Symbolism in The Yellow Wallpaper

Symbolism is quite abundant in the short story The Yellow Wallpaper, by Charlotte Perkins Gilman, as the entire story is even a symbol of its own. The symbolism begins when the main characters move out to the countryside to “cure” the woman of her illness. Throughout the beginning of the story this “illness” is talked about as if it is truly a physical/mental problem affecting the woman, illustrated in comments such as , “I take phosphates or phosphites—whichever it is, and tonics, and journeys, and air, and exercise, and am absolutely forbidden to "work" until I am well again.” However, as the story evolves, so does the idea of her illness. Near the end of the story the woman’s illness reaches its peak. It becomes clear that the “illness” she is experiencing is a symbol for her newfound confidence and self-reliance. The very beginning of the woman’s illness corresponds with her dependence upon and trust in her husband, and the end corresponds with her coming into her own and becoming more outspoken; therefore, the “illness” she experienced throughout the story is a symbol of nonconformity and resisting the authority of men over women (feminism).

The next example of symbolism in the story is the namesake of the story: the yellow wallpaper. Although it may be blaringly obvious that this is an example of symbolism, there are many different ways that it can be interpreted. One of these interpretations is that the yellow wallpaper symbolizes the restraints that the woman experienced. At the very end of the story, the quote, “I've got out at last in spite of you and Jane. And I've pulled off most of the paper, so you can't put me back!" illustrates the fact that the woman in the story viewed the wallpaper as somewhat of a physical restraint. As for the symbolism of the wallpaper, the restraint can be translated into the society of conformists that believed in the superiority of men over women. This was a restraint for the woman because, throughout the story, she was beginning to realize that she did not have to succumb to men and that she could have a voice of her own. This leads into the next example of symbolism: her journal.

The journal that the woman wrote all her thoughts in is an example of symbolism because, as her thoughts evolve throughout the story, her transformation from being a conformist to a feminist becomes evident. The beginning of the story shows her writing things such as how caring and loving her husband is, and that she should trust him because he knows what is best for her. This differs greatly from her thoughts near the end of the story, which include the quote, “He asked me all sorts of questions, too, and pretended to be very loving and kind. As if I couldn't see through him!” showing her newfound doubt in her husband and her ability to see through his deceiving nature. Additionally, throughout the story the woman mentions how difficult it can be for her to write, in quotes such as, “I think sometimes that if I were only well enough to write a little it would relieve the press of ideas and rest me. But I find I get pretty tired when I try.” This can be compared to the pressure and grief that a feminist during the late 19^th and early 20^th centuries may have been faced with; therefore, the journal is a symbol of the woman’s transformation and her struggle as she became her own person with her own voice, rather than relying on her husband for everything.