Independence vs Dependence in The Yellow Wall-paper
In her short story, "The Yellow Wall-paper," Charlotte Perkins Gilmanexplores a segment of the American myth that suggests that women must livetheir lives as selfless individuals who sacrifice everything for theirfamilies. From this gender-based narrative, we are able to gain insightinto the conflict of independence and dependence that women experiencedduring the nineteenth century. This story also brings attention to theproblems that were specific to women and their personal circumstancesduring this time. This paper will examine how the character in thisnarrative loses her fight for independence and well being because hermedical condition is not taken seriously. Gilman focuses on the stress that accompanies being a wife and mother ata time when women were expected to be little else. Gilman also emphasizesthe importance of a sense of self to the development of human character.Through the narrator, we are able to understand the intense pressure oflonging for independence that is suffocated by a husband that isoverbearing--not to mention blind to her ailment. The husband-wiferelationship causes an incredible amount of conflict for the narrator,which is exemplified with careless diagnosis.
Johnmay have had good intentions, but it is obvious that he is influenced bythe culture of that time. It is interesting to observe how John wishes to replace the wallpaperuntil his wife complains about it. Gilman creates a fantastic element of suspense with the evolution of thestory and the uncertainty of the narrator's fate. In fact, the narrator's independence becomesburied behind the images the narrator sees in the wallpaper. Just like a childin a nursery, the narrator is forced to spend endless hours in this roomstaring at the walls. Because she can write about her feelings and experiences,she is making a step toward overcoming her illness. In short, without proper care, the patient's conditionworsens. To conclude, "The Yellow Wall-paper" is a narrative that exposes theterrible aspects of the marital relationship in the nineteenth century. Because women were not seen as autonomous creatures, they had extremedifficulty achieving independence. She becomes increasingly despondent. The end of the summer stay reveals the ultimate terrorwhen the narrator tells her husband that that she has "got out at last"(773). To make matters worse, the narrator's brother is a physician aswell and he agrees with John. The narrator obviously fears him but she also has todeal with his educated opinion, which indicates that her illness is merelya figment of her imagination. Wecan also see how culture has allowed for women to suffer needlessly becausethey believed what they were told.
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