The Yellow Wallpaper Related To Gilman's Equality
Christian Anderson
Monday April 15th, 2013
Mrs. Bhela
ENG 3U0I
Non-Existent Equality in the 1800’s
Charlotte Perkins Gilman is known by readers of literature and students across the globe for her most famous piece “The Yellow Wallpaper.” The famous story follows a woman who suffers from mental illness and her growing infatuation with the yellow wallpaper in her bedroom. It touches on the responsibility of women in the late 1800’s and the narrator’s inability to fulfill the duties of a housewife. At the end of the short story, the narrator’s illness takes over her mind and body as she believes she has seen a woman in the wallpaper, eventually putting herself in the wallpaper as well. When readers look deeper into the text, it is apparent …show more content…
Gilman was a feminist herself and wanted to change the position of women in society. “A feminist she called for women to gain economic independence and rights” (Gilman 2). Women were not treated equally and Gilman wanted this to change. She showed the unfair treatment of women within her writing, demanding their acceptance in society by making people aware of the problem. During Gilman’s time period it was seen as a woman’s duty to take care of her husband and be a house wife. “It does weigh on me so not to do my duty in any way! I meant to be such a help to John, such a real rest and comfort” (Gilman 3). The narrator of the story has an illness that prevents her from doing anything productive. She states that she is unable to do her duty to help John and take care of him, which also means she is unable to fulfill her duty as a housewife. Instead of being upset over not being able to work and see her friends and family; the narrator is upset at the fact that she cannot contribute to her role in society which is to be a housewife. She does not always feel this way though. Her condition renders her unable to work. So she starts to realize that her role in society as a woman is unfair. “I sometimes fancy my condition, if I had less opposition and more society and stimulus” (Gilman 1). The narrator finds some enjoyment within her condition because she is no longer tied to the stereotypes of society. She feels that if she has less opposition from her husband and interacted with people more she would be happy. This shows that her husband treats her unfairly by showing her opposition and not letting her stimulate her mind. Charlotte Perkins Gilman also had events take place in her life similar to those as the narrator experienced among other similarities, which are littered throughout the
Monday April 15th, 2013
Mrs. Bhela
ENG 3U0I
Non-Existent Equality in the 1800’s
Charlotte Perkins Gilman is known by readers of literature and students across the globe for her most famous piece “The Yellow Wallpaper.” The famous story follows a woman who suffers from mental illness and her growing infatuation with the yellow wallpaper in her bedroom. It touches on the responsibility of women in the late 1800’s and the narrator’s inability to fulfill the duties of a housewife. At the end of the short story, the narrator’s illness takes over her mind and body as she believes she has seen a woman in the wallpaper, eventually putting herself in the wallpaper as well. When readers look deeper into the text, it is apparent …show more content…
Gilman was a feminist herself and wanted to change the position of women in society. “A feminist she called for women to gain economic independence and rights” (Gilman 2). Women were not treated equally and Gilman wanted this to change. She showed the unfair treatment of women within her writing, demanding their acceptance in society by making people aware of the problem. During Gilman’s time period it was seen as a woman’s duty to take care of her husband and be a house wife. “It does weigh on me so not to do my duty in any way! I meant to be such a help to John, such a real rest and comfort” (Gilman 3). The narrator of the story has an illness that prevents her from doing anything productive. She states that she is unable to do her duty to help John and take care of him, which also means she is unable to fulfill her duty as a housewife. Instead of being upset over not being able to work and see her friends and family; the narrator is upset at the fact that she cannot contribute to her role in society which is to be a housewife. She does not always feel this way though. Her condition renders her unable to work. So she starts to realize that her role in society as a woman is unfair. “I sometimes fancy my condition, if I had less opposition and more society and stimulus” (Gilman 1). The narrator finds some enjoyment within her condition because she is no longer tied to the stereotypes of society. She feels that if she has less opposition from her husband and interacted with people more she would be happy. This shows that her husband treats her unfairly by showing her opposition and not letting her stimulate her mind. Charlotte Perkins Gilman also had events take place in her life similar to those as the narrator experienced among other similarities, which are littered throughout the