Write an analysis essay exploring one of the themes below in relation to the story. You may choose to apply one of these themes to a specific character or to the story as a whole. Make sure to demonstrate how the theme affects your chosen character, or the storys overall theme. Be specific in your examples by using direct quotes from the text to support your analysis. Your essay should be narrowly focused and should be specifically stated.
Remember, when you analyze a text you are closely examining the text in such a way as to form some conclusive opinion about the story. When you analyze you express abstract conclusions and then prove your conclusions by using facts (direct quotes) from the story. An analysis never involves retelling of a story. Therefore you should stay away from just summarizing the story in your essay.
The themes are as follows:
Alienation
Feminine Oppression
Identity
You are welcome to develop your own theme however it must be approved through me prior to submission.
There are several ways to apply each theme to a story. Here are some examples of questions to ask to generate your thesis. Feel free to use any of these questions to develop your thesis.
How is the woman in The Yellow Wallpaper oppressed?
How is the woman in The Yellow Wallpaper alienated and how does that affect her?
How is the woman in The Yellow Wallpaper stripped of her identity and how does that play a role in the story/
Title: The Theme of Feminine Oppression in "The Yellow Wallpaper"
Thesis Statement: In "The Yellow Wallpaper," Charlotte Perkins Gilman explores the theme of feminine oppression through the depiction of the protagonist's confinement and subjugation, ultimately illustrating how these oppressive forces strip her of her identity and contribute to her mental deterioration.
Throughout the story, the narrator, who is suffering from postpartum depression, is confined by her husband to a room with yellow wallpaper. This confinement symbolizes the societal expectations and limitations imposed on women during the late 19th century. The woman's oppression is evident as she describes the room: "It is the strangest yellow, that wall-paper! It makes me think of all the yellow things I ever saw - not beautiful ones like buttercups, but old foul, bad yellow things" (Gilman). The oppressive nature of the wallpaper mirrors the constraints placed upon her own life by her husband and society.
Furthermore, the woman in the story is alienated from herself and her surroundings. She becomes fixated on the wallpaper, seeing a trapped woman behind it. This sense of alienation is exacerbated by her husband's dismissive attitude towards her feelings and experiences. She states, "He knows there is no reason to suffer, and that satisfies him" (Gilman). This disregard for her mental well-being alienates her further, pushing her into a state of isolation and despair.
As the story progresses, the woman's identity becomes increasingly fragmented. She starts to identify with the woman she sees trapped in the wallpaper, symbolizing her own entrapment within societal expectations. Her descent into madness reflects the loss of self that results from oppressive forces at play. The wallpaper becomes a manifestation of her own suppressed desires and emotions, highlighting how feminine oppression strips away individual identity.
In conclusion, "The Yellow Wallpaper" serves as a powerful commentary on the theme of feminine oppression and its detrimental effects on women's mental health and identity. Through the protagonist's experience, Charlotte Perkins Gilman highlights the damaging impact of societal constraints and patriarchal dominance on women's autonomy and selfhood. The story stands as a poignant reminder of the importance of recognizing and challenging systems of oppression that seek to erase individual identity and agency.