When you read The Yellow Wall-Paper, written by Charlotte Perkins Gilman, the first time it gives you on one hand a feeling of compassion for the narrator; and on the other hand you feel anger for the rude way she is treated by her husband and doctor and for the injustice the narrator has to bear. Nowadays, where it would be unimaginable for a woman to accept this “destiny” you cannot understand why the narrator does not defend herself against her medical therapy and the way her husband is treating her. In the 19th century, when this story probably takes place, it was the most usual way to cure women with mental problems. To analyze the story it must be related to the context of the 19th century and not of these days. The medical knowledge and the relationship between husband and wife were just absolutely different than today. By looking on marriage and medicine in the time Charlotte Perkins Gilman wrote “The Yellow Wall-Paper” it becomes clear that neither her husband nor her medical therapy can be called “unfair” or “unjust” – at least not in the historical context.
Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)
- Introduction
- Marriage in the 19th century
- Role as mother: Demand and responsibility
- Role as wife: Relationship between the narrator and her husband
- Treatment by doctor
- Conclusion
Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)
The primary objective of this analysis is to examine the treatment of the narrator in Charlotte Perkins Gilman's "The Yellow Wall-Paper" within the historical context of 19th-century marriage and medical practices. It aims to demonstrate that, while the narrator's treatment might seem unfair by today's standards, it was consistent with the prevailing social norms and medical practices of the time.
- The role of women in 19th-century marriage, particularly their responsibilities as mothers and wives.
- The dominant medical understanding of mental illness in women during the 19th century.
- The power dynamics and expectations within marriage in the 19th century.
- The narrator's subjective perspective and its impact on the reliability of her portrayal of the relationship with her husband.
- The contrast between the narrator's perception of her treatment and the prevailing social and medical norms of the time.
Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)
The introduction explores the initial reactions to "The Yellow Wall-Paper," highlighting the reader's compassion for the narrator and anger towards her treatment. It acknowledges the shift in societal understanding of women's mental health and the need to analyze the story within its historical context.
The chapter on marriage in the 19th century delves into the contrasting views of marriage then and now. It emphasizes the traditional roles assigned to women, focusing on their responsibility for child-rearing and domestic duties. The chapter further explores the narrator's perceived inadequacy as a mother, highlighting the societal expectations and consequences of failing to meet those standards.
The chapter on the relationship between the narrator and her husband focuses on the power dynamics and expectations within 19th-century marriages. It examines how the narrator's husband, John, embodies the traditional role of a husband and his attempts to provide for his family. However, the analysis highlights the narrator's dissatisfaction and subjective perception of her treatment, emphasizing the contrasting views of their relationship based on their individual perspectives.
Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)
The key themes and concepts explored in this analysis include 19th-century marriage, gender roles, domesticity, mental illness, medical practices, power dynamics, and subjective perspective. It delves into the portrayal of the narrator's treatment within its historical context, analyzing the social and medical norms of the time and their impact on her experience.
- Quote paper
- Julia Esau (Author), 2010, Charlotte Perkins Gilman’s The Yellow Wall-Paper, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/194079
