Comparing The Chrysanthemums And The Yellow Wallpaper

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Analysis of “The Chrysanthemums” and “The Yellow Wallpaper” Steinbeck’s The Chrysanthemums and Gilman’s The Yellow Wallpaper each portrays a married woman who feels trapped and utterly isolated by the gender oppression of her time. Although the characters and events in both stories are vividly depicted through ordinary verbal descriptions, the most distinctive and effective element in both stories is the use of symbolism in delineating character, conflict, and the underlying theme. Written in third person, objective point of view, Steinbeck narrates The Chrysanthemums as an outsider describing the events and circumstances of the story in a non-intrusive, objective manner. The central symbol of story is the flowers themselves, which symbolizes the character of the protagonist, Elisa. Like the strong ten-inch Chrysanthemums she grows, Elisa is herself full of strength and energy: “Her face was lean and strong and her eyes were as clear as water. (Guth 222)” As she takes pride in growing her Chrysanthemums “bigger than anybody around here” (225), Elisa is herself “over-eager, …show more content…

However, whereas the chrysanthemum is used to symbolize Elisa’s character, the yellow wallpaper is used to depict the mental state of the unnamed narrator as she deteriorates from a state of depression to ever worsening episodes of schizophrenia. In her initial description of the yellow wallpaper, the woman writes: “It has stripped off...in great patches all around the head of my bed, about as far as I can reach…one of those sprawling flamboyant patterns committing every artistic sin.” (235) Here begins her sickly obsession with the wallpaper: “It is dull enough to confuse the eye in following, pronounced enough to constantly irritate and provoke study…the color is repellent, almost revolting; a smouldering unclean yellow…I should hate it myself if I had to live in this room

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