Character Analysis in “The Yellow Wallpaper” by Charlotte Perkins Gilman
Overview
“The Yellow Wallpaper” is a short story about a gradual descent of a young woman into psychosis. In most cases, it is cited as one of the earliest feminist works predating women’s rights to voting exercise in the United States. Gilman was one of the first-wave feminists, and the work addresses the question related to the origin of women’s subjugation, especially in marriage. Interestingly, The Yellow Wallpaper” is one of the widely read stories that seek to address the complex questions associated with the role of women, specifically based on the rights to self-identity, autonomy, and mental health. However, the choice and development of characters played a significant role in living the entire story. Its focus and thematic concerns are being developed for evaluation and analysis. This paper examines two characters, the narrator and John, and their physical and personality characteristics as depicted by Gilman in the story.
The Narrator: The narrator is the main character in the story. According to the descriptions, she is a young, middle-class woman who is newly married. She is a mother who is experiencing depression care. Though the actual name is not clear, maybe or not be Jane, she is a natural and imaginative storyteller. However, it is believed by her doctor that she is undergoing a slight hysterical tendency. The entire story is told in her secret diary, where the records associated with her thoughts and obsession grows towards the wallpaper. Interestingly, as the story unfolds to its end, the narrator is portrayed as a highly expressive and imaginative woman. She has an excellent ability to remember various incidents and events that were unfolding in her life. Though certain factors and aspects of life were seen as a threat to her life, she remains objective and focused till the end of the story.
As she sinks into her inner attraction towards the wallpaper, the narrator becomes increasingly dissociated from her daily life. This reveals her position and relief that she might have after all. Gilman portrays the narrator as a round character. One with varied characteristics ad can be used to fit in any social platforms. Her disapproval of other women’s efforts to escape is a sign of composures and determination, which is not common among most women. Interestingly, he is also a dynamic character. For example, as she finally finds herself with the other woman in the newspapers, the narrator can validate women’s efforts to overcome the various domestic patterns that might expose them to severe changes.
John: John is a physician and narrator’s husband. He restricts the narrator’s behavior as one of her treatment measures. Unlike the narrative, who is seen as an exceptionally imaginative wife, John is the complete opposite. He is efficient and refers to figures and facts to fancy whatever he intends to say or do. John is loving. He seems to care and love his wife, though it is not clear the adverse effects associated with his treatment on her. Though he appears as an oblivious villain, the story “The Yellow Wallpaper” does not allow readers to see him as entirely evil and worth such identity. Additionally, John is authority and wants everything done in his command. He commands his wife and does not allow her to complain nor argue. He consistently and continuously patronizes her. John, at one point, refers as “a blessed little goose;” and refutes all her wishes without any attempts for adoptions. John’s clinical and dry rationality renders him incapable of understanding his imaginative wife. His arrogance, though with no efforts to harm her, sees him as a dangerous person.
Additionally, Gilman portrays John as a flat character. His traits described are limited throughout the story as they entirely focus on his treatment of the wife. For instance, he superficially knows his wife, only capable of seeing the outer pattern while missing the inner trapped attributes. This ignorance makes him no mere villain cardboard with limited attention to certain valuable traits that can be depicted from his wife. Throughout the story, John does not change and remains oblivious regardless of what could be seen from his wife at different stages of the story’s development (Perkins Gilman, 1892). Overall, after he breaks in on the narrator’s insanity, his feeling indicates that he misses a lot from her and still unable to understand her.
To sum, the narrator, Jane, is pivotal to the author’s intended purpose of the work of art. Gilman portrays significant changes and struggles that the narrator makes, making her plight understood for all women. It is clear that through her actions, ideas, intentions, and interactions, the role of women in society is adversely depicted. As she identifies herself and the horrors that entangle her life, Gilman manages to draw the focus of the story and the intended revelation in addressing the role and rights of women in society. As she splits from reality to give a new perception of women’s role, Jane categorically shows the intended theme in the entire story.
Reference
Perkins Gilman, C. (1892). The yellow wallpaper.
