"The Yellow Wallpaper" Response

            The short story “The Yellow Wallpaper” by Charlotte Perkins Gilman tells the tale of a woman going through a deep depression, but more than that, oppression.  The narrator is feeling confined and trapped, and is left helpless in the hands of others, although she is quite capable.  She is supposed to be resting at all times, but the rest seems to cause her to have a mental break by the end of the story.  Her husband, a well-known physician is treating her, and because of this there is no escaping it.  He does what he thinks is best even though she knows that it is not working.  There is no arguing or reasoning with him, and what he says goes.  He treats her as though she’s a child, keeping her in the old nursery on the second floor of the house.  The windows are barred, and the bed is even nailed to the floor.  She is even forbidden to socialize with others.  She can’t read, write, or think because her husband doesn’t believe that this will help her “heal.”  Her husband says he loves her, but he doesn’t take the time to listen to her.  She says that his remedy isn’t working, and it seems as though he completely ignores her and tells her that she is still unwell and doesn’t know any better.  He doesn’t seem to care very much about her thoughts and feelings, and the marriage feels very unbalanced. 

            The narrator is also obsessed with the yellow wallpaper in the room.  She finds it incredibly ugly yet intriguing, and sees a woman creeping behind and trying to get out from behind what looks to be bars or restraints.  This could represent the narrator trying to escape from her husband’s hold over her.  She doesn't want to be where she is, but is forced there against her will much to her prodding and questioning.  By locking herself in the room and peeling off the wallpaper, she makes a statement not only to herself but to her husband that she will no longer tolerate this treatment.  She wants some say, and especially wants say over her health and well-being.