Madness and Control Affecting Women in The Yellow Wall Paper
"The Yellow Wall-Paper" is a disturbing story of how women weretreated at the turn of the 20th century. The main character goes slowlymad during her stay in the house in the country, and it is easy to see why.She is lonely, her husband emotionally abuses her, and she has absolutelyno one to confide in and nothing to do. She cannot even take care of hernew baby; there is a nursemaid for that. It is no wonder she goes mad.She is a vital woman who needs contact with other people and someone whowill listen to her without judging or ignoring her pleas. This character goes mad because no one will listen to her, and herhusband often ridicules her feelings and thoughts. She notes early in thestory, "John laughs at me, of course, but one expects that in marriage"(Gilman). It is easy to see from this that she has experienced John'sridicule before, and is cynical about marriage and her own relationship.She had been institutionalized before too, so her madness is a recurringissue, and with John's attitude, it is easy to see why. He simplydismisses his wife, when he should be listening to her and supporting her.Understanding is far more helpful than ridicule and ignoring what may be
Her final reason for her madness is her husband. Her mind was the only thing shehad that was her own, and to lose it was to really gain the ultimatecontrol over her family. She is always hiding herwriting because they disapprove of it, and think it makes her tired. He has to be incontrol of every situation, and he dismisses her feelings and her thoughts. Otherwise, he would have listened to her pleas to go home, ratherthan stay in the room with the yellow wall-paper that eventually becomesthe center of her madness. Her life was empty, and it soonaffected her mind. If John had her best interests at heart, he would listen to what she has tosay, and understand how lonely and isolated the house in the country hasmade her. " She has nopurpose, and she has nothing to keep her mind from wandering and making upstories. He treats her morelike a child than a wife; he even calls her "little girl. Men like John took control of their familiesand their wives, and never allowed them any freedom of thought or motion. John only listens to himself, he does not listen to his wife and herneeds. She feels she cannot be herself aroundher husband and his sister, the housekeeper. Afterreading it, it is easy to see why women of this period escaped their livesthrough madness.
Common topics in this essay:
Yellow Wall-Paper,
Gilman John,
Jennie Gilman,
Dear John,
Henry Julia,
goes mad,
yellow wall-paper,
character goes,
house country,
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