“The Yellow Wallpaper”” By: Charlotte Perkins Gilman

Writers Background: Similar to the woman in The Yellow Wallpaper: The author suffered from severe nervous breakdown She stated: “I wrote The Yellow Wallpaper, with its embellishments and additions, to carry out the ideal (I never had hallucinations or objections to my mural decorations)”

The Writer’s other works: Some other works include: The dress of Women With her in Ourland What Diantha Did Her works expressed challenges women faced in the 19th century Themes included: husband and wife, dependence of women & men, female individuality

Summary: The narrator, her husband John, their baby and her sister-in-law move into a mansion they have rented for the summer for three months. The narrator's husband is a physician. The narrator believes she is sick but her husband believes she is just suffering from "temporary nervous depression." The narrator is a writer but is forbidden to work because her husband thinks that she just needs rest. In the mansion, she stays in a "big, airy room" with ugly yellow wallpaper.

Technical Details about the story: Setting: taken place in a house on the country side. Characters: Narrator(Jane), John(Husband), and Jennie. Point of View: First person narration Plot Structure: Exposition: introduction of the house, the narrator and her husband Rising Action: She imagines a woman trapped within the wallpaper. Climax: The narrator strips off the wallpaper. Falling action: The narrator tells John where the keys are. Resolution: John finally unlocks the room and sees what she has done.

Themes: Themes: Female Individuality Dependence of women Female to male behavior Women being put second in marriage

Significant Quotes in the story:   “It is fortunate Mary is so good with the baby. Such a dear baby!” “ I don't know why I should write this.         I don't want to. I don't feel able” I think that woman gets out in the daytime!         And I'll tell you why--privately--I've seen her!         I can see her out of every one of my windows! “I always lock the door when I creep by daylight “   "I've got out at last," said I, "in spite of you and Jane. And I've pulled off most of the paper, so you can't put me back!"

Special Topics: Irony: Dramatic and situational Symbolism: Binaries: The “yellow wallpaper” Nursery: The nursery is said to represent the 19th century society's view of woman Sunlight and moonlight: Sunlight represents oppression and moonlight represents freedom. Binaries: Male vs. female Freedom Vs. Confinement