Analyze how “The Yellow Wallpaper”
can be interpreted
as a feminist story.
Should women and men have the same rights? The question stated by feminists in early 1900s had power to change the world. Women finally are allowed to participate in a political life and vote. Schools and universities welcome everybody regardless of students’ gender. Professional career is no longer a strict men’s domain and raising children becomes a responsibility of both mother and father as well. Charlotte Gilman was one of the early feminists, so she had a chance to experience a life “at the social margin”. In the world of “The Yellow Wallpaper”, women are assigned a well defined position: a housekeeper taking care of her family. To talk about a society in which women and men have an unequal status, Gilman uses metaphors (yellow wallpaper) and a specific words choice.
“The Yellow Wallpaper” contains description of a society and family model of the time. A woman does not act upon her own intentions for her husband makes all decisions in her name. She patiently fallows his instructions and recommendations, so she makes a dutiful and obedient wife. Even her nervous disorder is ignored and treated as a “slight hysterical tendency” (Gilman 399). The woman complains hopelessly “You see, he does not believe I am sick! And what can one do?” (399), as if she does not have any power of authority to do what she believes is best for her. Another female character described by Gilman lives a flat life and has no ambition to aim for higher goals. Jane “is a perfect and enthusiastic housekeeper, and hopes for no better profession!” (402). The men need somebody like Jane who does not compete and quietly smoothes the path for them. She is referred to as “such a dear girl as she is” (402) as if her beloved housekeeping was all the women should care about. Gilman draws a vivid image of a society in which women do not have an equal human status and are encouraged to accept the situation unconditionally.