The Yellow Wallpaper Charlotte Perkins Gilman

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The Yellow Wallpaper Essays

Responding to the wallpaper rebecca edwards, the yellow wallpaper.

"The pattern is torturing. You think you have mastered it, but just as you get well underway in following, it turns a back-somersault and there you are. It slaps you in the face, knocks you down, and tramples upon you."

As her madness progresses...

The Stages of Feminine Injustice Tara Rudrapatna

In the well-known work Women and Economics, Charlotte Perkins Gilman emphasizes her belief that "dependence on men not only doom[s] women to live stifled lives but also retard[s] the development of the human species" (Kirszner 449). Those words...

"Personally, I Disagree With Their Ideas" Audrey Houser

"Personally, I disagree with their ideas." One of the opening statements of "The Yellow Wallpaper" by Charlotte Perkins Gilman, this quote sums up the point of the text. Gilman becomes incensed at the way doctors and society view women. This short...

Paper, Paper, On the Wall... Joshua Prophett

Charlotte Perkins Gilman was one of the most prominent feminists and social thinkers at the turn of the century. Her best fiction, The Yellow Wallpaper, is also her least typical. It is about a young wife and mother's mental deterioration as...

Prescription to Madness Jennifer Phillips

The Victorian rest cure, a diagnosis set forth to upper class, white, Victorian women who were believed to be suffering from "hysteria", or "trauma related to an unsuccessful role adjustment" sought to instill in them a "childlike submission to...

Out from Behind the Bars: A Woman's Escape through Madness Jordan Reid Berkow

Charlotte Gilman's story "The Yellow Wallpaper" focuses on the slow mental degeneration of a young woman forced to undergo the "rest cure," examining both the causes and the nature of her madness. Shortly after moving into a new place of...

The Mental Front Brad Champion

Though contextually deviant from one another, the voices of "Professions for Women" and "The Yellow Wallpaper" both embrace the same themes: the potential creativity and splendor of the female mind, and the oppression a woman must overcome to...

Keeping Women Sane Kelley Rose Waller

Reading “The Yellow Wallpaper” is like being drawn into the imaginary world of someone who is slowly leaving reality behind them. The short story is written as a kind of journal of the narrator as she becomes more and more detached from her family...

Exploring Feminist Identities: Empowerment Through Duality Anonymous

Female writers constantly try to negotiate their identities in a society that exalts male opinion. That the protagonists of Gilman’s “The Yellow Wallpaper” and Chopin’s “A Pair of Silk Stockings” are married women places both discourses within a...

Female Marginalisation Embodied in The Color Purple and The Yellow Wallpaper Patrick J P Harris

Female marginalisation is a major theme in The Color Purple, with Celie’s emancipation from repressive male patriarchy being the culmination of the plot. When discussing the way narrative method and perspective are used within the novel to address...

Unorthodox Gender Roles in “Boys and Girls” and “The Yellow Wall-paper” Matthew Warr

Judith Fetterly coined the term “immasculation” in her 1978 book “The Resisting Reader,” using it to define the process by which “women are taught […] to identify with a male point of view and to accept as normal and legitimate a male system of...

Perceptions and Reality in The Yellow Wallpaper Katherine Smith

In Charlotte Perkins Gilman’s “The Yellow Wallpaper”, Jane’s skewed perceptions of her surroundings, caretakers, and mental state reflect her refusal to confront the reality of her confinement to a mental institution. Supposed husband and...

Effects of Realism in “An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge” and “The Yellow Wallpaper” Shawn Yousif

There are several examples of the way vision establishes elements of realism in “An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge” and “The Yellow Wallpaper.” There is a literal vision that pertains to the senses of readers, which is created through the use of...

What a Dash can Do Anonymous

The em-dash, often formed in print by two hyphens lacking separation, is a piece of punctuation “stronger than a comma, less formal than a colon, and more relaxed than parentheses” (Strunk and White 9). Traditionally a dash indicates an abrupt...

The Impenetrable Fortress of Wallpaper: Tone, Symbolism, and Context "The Yellow Wallpaper" Brian Wheaton College

“Live as domestic a life as possible… And never touch pen, brush, or pencil as long as you live” (“The Literature of Prescription”). Such was the suggestion bestowed upon Charlotte Perkins Gilman, author of “The Yellow Wallpaper,” by her...

Creeping in Daylight Jennifer Wei College

People lose their sanity through many processes. It has become an art. In her short story, “The Yellow Wallpaper,” Charlotte Perkins Gilman uses the stealthy approach of insanity as a medium to advance arguments of feministic roots. Her (mostly...

Analysis of Symbols of Charlotte Perkins Gilman's ‘The Yellow Wallpaper’ LIT KA SHING College

Charlotte Perkins Gilman’s literary work ‘The Yellow Wallpaper’ is often considered as an important early work of American feminist literature which illustrates common social and physiological attitudes towards women during the 19th century. A...

“Who Run the World? Girls.” — An Exploration on Female Liberation, Selfhood and the Entrapment of Marriage through Symbolism, Imagery, and Irony in “The Yellow Wallpaper” and “The Story of an Hour” Anonymous College

Charlotte Perkins Gilman’s “The Yellow Wallpaper,” and Kate Chopin’s “The Story of an Hour” explore ideas of female identity and selfhood, and more importantly, female liberation. These authors present their female characters as self-assertive in...

Sanity and Insanity in One Flew Over The Cuckoos Nest and The Yellow Wallpaper Harriet Rogerson 12th Grade

The question of how to determine what is sane and what is insane is explored in both Kesey’s Novel ‘One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest’ (1962) and Perkins Gilman’s ‘The Yellow Wallpaper’ (1896). The terms “sanity” and “insanity” are often attached to...

Historical Analysis of Charlotte Perkins Gilman’s “The Yellow Wallpaper” Anonymous College

Although the feminist movement began to make a solid appearance in the United States in the mid 19th century, successful results did not show until the early 20th century. In the 1800s, women held little importance in society and had little to no...

The Influence of Societal Ideals on Women in the 19th and 20th Centuries Anonymous 11th Grade

The late nineteenth and early twentieth century was characterized as a time of growing change for women in terms of rights and freedom. As evidenced in “Editor’s Note: Contexts of The Awakening ,” women’s acceptance of traditional female roles...

Tales of Mirrored Melancholy: The Yellow Wallpaper and A Jury of Her Peers Anonymous 10th Grade

“The Yellow Wallpaper” by Charlotte Gilman and “A Jury of Her Peers” by Susan Glaspell have plots of very different naturesin one, a mentally disturbed woman is taken to a reclusive house to recuperate while in the other, a woman is accused of...

A Madwoman’s Perspective: Examining Point of View in “The Yellow Wallpaper” Emily Price College

In “The Yellow Wallpaper,” Charlotte Perkins Gilman presents readers with the theme of a woman restrained by her more powerful husband. When a woman being treated for hysteria by her domineering spouse is forced to stay in a room with maddening...

Mood Comparison of Edgar Allan Poe's "The Tell Tale Heart" and Charlotte Perkins Gilman's "The Yellow Wallpaper" Alanna Levine College

The literary element of mood portrays the atmosphere of the work through its words and descriptions in order to create an emotional response within the reader. This allows the reader to develop an emotional attachment and interest in the story, as...

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79 The Yellow Wallpaper Literary Analysis – Essay Topics & Prompts

title for yellow wallpaper essay

Charlotte Perkins Gilman published this short story in 1892, and it immediately resonated among the public. It is a secret diary of a young lady suffering from postpartum depression and gradually falling into madness. Meanwhile, her husband, “a physician of high standing,” ignores her wishes and treats her as a child who needs mentorship.

Gilman writes about her painful experience. It was one of the first feministic stories and is still topical nowadays. Below you will find dozens of The Yellow Wallpaper essay topics to boost your writing inspiration.

📌 Top 10 The Yellow Wallpaper Essay Topics

  • ✅ The Yellow Wallpaper Literary Analysis
  • 📝 The Yellow Wallpaper Essay Topics with Prompts

🔤 The Yellow Wallpaper Theme Essay Topics

  • 👩 Character Analysis Essay Topics
  • ❓ 20 The Yellow Wallpaper Essay Questions

🗨 References

  • Can the reader trust the narrator, and why?
  • Would the story end differently if the husband agreed to change the wallpaper?
  • Did the diary help the narrator keep afloat?
  • Is the husband the antagonist in the short story?
  • Which stereotypes ruin a woman’s life, according to Gilman?
  • Psychology of young mothers: the most controversial issues.
  • What would help the narrator recover?
  • How does the wallpaper mirror the narrator’s psychological condition?
  • Imagine what would happen after The Yellow Wallpaper ends.
  • Which literary devices does the author use to describe depression?

✅ The Yellow Wallpaper Literary Analysis Essay – Ideas

The Yellow Wallpaper is a “what if” dystopia . The author had experienced the borderline condition and imagined a situation where her symptoms would intensify and develop until the worst possible scenario. Here are the essential analysis points for your essay:

  • Jane’s condition does not look alarming at first. Moreover, she spends days chilling at a mansion doing nothing (that would be a dream for many of us). Life in the same room without books, writing, or even socializing for months resembles a prison.
  • The protagonist is imprisoned not only within the country mansion. Her marriage contributes to her isolation. The husband (her doctor at the same time) ignores the worsening of her condition. Jane writes in her diary, “John laughs at me, of course, but one expects that in marriage.”
  • Jane projects her mental condition onto the yellow wallpaper and gradually starts seeing some girl behind it. She finally tears the wallpaper off the wall to free the girl living there. But the reader understands she was trying to free herself from the oppressive relationship and cruel treatment.

The Yellow Wallpaper essay prompts below will help you understand the author’s message better. They will guide you through feminism, marriage, mental health, and other topics. The Yellow Wallpaper essay questions we’ve listed here are only a tiny part of what you could be asking yourself. We wish you an inspired and rewarding writing session!

📝 The Yellow Wallpaper Essay Prompts

  • The yellow wallpaper as a representation of the narrator’s life. The parallel between the wallpaper extensively described in the story and the protagonist’s life and mental state can be linked through the illustration of similarities. Thus, the topic generates opportunities to present the wallpaper as a projection of the protagonist’s life: depressive, outdated, and causing her an immense sense of discomfort.
  • Women’s oppression through psychiatric interventions . One of the elements of the story is the narrator’s mental state and the intervention that has been prescribed, involving a lack of physical and intellectual effort and isolation. The topic facilitates a reflection on the systems that were put in place to dismiss women, such as mental health approaches.
  • The husband in The Yellow Wallpaper: Villain of a product of society? John is portrayed through first-person descriptions, which implies the readers see him through the eyes of the narrator, who suggests him being a loving and caring husband. The story can be analyzed concerning John as a family member versus John as the representation of men at the time.
  • The physical and psychological prison in The Yellow Wallpaper. While the protagonist was confined to one room, is this the only prison she is a prisoner in? Is the room a representation of her life? Feeling trapped was not only associated with the narrator’s experimental conditions but also her mind, a topic that can be expanded further for analysis.
  • Postpartum depression in The Yellow Wallpaper. Postpartum depression was not diagnosed with adequate treatment at the time, and the protagonist’s rest cure portrayed the inadequate approach to the issue. This can be analyzed concerning the dismissal of mental health issues in women and the burden of psychological challenges a woman was to overcome on her own.
  • Discuss symbols introduced in The Yellow Wallpaper. Many elements presented in the novel act as symbols that help understand the narrative better. Consider the color and pattern of the wallpaper, the mysterious image of a woman, and the room itself. Explain their meaning within the story.
  • The association between the author and the narrator of The Yellow Wallpaper. Explore Gilman’s biography and analyze whether her life has connections with the experiences of the story’s main character. In your discussion, consider why the protagonist remains unnamed throughout the novel and why it may be necessary from the feministic viewpoint.
  • Identify literary devices in The Yellow Wallpaper and explain their usage. Gilman utilizes several literary devices to accentuate the issues of depression and feminism in the novel. For instance, the author employs repetition to demonstrate the narrator’s confusion. Discuss how each literary device assists in unraveling the meaning of the story.
  • Analyze the differences in gender roles in The Yellow Wallpaper. The story’s protagonist is a lady living in a patriarchal society with a husband who does not listen to her needs. Examine how the narrative demonstrates men’s and women’s roles and compare the representation to that of another feminist novel of the same period.
  • Explore the main character’s point of view in The Yellow Wallpaper. Despite having some dialogues, the novel is presented from a single person’s perspective in the form of diary entries. Discuss why the author decided not to include other characters’ standpoints and explore the significance of the protagonist being the one to unravel the story.
  • Explain your understanding of The Yellow Wallpaper’s ending. The novel is gradually revealed from one character’s perspective, yet the narrator’s identity seems to change toward the finale, which is somewhat perplexing. Identify and quote the exact moment when the main character’s personality transforms and debate potential reasons and the importance of the modification.
  • Study the social impact of The Yellow Wallpaper. Gilman’s novel is one of the most prominent literary works that regard feminism and patriarchy. Investigate whether the narrative’s influence on the public’s perception of gender roles has been positive or negative since its publication. Consider lessons that modern-day society can learn from the story.
  • Patronizing husband and mental illness in The Yellow Wallpaper. The main character in the novel suffers from postpartum depression and is convinced that her spouse, a physician, can aid her in overcoming the condition. Describe John’s reaction to his wife’s mental wellness and discuss whether his advice was helpful or harmful.

🖊️ The Yellow Wallpaper Literary Analysis Essay Topics

  • First-person narration in The Yellow Wallpaper. The Yellow Wallpaper entirely consists of first-person narration from the protagonist’s point of view. The literary element allows the reader to see the events from her perspective and perceive the subjective standpoint of reality in the wife’s imagination. Thus, the story becomes more realistic and generates compassion and realism.
  • The Yellow Wallpaper as a partly autobiographical literature work. Charlotte Perkins Gilman wrote the short story based on her experience with postpartum psychosis. Hence, the mental breakdown illustrated in the literature piece shows the real-life experience of a woman at the time. The parallel between the writer’s life and the story itself gives a basis for a reflective essay.
  • The feminist agenda is portrayed in The Yellow Wallpaper. The topic allows for an extensive reflection on women’s issues highlighted in the literature piece, including a lack of freedom, choice, and opportunities. Moreover, the discussion can encompass subjects such as motherhood and family life, as these aspects of womanhood are portrayed from the perspective of a woman’s experience.
  • The Yellow Wallpaper in the realm of feminist literature. The Yellow Wallpaper is one of the many feminist literature pieces written at a time when gender inequality would prevent women from having the same opportunities as men. The topic allows for a reflection of feminist literature as a genre, a comparison with other similar stories and novels, and a contrast of various pieces.
  • The ending of The Yellow Wallpaper: Mental health decline or psychological escape? The end of the short story is ambiguous. Did the protagonist lose the connection with reality, or did she let go of the psychological boundaries and gives freely in her imagination despite being physically trapped? Examining the ending from two perspectives is an excellent topic for reflection.

🎨 The Yellow Wallpaper Symbolism Essay Topics

  • The Problem of Suppressing Women in The Yellow Wallpaper. Are modern attitudes toward women different from those described in the story? Analyze the family relationship between the narrator and her husband. Why does the man treat her like a child ? Identify the characteristics of society’s attitudes toward women at that time.
  • The abrupt end of The Yellow Wallpaper. What did the author want to convey to the reader? Why did the narrator cut the story short at this point? There are many suggestions for continuing the story. Which one do you think is the most appropriate? Explain your point of view.
  • How does the narrator feel about her diary? As you read the story, you can see that the journal helps the narrator get a little relief from her heartache. Analyze the narrator’s attitude toward the diary. Does she use it only because she lacks communication or for other reasons? Argue the answer.
  • The Meaning of Yellow Wallpaper in Charlotte Perkins Gilman’s Story. Why does the author focus so much on describing wallpaper? How does the pattern change as the disease progresses? Analyze the narrator’s attitude toward wallpaper and give examples from the text. Identify what you think the color of the wallpaper symbolizes.
  • The yellow wallpaper: What does the narrator’s room symbolize? How does the narrator’s room emphasize her husband’s attitude toward her? Analyze how the narrator describes it and conclude her attitude toward the room. Do you think the narrator is a prisoner or surrounded by her husband’s care and love?
  • The Uniqueness of Charlotte Perkins Gilman’s Story. What distinguishes The Yellow Wallpaper from other nineteenth-century works? Give specific examples of the differences. Does the description of attitudes toward women in The Yellow Wallpaper differ from other stories? Note the problem of the suppression of women and describe it in more detail.
  • Problems of 19th-century family life . In your opinion, whether the narrator’s husband is guilty of The Yellow Wallpaper, argue your answer. Why does the narrator not contradict her husband? Explore in more detail the relationship between husband and wife in the 19th century as described in the story.
  • Symbols in The Yellow Wallpaper. Do a literary analysis of The Yellow Wallpaper. Why the author uses symbols in work, and how do they affect the reader’s experience? Analyze the main characters in the story and explain them, giving specific examples of the use of these symbols in the story.
  • Postpartum depression in The Yellow Wallpaper. How does 19th-century society view women’s problems, and do they take them seriously? Analyze women’s behavior and conclude their condition after childbirth. Do you think women of that time who suffered from postpartum depression were treated incorrectly or vice versa?
  • Literary devices used in The Yellow Wallpaper. Analyze the story by giving specific examples of literary devices and explaining their significance. How does the author convey the mood and experiences of the narrator through the use of literary devices? How do these techniques affect the reader, and why are they used?
  • Gender Differences in The Yellow Wallpaper.
  • Stigmatization of Mental Illnesses in The Yellow Wallpaper.
  • Faulkner’s “A Rose for Emily” and Gilman’s “The Yellow Wallpaper” Stories.
  • The Yellow Wallpaper and the Perception of Postpartum Depression.
  • The Representation of Feminism in The Yellow Wallpaper.
  • The Yellow Wallpaper: The Exploration of Freedom.
  • Identity, Creativity , and Self-Expression in The Yellow Wallpaper.
  • Marriage and Family in The Yellow Wallpaper.
  • Isolation in Charlotte Gilman’s The Yellow Wallpaper.
  • The Yellow Wallpaper: Madness and Horror.
  • A Lack of Communication in The Yellow Wallpaper.

👩 The Yellow Wallpaper Character Analysis Essay Topics

  • Analyze John’s role as a patriarchal figure. It is important to note that John is a complex character who cares about the narrator but restricts and confines her to her room. Using his example in The Yellow Wallpaper, explore how patriarchy might not be intentionally oppressive towards women.
  • Analyze the relationship dynamic between John and the Narrator. The Yellow Wallpaper provides a highly complex relationship dynamic between the husband and the wife. Use evidence from sources on feminism, patriarchy, and domestic abuse . Assess whether mental health justifies what John does to the Narrator in The Yellow Wallpaper.
  • The role of Jennie in the feminist framework. Jennie, John’s sister, demonstrates a form of contentment with the domestic function she performs for the couple. However, it should be noted that she shows care for the narrator. You can refer to sources on Women Against Feminism to analyze how some women also promoted a patriarchal social structure.
  • Assess the relationship dynamic between John and Jennie. Jennie, John’s sister, works for him as a housekeeper. Their relationship can be explored based on socioeconomic differences, siblinghood, and gender roles. You can use evidence on gender roles in families to arrive at insightful conclusions.
  • Explore how John balances between being a physician and a husband. In The Yellow Wallpaper, John is related to the narrator not only as her husband but also as her physician. You might consider referring to sources on the patriarchal nature of medicine and healthcare establishments in the modern social context.
  • The narrator’s socioeconomic status and mental health. The Yellow Wallpaper provides in-depth details on its central characters, such as the narrator being an upper-middle-class woman. Explore how a person’s socioeconomic status affects their ability to deal with mental health using national sources and databases to gain more insight.
  • The Narrator and discouragement: a bigger picture. In The Yellow Wallpaper, John constantly discourages the narrator from doing what she desires to do, further constrains her restrictive treatment. Use sources on how self-expression affects one’s identity and reflect on the narrator’s situation, focusing on her self-perception.
  • Stigmatization and prejudice in the narrator’s mental illness. The story profoundly explores the main character’s perspective, but how others perceive her mental health, mainly John could use more analysis. The language used to define and describe her problems provides a substantive subject to discuss using historical evidence.
  • The effect of the rest cure on the narrator. He justifies confinement, restriction, and isolation imposed by John on the narrator as being a rest cure. Use sources on her possible mental health issue to assess the validity of the rest cure as a treatment and its role in the story.
  • Guilt in the relationship dynamic between the Narrator and Jennie. It should be noted that The Yellow Wallpaper focuses on themes of patriarchy and gender roles, and the latter can also have an impact relationship between two women. Explore how gender role expectations invoke guilt in the narrator due to Jennie’s housekeeping abilities.

❓ The Yellow Wallpaper Essay Questions

  • How does John represent patriarchy?
  • Is John truly well-intentioned in his treatment?
  • How power imbalance dictates the relationship between John and the Narrator?
  • Is John domestically abusing the narrator?
  • Is Jennie an antifeminist figure in The Yellow Wallpaper?
  • Does Jennie’s contention with housekeeping constitute feminism?
  • How the gender roles affect the relationship between John and Jennie?
  • How does siblinghood change the gender roles between John and Jennie?
  • Can gender roles be inherited through John/Jennie’s family values?
  • How does the narrator’s socioeconomic status relate to her mental health?
  • Is the rest cure imposed on the narrator effective?
  • Is John more of a doctor or husband for the narrator?
  • How John’s discouragement of writing affects the narrator?
  • How the narrator’s mental health is communicated in the story?
  • Are there signs of prejudice against the narrator’s mental state?
  • Why does Jennie make the narrator feel guilty?
  • How the rest cure imposed on the narrator exemplifies situational irony?
  • Why does the narrator perceive the room to be a nursery?
  • What would be the best way to treat the narrator?
  • What could John do to the narrator to make her feel better?
  • House of horror: the poisonous power of Charlotte Perkins Gilman’s ‘The Yellow Wallpaper – The Guardian .
  • Analysis of ‘The Yellow Wallpaper by C. Perkins Gilman – ThoughtCo.
  • The Yellow Wallpaper: a 19th-century short story of nervous exhaustion and the perils of women’s ‘rest cures’ – The Conversation.
  • The Yellow Wallpaper – Britannica.
  • The Yellow Wallpaper: Psychological Analysis – HubPages.
  • ‘The Yellow Wallpaper Questions for Study – ThoughtCo.

The Yellow Wallpaper Essay Topics & Samples

At some point in your studying, you might be asked to produce “The Yellow Wallpaper” analysis essay. Well, if you’re reading this, you have already received this task! Let’s start by choosing a suitable topic to write about.

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This article by Custom-Writing.org experts contains “The Yellow Wallpaper” essay topics, “The Yellow Wallpaper” essay prompts, and writing samples. Go on reading if you want to learn more!

  • 🌟 How to Choose
  • 💡 Essay Topics
  • 🎓 Thesis Ideas
  • 📝 Essay Prompts
  • ❓ Top 12 Questions
  • 🔍 Research Paper Topics
  • ✒️ Essay Samples

🌟 The Yellow Wallpaper Essay Topics: How to Choose

First of all, you need to think about the topic of your paper. One way to choose a writing idea is to consider the main facts about “The Yellow Wallpaper”:

  • The story was written at the end of the 19th century about mental disorder treatment of that time.
  • It is considered one of the strongest and most prominent pieces of feminist literature .

These facts might be your first clue for choosing an essay topic. Try to look at the issues of mental health and gender stereotypes from your perspective.

In case you don’t particularly fancy the theme of feminism in “The Yellow Wallpaper” , there are many other options to choose from. Here are two tips that will help you pick an essay topic:

  • Try highlighting the moments that stand out for you in the story. Then, expand on them in your paper.
  • Write down any questions you might have during the reading to use them later.

However, if you don’t want to spend too much time on it, jump straight away to our list of topics for “The Yellow Wallpaper” essays.

Just in 1 hour! We will write you a plagiarism-free paper in hardly more than 1 hour

💡 The Yellow Wallpaper Essay Topics

  • The meaning of the story’s title.
  • “The Yellow Wallpaper”   as a horror story.
  • Representation of madness in the story.
  • The significance of the unnamed narrator.
  • Color symbolism in Gilman’s story.
  • Explain why the story’s ending is optimistic.
  • Study the use of Gothic elements in the narrative.
  • Why ”The Yellow Wallpaper” is still relevant today.
  • The meaning of “creeping” in “The Yellow Wallpaper”.
  • Comparison of A Rose for Emily and “The Yellow Wallpaper”.
  • John as Dr. Mitchel’s double in ”The Yellow Wallpaper”.
  • The symbolism of a fixed bed in Gilman’s story.
  • Marriage in “The Yellow Wallpaper” and The Story of an Hour .
  • Infantilization of the story’s protagonist by her husband.
  • Describe the role of nature in ”The Yellow Wallpaper”.
  • How a 19 th -century woman’s yearnings are presented by Gilman.
  • Examine the trope of the haunted house in ”The Yellow Wallpaper”.
  • Writing as a process of self-assertion in “The Yellow Wallpaper”.
  • How Gilman’s story influenced mental health treatment of women.
  • The perils of marriage and motherhood in “The Yellow Wallpaper”.

📝 The Yellow Wallpaper Essay Prompts

  • Study the issue of the gender roles in the story and compare it to modern norms. “The Yellow Wallpaper” highlights the problem of the suppression of women. Your essay on this topic may include some comments on family life as well. Since this topic is quite popular, we also suggest presenting your unique interpretation of this question.
  • The Yellow Wallpaper’s conclusion: different versions. How do you understand the ending of the story? Why, in your opinion, did the author cut it at that specific moment? Brainstorm these questions and try to figure out what would be the best interpretation. Don’t forget to support your opinion with fair arguments.
  • What is the relationship between the narrator of “The Yellow Wallpaper” and her diary? The main character seems to get some relief from journaling her thoughts and daily life events. Unfortunately, it doesn’t help prevent the total crash of her identity at the end of the story. You can write “The Yellow Wallpaper” character analysis essay about it.
  • Draw a parallel between the description of the wallpaper and the mental health of the narrator. We can notice the change in the writing as the mental illness of the narrator progresses. Look into one particular aspect there: the description of the wallpaper. How does the pattern change in foreshadowing future breakdown?
  • Compare “The Yellow Wallpaper” to another feminist piece of writing of the same time frame Here it would be perfect if you found some unique elements that Charlotte Perkins Gilman uses in her story. Don’t forget that the focus of this essay should be on the theme of feminism . For better outcomes, add a quotation as a hook at the beginning of your essay.
  • “ The Yellow Wallpaper” and marriage : is it the fault of the husband? Most people prefer to blame the husband in this story. Indeed, in the 19th century, women didn’t have much choice. However, we can see that the narrator has the power to resist the control of her husband. She doesn’t understand that she can do it.
  • The role of personification as a tool used by Charlotte Perkins Gilman . It’s a great topic for a literary analysis essay on “The Yellow Wallpaper”. Go through the story’s plot again and find out why personification is used at some moments. How does it affect the writing’s mood, and doesn’t Gilman use some other devices there?
  • Stigmatizing postpartum depression in “The Yellow Wallpaper”. This issue is related to feminism. Most women’s psychological problems are neglected as only being “in the head.” Miserable were those suffering postpartum depression, as one can see from the treatment plan chosen by John in the story.
  • Explore different literary devices that are used to highlight the issue of depression in “The Yellow Wallpaper”. Analyze what the narrator writes about her state and find the literary devices that Gilman uses to relate to it. For instance, repetition points out the confusion on the one hand and hopelessness on the other.
  • Can we trust the narrator? The point of view in “The Yellow Wallpaper” plays an important role. The reader can only perceive the events through the narrator’s eyes. However, it means that some things can be not that obvious. Try to analyze the hints and symbolism to find out the missing part of the story.

❓ Top 12 The Yellow Wallpaper Essay Questions

  • What is the role of creativity in the protagonist’s journey?
  • What imagery helps to convey the main character’s isolation?
  • Why does the woman in the wallpaper go in circles?
  • How does the protagonist’s mental state change throughout the story?
  • How does the main character’s confinement contribute to her mental decline?
  • In what ways does Jennie represent a patriarchal woman in ”The Yellow Wallpaper”?
  • Why does the main character hide her diary from others?
  • How does “The Yellow Wallpaper” portray the 19 th century’s cult of true womanhood?
  • Why is S. Weir Mitchel’s real name mentioned in the story?
  • How does the story challenge traditional notions of femininity and domesticity?
  • How does the setting of the nursery convey the protagonist’s sense of loss and longing?
  • How does the protagonist’s journey in ”The Yellow Wallpaper” reflect the broader feminist movement of the time?

🔍 Top 15 The Yellow Wallpaper Research Paper Topics

  • Analyze the story through the prism of male gaze.
  • The juxtaposition of logical men vs. irrational women in the story.
  • “The Yellow Wallpaper” and Freud’s misconceptions about hysteria.
  • How Gilman’s story relates to Cixous’ ideas about ĂŠcriture feminine.
  • Foucault’s Panopticon Effect as portrayed in “The Yellow Wallpaper”.
  • Analysis of Gilman’s story through the lens of Simone de Beauvoir.
  • “The Yellow Wallpaper”: comparison to The Feminine Mystique by Betty Friedan.
  • The wallpaper pattern as the bars of a prison constructed by society.
  • Analyze the binary opposition presented in the story through the prism of Jacques Lacan’s ideas of the Imaginary and the Symbolic orders.
  • Interpret the rhizomatic identity of the main character in “The Yellow Wallpaper” via Deleuze and Guattari’s concept of schizoanalysis.
  • How does madness liberate the main character from patriarchal concepts of femininity?
  • Daylight universe of masculinity vs. the nighttime world of imagination in “The Yellow Wallpaper”.
  • How “The Yellow Wallpaper” had predicted the problem of “the trapped housewife” in America.
  • Internalized and shared patriarchal values in women characters from “The Yellow Wallpaper”.
  • How the wallpaper in the story represents the main character’s subconscious.

🎓 The Yellow Wallpaper Thesis Ideas

  • Spiritual liberation through the awakening of female consciousness in Charlotte Perkins Gilman’s “The Yellow Wallpaper.”
  • Dystopian elements in Gilman’s “The Yellow Wallpaper.”
  • “The Yellow Wallpaper” through the lens of horror: How terror and subversion are used in the narration.
  • The color yellow in relation to psychology through the lens of Gilman’s story.
  • Comparative study of female agency in Gilman’s “The Yellow Wallpaper” and Plath’s “The Bell Jar.”
  • Psychoanalytic perspectives on Charlotte Perkins Gilman’s “The Yellow Wallpaper” and Edgar Allan Poe’s “The Tell-Tale Heart.”
  • How Gilman’s “The Yellow Wallpaper” reflects the theme of a female body.
  • “The Yellow Wallpaper” as a biography: The parallels between the protagonist’s experiences and Charlotte Perkins Gilman’s struggles with mental health.
  • The rebellion against social norms in Charlotte Perkins Gilman’s story.
  • The analysis of John’s character and his role as husband in “The Yellow Wallpaper.”
  • Unreliable narration in Gilman’s “The Yellow Wallpaper” and its effect on the reader’s perception.
  • How Gilman uses language, storytelling, and images to portray madness.
  • The suppression of creativity and artistic expression in the face of social expectations in Gilman’s “The Yellow Wallpaper.”
  • Myths and archetypes: Gilman’s story through the lens of Carl Jung’s theory.
  • The ending of Gilman’s “The Yellow Wallpaper” as a reflection on late 19th-century women’s mental health treatment and its implications on gendered dynamics.

✒️ The Yellow Wallpaper: Essay Samples

Below you’ll find a collection of The Yellow Wallpaper essay examples. Hope you’ll find them useful!

  • “The Yellow Wallpaper” by Charlotte Perkins Gilman: Key Themes
  • Alger’s “Ragged Dick” and Gilman’s “Yellow Wallpaper”
  • “The Yellow Wallpaper” and “The Laugh of the Medusa”
  • Social Values and Norms in Gilman’s “The Yellow Wallpaper”
  • American Women in Gilman’s “The Yellow Wallpaper”
  • Symbolism in “The Yellow Wallpaper”
  • The Story of an Hour and The Yellow Wallpaper: Comparison
  • Mental Illness in The Yellow Wallpaper
  • The Yellow Wallpaper and Everyday Use Literature: Comparison
  • Women Characters in Chopin’s, Gilman’s, Faulkner’s Stories
  • Isolation, Patriarchy, Materialism, and Mental Illness in “The Yellow Wallpaper”
  • “The Yellow Wallpaper” by Charlotte Perkins Gilman Review
  • Plots of Chopin’s “The Story of an Hour” and Gilman’s “The Yellow Wallpaper”
  • Feminist “The Yellow Wallpaper” by Charlotte Perkins Gilman
  • Literary Elements in Gilman’s “The Yellow Wallpaper”
  • The Description of Wallpaper in “The Yellow Wallpaper” by Gilman
  • Color in The Yellow Wallpaper by Charlotte Perkins Gilman
  • “The Tell-Tale Heart” and “The Yellow Wallpaper” by Perkins
  • Gender in The Great Gatsby & The Yellow Wallpaper
  • Uncovering the Wallpaper in Gilman’s “The Yellow Wallpaper”
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The Yellow Wallpaper Study Guide

A young woman experiences postpartum depression. Her husband (a physician) takes her on vacation to a mansion to recover by “rest cure.” She loses her mind being confined to a room with a yellow wallpaper. But what is the short story really about? “The Yellow Wallpaper” Study Guide answers this...

The Yellow Wallpaper Summary

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The Yellow Wallpaper Characters

This article by Custom-Writing.org experts contains all the information about The Yellow Wallpaper’s characters: the narrator, John, Mary, and Jennie. At the end of the article, you’ll learn who Jane is and how she’s related to The Yellow Wallpaper’s main character. 🗺️ The Yellow Wallpaper: Character Map Below you’ll find...

The Yellow Wallpaper Themes

This article by Custom-Writing.org experts provides a wide-ranging and diverse explanation of The Yellow Wallpaper’s themes. The core issues represented in Charlotte Perkins Gilman’s short story are gender roles, mental illness, and freedom. Although the writer speaks about her own time, these themes are just as relevant today, if not...

Symbols & Literary Devices in The Yellow Wallpaper

This article by Custom-Writing.org experts contains a comprehensive analysis of literary devices in “The Yellow Wallpaper”: color symbolism, personification, point of view used by Gilman, foreshadowing, and an explanation of the ending’s meaning. 🌈 The Yellow Wallpaper: Symbolism How unfortunate is it that a woman has a mental breakdown just...

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The Metamorphosis: Summary and Analysis

The Metamorphosis is a short story written by Franz Kafka, which was first published in 1915. One of his best-known works, it tells a story about a man called Gregor Samsa and his peculiar transformation. He and his family have to deal with the consequences of this metamorphosis. The Metamorphosis...

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“The Yellow Wallpaper” by Charlotte Perkins Gilman

The Yellow Wallpaper by Charlotte Perkins Gilman is one of the best examples of Gothic literature. Being considered as the scary writing at the times when the story was written, however, some time passed and the story has been interpreted from different perspectives involving various angles of consideration. A close reading of the story helps understand that the central idea is a woman and her place in a family. There are a lot of details which show that the whole situation, the society and a husband himself as the representation of the men’s power to make a wife subordinate and passive.

Even though some people may notice the feminist notes in the statement, the objective and precise consideration of the story helps understand that the author wanted to show the dependant position of a woman in the family and in the society in contrast to the dominant position of the husband. Moreover, showing the hierarchical situation in the family, the author stresses the suffering and the desire to get rid of the responsibilities which make a woman imprisoned.

At the very beginning of the story the author presents the main idea of the discussion, the author points to the problem which is the result of men’s domination in the family. The narrator, a woman, suffers from postpartum psychosis, but neither a husband nor a doctor notices this. To the point, the author never calls the problem a postpartum psychosis, but the situation and other particular aspects point to this problem.

At the very beginning of the story, the narrator stresses the ideas and the issues which are going to discuss further pointing at the main problem, “If a physician of high standing, and one’s own husband, assures friends and relatives that there is really nothing the matter with one but temporary nervous depression — a slight hysterical tendency — what is one to do?… So I take phosphates or phosphites — whichever it is, and tonics, and journeys, and air, and exercise, and am absolutely forbidden to “work” until I am well again.

Personally, I disagree with their ideas” (Gilman 6). This part of the discussion stresses the inability of a woman to do what she feels is going to be better for her. One more problem a woman experiences apart from the absence of the right to choose what she exactly wants is the absence of a personal point of view. It seems that her husband sits in the narrator’s head and whispers her the decisions she is to make, “I sometimes fancy that in my condition if I had less opposition and more society and stimulus—but John says the very worst thing I can do is think about my condition, and I confess it always makes me feel bad. So I will let it alone and talk about the house” (Gilman 7).

Having arrived at the place chosen for the narrator, she appears in the room with yellow wallpapers. These wallpapers seem dirty for her, then she looks at them for a long period of time and she understands that there is a woman there, the one which was kept in the room despite her will. She wants to release that woman but she is not sure how to make it. The narrator constantly repeats that a woman is always “stooping” and “creeping”. Finally, the narrator begins to tear off the wallpaper having a desire to help a woman to release from imprisonment.

The final scene when almost all the wallpapers appear at the floor the narrator understand that the woman she saw in the wallpapers is she, imprisoned and unable to do anything she wanted “I don’t like to look out of the windows even—there are so many of those creeping women, and they creep so fast. I wonder if they all come out of that wall-paper as I did?” (Gilman 31). A woman has managed to understand what she felt, she managed to make sure that she will get rid of the pressure. The possibility to understand what was the reason for her depression is one of the most important steps in the life of the narrator.

Therefore, the main idea of the story is to show that even though a woman is imprisoned at home, even though she is to be a good wife and mother and perform all the home tasks she remains a person who is able to release from the pressure, to get rid of the men’s domination and do everything as she wants. The final phrase in the story points at the further development of the situation, it as if states that the husband is not going to be the head of the family, “Now, why that man have fainted? But he did, and right across my path by the wall so that I had to creep over him every time” (Gilman 34). A woman seems to be assured about the way how she is going to behave in the future.

Works Cited

Gilman, Charlotte Perkins. The Yellow Wallpaper and Other Stories . New York: Filiquarian Publishing, LLC., 2007. Print.

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Feminist Perspective on “The Yellow Wallpaper” Essay

Introduction, feminist critique of the yellow wallpaper, works cited.

The short play, The Yellow Wallpaper , by Charlotte Perkins Gilman is based on the lives of a chauvinistic husband and a sick wife. The over-dominating nature of the husband called John makes the environment unbearable for the mentally ill wife Jane. The wife is involuntarily imprisoned by the chauvinistic nature of her husband who would not listen to any of her suggestions. Moreover, John is quick at relating any of her ‘weak ‘ideas to mental illness. This paper presents a critique of the play The Yellow Wallpaper from a feminist perspective by applying symbolism to understand the 1800s society.

Detained in a mental prison as a result of the machination of her husband, the main protagonist Jane is deeply embodied in an unending struggle that women seeking freedom in their thoughts and actions face. The short play The Yellow Wallpaper is written figuratively to connote the gender struggle between men and women, especially in the institution of marriage. Although an open interpretation would denote a psychological thriller, it is apparent that the play was mainly a commentary on the unfortunate conditions of the women population in the 1800s. Especially, it captures the views of the author of how the then patriarchal society was hurting female freedom. For instance, the character of Jane’s chauvinist husband connotes an over-controlling person who cares very little about the thoughts of his wife. He proceeds to confine Jane in an oppressive environment against her will and would not listen to any of her suggestions (Schroder 39). In the conversations, John’s decision is final and cannot be debated by Jane. Although the wife has attempted on several occasions to confront John to change his stand, the conversations often end with the husband reaffirming an antagonist stand (Schroder 41). From a feminist perspective, John’s dominance in the conversations and decision-making on behalf of Jane is representational of female imprisonment and control by men against their will.

From the interaction between John and Jane, the husband is a typical illustration of a spouse who has mastered the art of absolute control. Specifically, he treats Jane as an inferior partner. The wife says that “John laughs at me, of course, but one expects that in a marriage” (Gilman 1). In the view of the husband, Jane is a partner with weird, laughable, and inconsistent ideas which should not be taken seriously. Moreover, the mockery directed at the sick wife conforms to the expectations of the patriarchal society. However, the dominance is challenged when Jane decided to take command of her thoughts. As a result, the authoritative male figure was trimmed down and he became ‘as weak as a woman’. Jane confesses, “Now why should that man have fainted” (Gilman 17). When John saw the transformation of his wife to an independent thinker, he passes out. He could not believe that a woman could challenge his decision. In this scene, Jane reversed the traditional expectations characterized by male control of the thoughts of women (Golden 23). The shock and eventual fainting of John are triggered by the desire to overexert control over his wife. The husband is determined to conform to the expectations of patriarchal society through exerting dominance in his household.

The ideas and thoughts of Jane are representative of the feminist perspective. For instance, she desires to freely express her thoughts against the barriers imposed by society. Jane is defiant and confesses that “I did write for a while in spite of them” (Gilman 1). As a woman, Jane is depressed until she regains the ability to express her feelings in the hidden journal she is writing. Although she can continue scripting in hiding, Jane is depressed by the need to conceal her activities away from the chauvinistic husband. Specifically, Jane is struggling to remain in the full care of her husband. For instance, she says “he takes all care from me, and so I feel basely ungrateful to value it more” (Gilman 2). Though the actions of the husband to pay the bills are good, Jane’s resentment is figurative of the resulting feeling of uselessness and imprisonment of the female gender (Tischleder 13). Just like other women, Jane feels the negative pressure imposed on her by society to worship the husband as a primary provider.

The entire plot of the play is exposed in a room that reminisces insanity and scorn from the perspective of a feminist. The empty and dull room is accentuated through the surrounding of Jane in thoughts and actions. For instance, her description of the room is emblematic of a prison-like environment where Jane’s requests cannot be heeded. When she requests the husband to consider repainting the walls, Jane gets a negative response from John. The husband says “that after the wall-paper was changed, it would be the heavy bedstead, and then the barred windows, and then that gate at the head of the stairs, and so on” (Gilman 3).

The unwillingness to change Jane’s environment is figurative of the desire of John to continue imprisoning her from free expression. Moreover, the description of the wallpaper is also symbolic of a psychological prison. Jane confesses that “at night in any kind of light, in twilight, candlelight, lamplight, and worst of all by moonlight, it becomes bars” (Gilman 10). Across the play, Jane’s thoughts are concentrated on the wallpaper, and only gets relief when she removes it from the wall. Jane is captivated by the wallpaper to a point that she is unable to ignore the strange pattern on it. She later connected to the perceived image of a trapped woman in the background of the wallpaper (Goodman 18). Jane only gets relief after she gets rid of the paper. From a feminist perspective, the actions of Jane aimed at regaining control over thoughts and actions are representational female emancipation from the yoke of male dominance.

The Yellow Wallpaper story portrays a patriarchal society where men control the actions and thoughts of their wives. In this relationship, women are expected to take orders from men whose decisions are final. The author has expressed underlying feminist perspectives to illustrate the mental and physical hardships encountered by women during the 1800 era. These perspectives are hidden in the dominating actions of John, hidden thoughts of his wife Jane, and the room where the plot is played. However, Jane is determined to escape this prison by directing her thoughts in a hidden journal. Gilman has reflected on the psychological and physical imprisonment of the women through the symbolic use of the wallpaper, poorly painted room, and mental illness.

Gilman, Charlotte. The Yellow Wallpaper . Virago, 1981.

Golden, Catherine, editor. Charlotte Perkins Gilman’s The Yellow Wall-Paper: A Sourcebook and Critical Edition . Routledge, 2013.

Goodman, Lizbeth. Literature and Gender . Routledge, 2013.

Schroder, Marie. Charlotte Perkins Gilman’s the Yellow Wall-Paper from a Feminist Perspective. A Woman’s Place in a Patriarchal World . GRIN Publishing, 2016.

Tischleder, Babette. The Literary Life of Things: Case Studies in American Fiction . Campus Vergal, 2014.

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  19. Thesis For The Yellow Wallpaper: [Essay Example], 592 words

    In conclusion, The Yellow Wallpaper by Charlotte Perkins Gilman serves as a powerful critique of the societal expectations placed on women in the 19th century. The yellow wallpaper itself serves as a symbol of the protagonist's confinement and oppression, and the story as a whole serves as a critique of the societal expectations placed on women in the 19th century.

  20. The Yellow Wallpaper: A Literary Exploration of Mental Health: [Essay

    In that last line, the narrator states that she had to "had to creep over her husband every time" she went around the room. The use of the word "creep" is reminiscent of how the narrator described the woman in the wallpaper, and now that she has finished "freeing" her, the narrator has a moment of self-identification between herself and the women in the wallpaper.

  21. The Symbolism of 'The Yellow Wallpaper' Explained

    By Dr Oliver Tearle (Loughborough University) 'The Yellow Wallpaper' is an 1892 short story by the American writer Charlotte Perkins Gilman. A powerful study of mental illness and the inhuman treatments administered in its name, the story succeeds largely because of its potent symbolism. Let's take a look at some of the key symbols in…

  22. Yellow Wallpaper Thesis

    1083 Words. 5 Pages. Open Document. The Yellow Wallpaper" a piece written by the American novelist Charlotte Perkins Gilman is a journalistic-styled, first-person narrative. In this short story, readers are placed in the mind of a woman suffering from what is commonly associated with postpartum depression and psychosis.

  23. Feminist Perspective on "The Yellow Wallpaper" Essay

    The short play, The Yellow Wallpaper, by Charlotte Perkins Gilman is based on the lives of a chauvinistic husband and a sick wife. The over-dominating nature of the husband called John makes the environment unbearable for the mentally ill wife Jane. The wife is involuntarily imprisoned by the chauvinistic nature of her husband who would not ...

  24. The Yellow Wallpaper Patriarchy

    The repressive role of the patriarchy on woman is eloquently illustrated in Charlotte Perkins Gilman's "The Yellow Wallpaper.". Gilman draws upon her personal experiences and provides a glimpse into the life of a woman directly affected by the crushing forces of 19th century misogyny. In "The Yellow Wallpaper," Charlotte Perkins ...

  25. Analysis essay (docx)

    The Yellow Wallpaper Analysis Essay (edited) Having suffered from depression, author Charlotte Perkins Gilman crafted The Yellow Wallpaper based on her personal experience with a feminist approach. Throughout the story, the protagonist struggles against her the issues women experience in society. The significance of the narrator in The Yellow Wallpaper is astounding as her experience depicts ...

  26. Yellow Wallpaper Entrapment Woman

    Decent Essays. 773 Words. 4 Pages. Open Document. The Meaning of The Woman Behind the Wallpaper "The Yellow Wallpaper" by Charlotte Perkins Gilman delves deep into the complexities of the human mind, societal expectations, and the constraints placed upon women in the 19th century. As the narrative unfolds, the protagonist's descent into madness ...

  27. Analysis of the Main Themes in "The Yellow Wallpaper" by Charlotte

    In 1892, feminist author Charlotte Perkins Gilman published her short story "The Yellow Wallpaper" describing an intense summer vacation for a woman recovering from mental illness. The story takes the reader through the narrator's erratic journal entries of a three month stay in a rented estate while she is under the microscopic care of her physician husband.

  28. Comparing The Yellow Wallpaper And Sweat

    The "Yellow Wallpaper" was written by Charlotte Perkins Gilman in 1892. This is a short story that highlights the misunderstanding of postpartum depression. It is an "autobiographical tale of a woman driven mad by her physician-husband, trapped in a room as part of his medical treatment" (Delchamps 7). The instructions for prescribed ...

  29. Gender Roles In The Yellow Wallpaper By Charlotte Perkins Gilman

    "The Yellow Wallpaper" For quite a long time before the past century, the female gender had been a race characterized by limited opportunity and the widespread belief of inferiority to the male gender. ... The Yellow Wallpaper Essay. Charlotte Perkins Gilman's short story "The Yellow Wallpaper" is a compelling exploration of mental illness ...

  30. The Yellow Wallpaper Setting Analysis: [Essay Example], 880 words

    The Yellow Wallpaper by Charlotte Perkins Gilman is a classic piece of feminist literature that explores the theme of women's oppression in a patriarchal society. One of the key elements of this story is the setting, which plays a crucial role in conveying the protagonist's descent into madness. This essay will analyze the setting of The Yellow ...