In Charlotte Perkins’ The Yellow Wallpaper, the protagonist is denied her rights as a woman
The author presents a protagonist character that is the narrator and is denied her right as a woman. Although she is diagnosed with nervous depression, she accepts all the directions by her husband who is a doctor. Perkins brings to the attention of the reader the narrator's excessive naivety and submissiveness, which leads to suffering by the narrator.
The narrator's acceptance of societal roles and isolation
She does not have stands for her role in society and even accepts to live an isolated life in an attempt to please her husband. One of the realities, which bring suspicion and readers' attention on the reliability of the narrator, is her acceptance of abandoning her professional duty to write and read which cannot affect her condition. The fiction piece reveals ignored aspects of social responsibility according to the morals of the immediate society. Through the short story, one can realize gender inequalities, the element of social class divisions, and lack of freedom as the social responsibilities ignored which this paper seeks to analyze.
Gender inequality in The Yellow Wallpaper
Gender inequality is a controversial issue that has affected people over generations and remains a subject of discussion even in contemporary society. The rise of feminist movements since the modernism period championed for equal rights for both genders. Governments from diverse ideologies have developed acts which promote equal rights for both sexes same as the assumed society of the narrator in The Yellow Wallpaper short story. However, the reason for the confinement of the narrator is due to her gender, and such information rhymes with the period during which the author of the short story published most of her work. In reality, engaging in such an activity, which she has passion with, could help her recover from depression that resting idly in a square and isolated house (Perkins 132). The title published in the 19th century had to reflect on how the society continually mistreated women despite the rise of civilization and women going to school and acquiring skills which could better their lives.
The freedom of expression and social responsibility
Another aspect of social responsibility reflected in Perkins’ publication is the freedom of expression. The author, who focuses on the period of the 1800s when issues of democracy in the US were under test, outlines in symbolism how the superior had power over the minor people (Sultana 10). Through a superiority complex, John the husband to the narrator deters her freedom of expression. Despite the woman narrator having skills in writing, John uses her wife's sickness as an excuse to have her stay idle and direct her not to engage in writing. In the mid of 19th century, racism grew into Scientific racism wherein all fields of life, there was a separation of the people of color and the white, and aspect Blacks had issues with, more so with the reflection of a Negro life. The deterring of the women's freedom extends to the responsibilities that the society assumes they have to undertake such as choosing houses for rentals and arrangement of houses. The aspect of rejecting a pretty room on the third floor and selecting another place that is spacious further causes confusion to the reader. It is natural for women to choose beautiful assets and even guide their husbands in the selection of houses, furniture, and utensils.
Social class divisions in The Yellow Wallpaper
Furthermore, the author portrays the theme of social class divisions in the society. Under the social responsibility theory, the expectation is that despite the liberty granted to all people within a society, they should realize that they belong to a given community and pay loyalty to it (Lanser 415). Among the commitments required includes treating all the people in the society the same and shunning class divisions which are contrary to the case provided in the short story. From the perspective illustrated by Perkins, the narrator and her family belong to an upper class where they can afford to take a summer leave. Additionally, they have a servant who can take care of their needs. However, due to the seclusion and lack of intermingling with the other people due to their lower classes, the narrator limits herself to the troubles of a wealthy woman. The author while reflecting on a specific society in the fiction piece, Perkins describes a particular type of community where women play limited roles.
Ignoring aspects of social responsibility in The Yellow Wallpaper
In conclusion, the author, in the sense of reflecting on the American society during the 1800s, reveals ignorance of their aspects relating to social responsibility, an ideology that formed the basis of the USA's freedom. Perkins presents the woman character as an unreliable narrator who does not care for her well-being. Through the deception of her husband, she believes that her health is improving on a daily basis. It is ironic to imagine that the yellow papers are helping her to develop her health when the narrator is aware of other means that the narrator can utilize and become well. Through the short story, the narrator also seems to be unaware of her behavior like the belief she has on how her children perceive the family. It is also ironic that she presents herself as an intelligent woman due to the utterances she makes, but her mind seems damaged by means aimed at curing her.
Works cited
Gilman, Charlotte Perkins. The Charlotte Perkins Gilman Reader: The Yellow Wallpaper, and Other Fiction. New York: Pantheon Books, 1980. Print.
Lanser, Susan. “The Yellow Wallpaper," and the Politics of Color in America.” Feminist Studies. Vol. 15. Issue 3. (2013). 415-441.
Sultana, Abeda. Patriarchy and Women’s Subordination: A Theoretical Analysis. The Arts Faculty Journal. Pp. 1-18. 2011.
