How Does Gilman Use Imagery In The Yellow Wallpaper

Symbolism and Imagery in “The Yellow Wallpaper”

In “The Yellow Wallpaper” author Charlotte Perkins Gilman gives a fictionalized account of a woman’s descent into madness which is based on her mental breakdown resulting from a failing marriage. Born in Hartford, Connecticut and raised by her mother, Charlotte became a prominent American feminist, sociologist, writer and advocate for social reform. Her declining mental health became such a concern to her husband, Charlotte had herself committed to a mental asylum. She entrusted her care to Dr. S. Weir Mitchell who prescribed isolation and rest. She also mentions him in the story (Harrison). “The Yellow Wallpaper” uses symbolism and vivid imagery to describe a woman’s struggle to maintain her

Jane can see the woman behind the pattern of the paper creeping about the garden by day and sees her trying to get out from behind the pattern by night. “As soon as it was moonlight that poor thing began to crawl and shake the pattern.” (Gilman 266). “When the sun came up that awful pattern began to laugh at me.” (Gilman 268). Jane mentions how different shades of light during the day came through the window yield different images in her mind and cause her visions of the wallpaper and the woman outside to come and go. “In the daytime it is tiresome and perplexing. There are always new shoots on the fungus, and new shades of yellow all over it.” (Gilman 228). Though Jane has tried to keep count of them, she cannot. Everyone has mood swings and attitude changes as the day goes on and the sun crosses the sky, whether it lies behind the clouds or not. Jane is no different except for the fact that her mind is especially colorful. In the story, the daylight hours represent rational, cognitive thinking, and the darkness suspends polite, ladylike behavior. The door to her room can be locked from the inside, thereby symbolizing the only thing over which she has any control. As her illness progresses the lock becomes her decision to communicate with the outside world or further isolate herself. The door represents her state of mind in that it is open or locked at her discretion. “I always lock the door when I creep by daylight.” (Gilman