the summary of the yellow wallpaper

The Yellow Wallpaper is a short story by American author Charlotte Perkins Gilman. It was first published in New England Magazine in 1892, and is considered an important early work of American feminist literature. The story is told from the perspective of a woman who is suffering from post-partum depression and is prescribed bed rest by her husband and his physician. She gradually becomes obsessed with the wallpaper in her bedroom, which she eventually views as a symbol of her own imprisonment and oppression.

Plot Summary

The story is told in the first person by an unnamed narrator who suffers from post-partum depression. She and her husband John move into a colonial mansion for the summer, and she is prescribed a "rest cure" consisting of complete bed rest and isolation from stimulating activities. Despite being a physician himself, John enforces the rest cure rigidly, refusing to allow the narrator to work or even leave her bed. As she becomes increasingly isolated, she becomes obsessed with the yellow wallpaper that covers the walls in her bedroom. She becomes convinced that there is a pattern in the wallpaper, and is convinced that she can unlock its secret. She slowly descends into madness as she continues to interpret the wallpaper.

Themes and Symbolism

The Yellow Wallpaper is a story that highlights the oppression of women in the 19th century. The narrator's lack of freedom and sense of imprisonment is highlighted by the yellow wallpaper that covers the walls of her room. The wallpaper becomes a metaphor for the narrator's own sense of imprisonment and entrapment, as she slowly descends into madness. In addition, the story also serves as an example of the damaging effects of the traditional "rest cure" prescribed to women suffering from post-partum depression.

Style and Tone

The Yellow Wallpaper is written in a first-person narrative style, with the narrator telling her story in a stream-of-consciousness fashion. The story is told in a haunting and unsettling tone, as the narrator slowly descends into madness. The vivid descriptions of the wallpaper and its patterns create a sense of dread, and the reader is left with a feeling of unease by the end of the story.

Literary Devices

The Yellow Wallpaper makes use of several literary devices to create a sense of dread and suspense. Foreshadowing is used throughout the story, most notably in the description of the wallpaper. Symbolism is used to represent the narrator's inner turmoil and her sense of imprisonment. Irony is also used to highlight the difference between the narrator's husband's intentions and the actual effects of his treatment. Finally, repetition is used to emphasize the narrator's obsession with the wallpaper and her descent into madness.

The Yellow Wallpaper in Context

The Yellow Wallpaper was written at a time when women were still seen as inferior to men, and were denied the same rights and privileges. The story served as an example of the damaging effects of the traditional "rest cure" prescribed to women suffering from post-partum depression. It also highlighted the oppressive and restrictive life that women were expected to live in the 19th century. The story has since gone on to become an important early work of American feminist literature.

Conclusion

The Yellow Wallpaper is a short story by Charlotte Perkins Gilman that highlights the oppression of women in the 19th century. The narrator is a woman suffering from post-partum depression who is prescribed bed rest by her husband and his physician. As she becomes increasingly isolated, she becomes obsessed with the wallpaper in her bedroom, which she eventually views as a symbol of her own imprisonment and oppression. The story is told in a haunting and unsettling tone, and makes use of literary devices such as symbolism, foreshadowing, irony, and repetition to create a sense of dread and suspense. The story has since become an important early work of American feminist literature.