wallpaper is only an image of herself. The structure of this essay is in a narrative format with the woman narrating.
Biographical criticism focuses on the simple but central insight that literature is written by actual people and that understanding an author’s life can help readers more thoroughly comprehend the work. Gilman is most renounced for her short story, The Yellow Wallpaper. Her life story became the basis of this story. After her first child, Gilman experienced severe depression and her doctor prescribed her with a rest cure. The doctor in the story is much like the doctor that Gilman was treated by in her life. She was also prevented from picking up a pen or brush, which symbolizes, using her intellect. She pulled back from the brink of insanity by ignoring the doctor's orders, leaving her husband, and becoming a successful writer. The main character in this story is living almost a mirror image of the author’s life. The main character is trapped in a room with yellow wallpaper and is made to rest there to cure her depression. Gilman most likely uses this piece of work to show what she went through in her life. The parts that she did not include in the story are probably parts of her life that she is ashamed of or wishes she could change.
Historical criticism seeks to understand a literary work by investigating the social, cultural, and intellectual context that produced it. The story is a reaction to the ethos of the time which dictated the very narrow confines of a woman's life in the nineteenth century. It is a piece of feminist literature. It also has responds to the beliefs of the times which claimed that intellectual study was a physical risk to woman. She tears at the paper trying to free the oppressed women who are trapped behind its patterns, and when she sets the women free, she can also set herself free. In this story, it seems as though everyone is trapped by society. Sociological criticism examines literature in the cultural, economic, and political context in which it is written or received. This story displays the economic and political views by showing how society was during this time period. It focuses on the female struggle against oppression in a male-dominated society. Gender Criticism examines how sexual identity influences the creation and reception of literary works which is also explained by this.
Psychological criticism investigates three major areas: the nature of literary genius, the psychological study of a particular artist, and the analysis of fictional characters. In “The Yellow Wallpaper,” Gilman and the main character are both diagnosed with mental depression. The story demonstrates what someone with mental depression thinks or does. The main character sees the wallpaper as disturbing and the yellow wallpaper allow her to escape into her fantasies.
Mythological criticism is an interdisciplinary approach that combines the insights of anthropology, psychology, history, and comparative religion. Gilman uses an immense amount of symbolism throughout this story. For example, the window is a huge symbol besides the paper. Everything outside the window shows all that is possible and everything that she could be but cannot be. The woman that she envisions trapped behind the paper symbolizes the main character as well as the author herself.
Sociological criticism examines literature in the cultural, economic, and political context in which it is written or received. This story displays the economic and political views by showing how society was during this time period. It focuses on the female struggle against oppression in a male-dominated society. Gender Criticism examines how sexual identity influences the creation and reception of literary works which is also explained by this.
Reader response criticism attempts to describe what happens in the reader’s mind while interpreting the text. The story is told in a narrative view so the reader automatically drifts into the narrator’s life. The reader is able to experience everything first hand that the main character is faced with. The reader sees the woman as a victim to her depression and takes her side. Her husband disregards her and leaves her in the room alone to heal her depression without being able to experience what she is going through.
Cultural studies focuses on understanding the social power encoded in “texts.” Cultural studies basically combines all the methods of literary criticism. “The Yellow Wallpaper,” Gilman demonstrates symbolism, style, imagery, and the society throughout her work. The story is a narrative that mirrors the author’s life and experiences. It also focuses around the time period and women’s struggle during that time.
“The Yellow Wallpaper,” is a unique story written by Charlotte Perkins Gilman. It is not just a story about a woman trapped in a room by doctor’s orders. It shows symbolism and has deep meaning once it is analyzed and thought over. Gilman does an excellent job of including issues of society in her work.
