is tiered of hiding it from everyone. "I did write for a while in spite of them; but it does exhaust me a good deal-having to be so sly about it" (Gilman 903). As she creeps more and is going more visually "insane", she benefits by not having the exhaustion of concealment. Even Jenny exhibits an out cry when "she laughed and said she wouldn't mind (tearing down the wallpaper) herself" (Gilman 911). This marginal change in loyal Jenny, again, shows the progression of the female's desire for freedom from John and the yellow wallpaper.
Ultimately the narrator experiences sweet victory over her husband and the wallpaper. With the wallpaper removed she can "creep around as she pleases." A few trips over a fainted John, confirms that patriarchy has been overthrown, in her environment, and she is conqueror.
We have over looked one key issue in this story. Although based on true experiences, it is still just a story. This story displays true problems with gender inequality, and has succeeded in application of its principles in feminist movements. "The real Purpose of this story was to reach Dr. S. Weir Mitchell, and convince him of the errors of his ways. I sent him a copy as soon as it came out, but no response. However, many years later I met someone who knew him who said he had told them that he had changed his treatment since reading "The Yellow Wallpaper." If that is fact, than I have not lived in vain."(Gilman 317). Fortunately, in reality, a major feminist movement has occurred, but to what extent has the yellow wall paper been removed? Unfortunately, John and his yellow wallpaper still linger today.
Gilman, Charlotte Perkins. "The Yellow Wallpaper" The Harbrace Anthology of Literature. Ed. Jon C. Scott, Raymond E. Jones, and Rick Bowers. Canada: Nelson Thomas Learning, 2002. 902-913.
Treichler, Paula A. "Escaping the Sentence." The Captive Imagination.Ed. Cathrine Golden. New York: The Feminist Press, 1992. 191-210
Kendal, Diana. "Sex and Gender." Sociology in Our Times 3.Ed. Joanna Cotton. Scarborough: Nelson Thomson, 2004. 339-367
Gilman, Charlotte Perkins. "Essay date 1935." Twentieth-Century Litirary Criticism 9. Ed. Dennis Poupond. Detroit: Gale Research, 1983. 316-317
This is the complete article, containing 2,313 words
(approx. 8 pages at 300 words per page).
