The Yellow Wallpaper and Women’s Discourse

The Yellow Wallpaper and Women's Discourse

Charlotte Perkins Gilman's "The Yellow Wallpaper" explores themes of mental health, gender roles, and societal constraints faced by women in the 19th century. This analysis delves into the protagonist's descent into madness, highlighting the oppressive nature of patriarchal discourse represented by her husband, John. The narrative critiques the medical and social treatment of women's mental health, suggesting that the wallpaper symbolizes women's repressed voices and identities. Ideal for scholars and students studying feminist literature and psychological themes, this analysis offers insights into the complex interplay between gender and language. It also examines the implications of women's discourse in literature and its evolution over time.

Key Points

  • Analyzes the themes of mental health and gender roles in Gilman's "The Yellow Wallpaper".
  • Explores the oppressive nature of patriarchal discourse through the character of John.
  • Examines the symbolism of the wallpaper as a representation of women's repressed identities.
  • Discusses the evolution of women's discourse in literature and its significance in feminist studies.
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University of Tulsa
"The Yellow Wallpaper" and Women's Discourse
Author(s): Karen Ford
Source:
Tulsa Studies in Women's Literature,
Vol. 4, No. 2 (Autumn, 1985), pp. 309-314
Published by: University of Tulsa
Stable URL: https://www.jstor.org/stable/463709
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NOTES AND QUERIES
"The Yellow Wallpaper" and Women's Discourse
Paula Treichler's essay "Escaping the Sentence: Diagnosis and Discourse
in The Yellow Wallpaper'" offers one of the first close and thorough readings
of a short story which has long been of interest to feminists but which is also
read and employed by psychologists, historians, sociologists, and literary
critics. Although the story has had many readers, remarkably little has been
written about it. Treichler's essay provides at once a close reading and a
challenging thesis around which discussion can begin. Each time I have
taught "The Yellow Wallpaper," students insist that it describes the progres?
sion of one person's neurosis, for instance that it is the tale of one woman's
mental breakdown caused specifically by postpartum depression. Yet, many
details, like the narrator's lack of a name, argue against her individuality, and
similarly, the primer-like names of the husband and sister-in-law?John and
Mary?suggest they are merely representatives for Husbands and In-laws. In
fact, the most individual name in the story?Weir Mitchell?points away
from the narrator and toward the effects of his very specific treatment on
people like her. Moreover, as Treichler has shown, "a feminist reading
emphasizes the social and economic conditions which drive the narrator?
and potentially all women?to madness" (64). In addition to liberating "The
Yellow Wallpaper" from overly idiosyncratic readings, Treichler's essay raises
two important issues for readers of Gilman's story and for feminist critics in
particular; first, through her discussion of diagnosis, she works toward a
definition of "patriarchal discourse"; and, second, through her close reading
of the story, she problematizes the image of the wallpaper, thereby calling
into question the notion of women's discourse.
There can be no doubt that the narrator dwells in the middle of Pa?
triarchy. She is living in "ancestral halls" (9), has just given birth to a boy, is
surrounded by men?her husband, her brother, and somewhere in the
background, Weir Mitchell?and even the female or females in the house
appear to be cardboard figures cut out by the patriarchy?first Mary, the
virgin mother who "is so good with the baby" (14) and later Jennie (a word
which means a female donkey or beast of burden) who "is a perfect and
enthusiastic housekeeper, and hopes for no better profession" (17-18).
Whatever language emerges from this setting can safely be considered
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"male." Further, John is identified in relation to the patriarchy first and in
relation to his wife only afterwards: he is "a physician of high standing and
one's own husband" (10). In "The Yellow Wallpaper" the physician is the
quintessential man, and his talk, therefore, is the epitome of male discourse.
Thus Treichler's definitions of the physician's talk?of diagnosis?clarify the
nature of this discourse. It is "powerful and public; representing institutional
authority, it dictates... it privileges the rational, the practical, and the
observable" (65), and even more important, it "translate^] the realities of the
human body into human language and back again. As such, it is a perfect
example of language which 'reflects' reality and simultaneously 'produces'
it" (69).
As recent discussions of women's language and women's relation to
language have shown, "women's discourse" is difficult, and perhaps even
impossible, to define. Treichler's analysis of the wallpaper at first acknowl?
edges this by summarizing a variety of interpretations of the meaning of the
paper. However, when Treichler offers an alternative reading of the image,
she reduces the plurality, fixing the significance of the wallpaper too rigidly.
She says:
While these interpretations are plausible and fruitful, I interpret the wallpaper to be
women's writing or women's discourse, and the women in the wallpaper to be the
representation of women that becomes possible only after women obtain their right to
speak. In this reading, the yellow wallpaper stands for a new vision of women?one
which is constructed differently from the representation of women in patriarchal
language. (64)
Although I resist the apparent determinacy of this interpretation, consid?
ering the wallpaper as discourse clearly generates important results.
Treichler is able to uncover a line of female kinship that challenges the male
ancestry. Also, the narrator's crucial shift in tone to impertinence is fore?
grounded as Treichler establishes the causal link between the wallpaper and
the narrator's revolt. And even within this reading, Treichler recognizes that
"the story only hints at possibilities for change" (74), that "as a metaphor, the
yellow wallpaper is never fully resolved... its meaning cannot be fixed" (75).
Nevertheless, her analysis raises several questions. First, if the wallpaper
stands for a new vision of women, why is the narrator tearing it down? Next,
how can it be a "representation of women that becomes possible only after
women obtain their right to speak," if it grows more vivid as the narrator
becomes less verbal? Moreover, if the narrator comes into her own through
the wallpaper, then why does she become more and more a victim of male
diagnosis as she becomes further engaged with the wallpaper?that is,
although she does free the woman inside the paper, she is tied up, locked in a
room, creeping on all fours like the child John has accused her of being, and
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FAQs of The Yellow Wallpaper and Women’s Discourse

What are the main themes explored in The Yellow Wallpaper?
The main themes in "The Yellow Wallpaper" include mental health, the oppression of women, and the critique of societal norms. The story follows a woman's descent into madness, reflecting the impact of confinement and lack of autonomy on her psyche. It highlights the struggles women faced in the 19th century, particularly regarding their mental health and the dismissive attitudes of male figures. The wallpaper itself serves as a powerful symbol of the narrator's entrapment and the broader societal constraints imposed on women.
How does the character of John represent patriarchal discourse?
John, the narrator's husband, embodies patriarchal authority and control throughout the story. As a physician, he dismisses his wife's feelings and opinions, believing he knows what is best for her mental health. His condescending attitude and insistence on isolation reflect the broader societal norms that undermine women's voices. This dynamic illustrates the power imbalance in their relationship and serves as a critique of the medical practices of the time, which often disregarded women's experiences.
What does the wallpaper symbolize in the story?
In "The Yellow Wallpaper," the wallpaper symbolizes the constraints placed on women and their repressed identities. As the narrator becomes increasingly obsessed with the wallpaper, it represents her struggle to break free from societal expectations and the limitations imposed by her husband. The patterns in the wallpaper reflect her chaotic mental state and desire for liberation. Ultimately, tearing down the wallpaper signifies her attempt to reclaim her voice and identity, highlighting the theme of female empowerment.
How does the analysis connect to contemporary discussions of women's discourse?
The analysis of "The Yellow Wallpaper" connects to contemporary discussions of women's discourse by emphasizing the importance of female voices in literature and society. It highlights how the narrative critiques the silencing of women and the need for their stories to be told. The exploration of the wallpaper as a metaphor for women's writing underscores the ongoing struggle for representation and the evolution of feminist literature. This connection is vital for understanding the historical context of women's issues and their relevance in today's discourse.

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