Is it possible that certain people or objects drive a person to insanity? Charlotte Perkins Gilman’s short story “The Yellow Wall Paper” confronts the topics of men and women’s roles in society, the factors that contributed to the narrator’s insanity, and the symbolism lying in the bedroom and the wallpaper.
The first topic that must be addressed is men and women’s differing roles in society. It is clear that men were considered to be the strong and controlling one in a relationship and in society in general. In her essay, Carol Margaret Davison says that the Female Gothic is “…a woman whose autonomy and identity were denied as she was regarded as her husband’s property. Under such circumstances, marriage signaled a figurative death for women.” (55) This quote shows how the majority of society at that time felt that men and women should act as far as relationships. Also, one can see that the male has more power because he is in control, just as John is in complete control of the narrator in “The Yellow Wall Paper.” When Davison is discussing this she uses Shumaker’s theory that to the narrator America is “full of Johns”. The narrator perceives things this way because she is surrounded by men who are controlling her. There is her brother, John, and the other doctor, S. Weir Mitchell, all of whom are physicians. Also, the fact that these men are all doctors represents the general theme that men are supposed to be the smart, educated members of society. After discussing men’s role in society, women’s roles should now be examined. Jennie is definitely a symbol of the typical woman during Gilman’s writing time. Davison comments that “Jennie, the incarnation of the feminine ideal.” is what the narrator had society’s pressure to be like. Jennie was a good caretaker and also took care of the house. Jennie was “a perfect and enthusiastic housekeeper,…who hopes for no better profession” according to Davison (60). Jennie is a foil to the narrator as well,...