Similarities Between The Yellow Wallpaper And Lamb To The Slaughter

The short stories of "The Yellow Wallpaper" by Charlotte Perkins Gilman and "Lamb to the Slaughter" by Roald Dahl, both short story’s show the typical gender roles of these times known as warm hearted housewives. Published in 1892 “The Yellow Wallpaper” follows the haunting journey of an unnamed protagonist woman confined as top floor bedroom prisoner¬¬¬¬¬¬¬ due to her sickness, that ultimately takes a darker turn towards the end of the book, solely due to her husbands restraints and manipulation. This theme of manipulation and isolation can be seen in both short stories where the females are held from general human contact and how they have a sense of powerlessness that deteriorates into an unexpected snap. Displaying the power of these women

Together the themes of manipulation and mental illness will trigger a series of events that change their lives.

In “The Yellow Wallpaper” the protagonist becomes increasingly obsessed with the yellow wallpaper in her bedroom and seclusion from human contact. This was a cure that her husband John prescribed that proved detrimental to her mental health. As she spends more time alone in the room, she becomes fixated on the patterns and images, slowly becoming convinced there is a woman behind the wall that is trapped and that she must free, "The front pattern does move—and no wonder! The woman behind shakes it! Sometimes I think there are a great many women behind, and sometimes only one, and she crawls around fast, and her crawling shakes it all over." This is a key sign of mental illness and the effect it has on people in the real world as well as readers/viewers of the book or short film remake. The slowly developing psychotic behaviour concerns the readers and makes them wonder what might happen to the protagonist where readers obtain a

By challenging conventional expectations and playing with the readers perceptions, Dahl is able to display erratic human nature and the unforeseen consequences of our actions. Through the themes of betrayal and the challenges of marriage with the reversal of gender roles Dahl creates a compelling narrative that leaves them both shocked and entertained. “The Yellow Wallpaper” explores themes of manipulation and mental illness as well as similar gender role themes. By inviting readers into the mind of a woman confined by societal expectations, Gilman sparks a vital conversation about the importance self expression, and empathy. Both short stories engage the readers in great, yet unique ways however both encourage the reader to revaluate their own roles in society and advocate for greater understanding, compassion, and