Women As Teacups In The Yellow Wallpaper By Charlotte Perkins Gilman

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Women as Teacups In today’s society, women tackle careers and quests as strong-headed as men do on a daily basis. Most would view woman as a fiery force not to be reckoned with as they juggle their careers, social life, and families. This, however, was not always the case. Women in Charlotte Perkins Gilman’s time were treated as delicate porcelain teacups that could be broken if merely glanced at in an incorrect manner. This is seen in her short story, “The Yellow Wallpaper,” which conveys the theme that women should not be viewed as fragile birds as her female narrator is driven mad while being kept cooped up in her cage. The narrator’s husband has recently rented a large estate in the opening of Gilman’s story, a decision he states to …show more content…

This is further avowed through the narrator’s brother, who agrees with John’s diagnosis that “there is really nothing the matter with [her] but temporary nervous depression…” (Gilman 10-11). Though all mental health care in this time period was alarmingly underwhelming, women’s issues were taken even less seriously. John prescribes his little wife a healthy dose of air, minimal exercise, and declares that she is absolutely “forbidden to ‘work’ until I am well again” (Gilman …show more content…

She claims she knows it’s the wallpaper woman because she creeps and no one else creeps. Then, in the same paragraph, she admits, “I always lock the door when I creep by daylight. I can’t do it at night, for I know John would suspect something at once” (Gailman 202). She begins to tear at the wallpaper, something John’s sister seems perplexed by. Instead of bringing this concern to John, she simply suggests that the narrator should not overwork herself and tire

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