Examples Of Oppression In The Yellow Wallpaper

Oppression & Isolation: The Ugly Faces of Old-school Motherhood. In The Yellow Wallpaper by Charlotte Perkins, the protagonist suffers through an apparent post-partum depression that showcases the submissiveness of women in the 19th century as well as the social pressure they faced. The story is intense and somewhat disturbing and explores certain topics that were controversial at the time. This tale shows the descent into madness of a woman who recently became a mother and is experiencing many psychological issues. The protagonist recently gave birth and is now isolated in a nursery room with a yellow wallpaper due to a “sickness” she is supposed to be experiencing. This is not clear in the story, as much is left to interpretation. However, I believe it is

If a physician of high standing, and one’s own husband, assures friends and relatives that there is really nothing in the matter with one but temporary nervous depression —a slight hysterical tendency— what is one to do? Gilman 1-2: I believe this submissiveness affects heavily her mental state. I think this because I know how it feels to be submissive and to contain one’s feelings to please another party. At one point, the feelings of containment and submission become too much which weighs heavily on mental health as you start to feel terrible and somewhat sick, but because people benefit from this, they assure you that you are fine, and the cycle continues. Next comes the issue of social pressure and how it affects the narrator until the end when she finally breaks. Almost the same as mentioned before, the woman is subjected to pressure as the people around her expect her to behave as a docile and obedient wife, but also women in this century were expected to be mothers not by choice, but by the fact that they were women. As with any normal person, these pressures take a toll on the mental health of the individual, especially if that person is not prepared to meet those