The Yellow Wallpaper

The Creation of Madness

"The Yellow Wallpaper" is a story written by Charlotte Perkins Gilman in the late 1800s. This story was based upon Gilman’s life, her personal experiences and fight for woman rights. Gilman wrote this story when she had problems with her own marriage. In the story the narrator tried to find a way to break free from her husband, John. In the story John made most of the narrator’s everyday choices. John knew what was best for his wife. In 19th century man made many restrictions for women.

The domestic control of the man made many restrictions for women’s life in the 19th century.

"The Yellow Wallpaper" implied that women were in a lowered position of society. Men made all the decisions. In the story, the narrator thought that "I sometimes fancy that in my condition if I had less opposition and more society and stimulus—but John says the very worst thing I can do is think about my condition, and I confess it always makes me feel bad. So I will let it alone and talk about the house"(419). She felt useless in many situations because of her sickness. John never listened to anything she said. John told her not to do anything mentally or physically because it will cause stress for her. “Personally, I disagree with their ideas.” (419) is her disagreeing with John. She thinks that some activities might be good for her. She knew she was suffering from a breakdown, so she wanted to do things that can make her better.

She became paranoid of the horrendous yellow wallpaper in her room. She asked John if something could be done to change the wallpaper, but John did not care. John did not know what the big deal was. John did not want her to be concerned with the wallpaper, so nothing was done. He left it alone because he did not want her to think about it too much. John did not know it was something that made her nearly insane. Much of her opinion did not matter. As an uprising to John’s lack of awareness in what she wanted done she turns her...