“The Yellow Wallpaper” was published in New England Magazine in January 1892 to the dismay and criticism of many. The story deals mainly with a woman dealing with post-partum depression and how she copes with her issues by writing a journal. The story has been significant in regards to women’s issues in literature and its mechanics have been important to the basic study of literature.
Point-of-View in “The Yellow Wallpaper”
The entire story is told in journal format. Because of this, one needs to question the reliability of the narrator. The format allows the reader to only know what the narrator wants them to know and to cover up the things that she doesn’t want them to know. Further, nothing the narrator says is necessarily the truth.
Further, the reader must take into account the fact that the narrator suffers from post-partum depression, and that it could influence the information she means to communicate. Scene breaks in the story often arrive when the narrator must stop writing because her husband John is coming, which offers an example of the husband’s/male’s dominant role in their relationship.
Phallocentrism in “The Yellow Wallpaper”
The phrase “John says” appears constantly throughout the story. The narrator is forced to believe what her husband says not only because he is her husband but also because he is a doctor. She is locked in her room to ensure that she will rest and recover, but it seems metaphorical of the prison in which John has placed her.
While in this room, the narrator’s baby has been taken away from her, which serves to intensify her condition. This again demonstrates male domination of the time. In terms of metaphor and point-of-view, she sees a woman behind the wallpaper and believes that she is struggling to break free. This is also metaphorical of the narrator’s desire to break free from her husband’s control.
The Rest Cure in “The Yellow Wallpaper”
Before conditions like postpartum depression were understood (and properly treated), the rest cure was used to treat the sickness. The rest cure was as simple as its name, which meant that the patient needed to rest, but the amount of rest was taken to extremes. For example, the narrator in “The Yellow Wallpaper” is forced to have no contact with the outside world and to not exert herself in any way, including the writing of a journal.
In real life, other extreme examples would have included enemas to prevent the patient the exertion of bowel movements. The use of the rest cure in “The Yellow Wallpaper” is an example of the outdated thinking and medical practices of its time. Specific to the story, it helps further demonstrate societal attitudes towards women.
Derek Clendening - I'm a freelance writer and have combined writing with my love of football. I'm very opinionated about football, which you can learn more ...
