Question

Charlotte P. Gilman's "The Yellow Wallpaper."

In "The Yellow Wallpaper" what does the woman behind the wallpaper represent? And why does the narrator come to identify with her?

Answer 1

Charlotte perkins gilman's short story "The yellow wallpaper" suggests that the woman behind the wallpaper parallels the narrator's struggle with her expected role in a male dominated society,which is expressed in this passege.The narrator uses the wallpaper to represent the society shelives in. Not only does the wallpaper affect the narrator, but also it has aneffect on everyone that comes in contact with it.
The way the wallpaper is described in this passage shows how the narratoris using the wallpaper to represent her society. For exaple the pattern of the wallpaper is said to be " a florid arabesque " Florid meansto be gaudy or for show and an arabesque pattern is one that twists and winds. Like the pattern society is also very complex and interwined, and in order for many individuals to follow society's is also very complex and interwined and in order for many individuals toto follow society's rules they must supress their true desires and play their expected role to fit into society.For the narrator this role is that of a woman in the nineteenth century. The narrator is expected to submit to her husband john's rules do her house chores and have children and to follow socare for them. These rules or expected guidelines are set forth and enforced by the society the narrator is a part of

The yellow wallpaper in the short story " the yellow wallpaper " is a symbol for whom the narrator acually is and how is she truly feels. When the wallpaper stats to reveal bars it shows that she truly feels trapped and secluded.