Similarities Between The Yellow Wallpaper And Harrison Bergeron

A narrator’s point of view is essential to expose or explain plot points in a story. The definition of the word “point of view” is defined as the position from which something or someone is observed. “The Yellow Wallpaper”, written by Charlotte Perkins Stetson, is exclusively told through the unnamed narrator’s point of view; similarly, The Selection by Kiera Cass is told in first person. The only story told in third person is “Harrison Bergeron”, which is written by Kurt Vonnegut. Each author utilizes a different point of view for the narrator in their respective story to unveil the flaws in their dystopian society: mental health not being properly treated in the 1800-1900s, conformity negatively impacting individuals, and a caste system creating

Considering the time period, mental health was not understood nor treated correctly in the late 1800s to early 1900s. This lack of understanding is seen through the treatment of the narrator in the story. Instead of her illness being properly taken care of, she is shunned and made to believe that her sickness is minute. She describes this emotional isolation throughout the story, especially in the beginning when she says, “If a physician of high standing, and one’s own husband, assures…that there is really nothing the matter with one but temporary nervous depression…what is one to do?...Personally, I disagree with their ideas” (Stetson 648). It is clear that the narrator does not agree with her husband or the physician, as evident by her describing her hopelessness in the situation and saying, literally, that she disagrees with their opinions. The perspective she has on her own mental illness is important in developing the story because she feels disconnected from others for feeling a way that those in “high standing" do not believe she should feel. The thoughts she develops of her own wellbeing help the audience to distinguished whether or not she is truly ill, or if her caretakes are uneducated on mental health, as medical professionals unfortunatley were during that time

Her view of the hierarchy in her country, Illéa, is vital to understanding the dystopian elements of the story. The social rankings are separated by eight different classes, with one being royalty and eight being the homeless citizens. America’s perspective on the caste system as someone who was in the bottom half of it is vital to helping the audience understand the vast differences in how the individual ranks function together in their society. A majority of citizens in the higher classes, one to three, look down upon lower classes and do not even view them as people. America being a five separates her from the other girls in the Selection and leads her to believe that the caste system is corrupt because it is “unreasonable to limit everyone’s life choices based on your ancestors’ ability to help the government” (Cass 32). Because of the caste system, members of society are restricted from changing ranks, choosing what job they would like, and earning a fair wage. It is evident that the caste system is outdated because a person is born into a caste level and are only able to change their rank by either marrying someone or earning enough money to move up in ranks. Her perspective on this aspect of their society is important because after this point in the story she is surrounded by people of rank four or above. If the story had been told from the point of view of one