Literary Analysis Essay On The Yellow Wallpaper

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The Yellow Wallpaper Literary Analysis Essay
Identity is key to the one who seizes it. In “The Yellow Wallpaper”, the narrator has an identity that the author demonstrates. The narrator has an internal battle within herself, that may express depression or a severe mental illness. The narrator shows identity from her actions, reactions, thoughts, and expectations. The author, Charlotte Perkins Stetson, uses symbolism and point of view to indicate the narrator's identity through herself and outside connections.
The author of “The Yellow Wallpaper” uses the literary device symbolism; to demonstrate the narrator's connections with the wallpaper and herself. The narrator expresses a woman that wants to ‘escape’. “The faint figure behind seemed …show more content…

The expectations pinned on her by Jennie, contribute to that narrator's identity. The narrator is worried that Jennie will find her writing, which isn't allowed, “I must not let her find me writing...she thinks it is the writing which made me sick” (Stetson 650). The narrator loves to write and it makes her happy, but she is told not to write from her husband John. Since writing for females was accepted, it affected the narrator. Writing helped the narrator to be happy and be productive. Without writing the narrator would be bored, and wouldn't be able to keep her mind off her troubles. Therefore, the narrator had to secretly write. Also, there were expectations from John, her husband, and society. The narrator feels as if working and being productive will help her health, “personally, I disagree with their ideas. Personally, I believe that congenial work, with excitement and change, would do me some good” (Stetson 648) The narrator feels held back from work and everything in general. She feels doubted upon because of what she believes is right for her. She does everything she is told by everyone else. The narrator is becoming iller from not doing the things that get her mind off of everything. The expectations of the narrator are affecting her mentally and physically. The narrator feels controlled and restricted; her doing what everyone else wants her to do builds her