Authority In Jane Eyre's The Yellow Wallpaper

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Throughout history, women have had a difficult time establishing their authority and presence in society. You never hear about women making contributions to one’s society such as leading a group of people to complete a task or invent something for the good of their society. No, when you think of women, you think of them as housekeepers who take care of the children, clean the house, and make sure dinner is ready by the time the husband is back from a long day of work. In the late 19th century, women struggled against male authority in which their husbands made sure they always obey and listen to them or they will suffer consequences such as being punished. Women had no authority or voice to say and stand up for what they believe in and …show more content…

Jane describes the situation as if “they get through, and then the pattern strangles them off and turns them upside down, and make their eyes white!” (266). Jane realizes that she has seen this woman before, “I can see her out of every one of my windows! It is the same woman, I know, for she is always creeping, and most women do not creep by daylight.” (266). The wallpaper’s patterns are revealing to Jane a woman trapped in her life and is trying to escape but can’t and when she does, there are consequences. As Jane begins to look closer at the wallpaper, she realizes that this woman is an exact image of herself being trapped in her relationship with John as well as her current mental state. With Jane’s depression, she is constantly stuck and trapped in her own mind. Looking at the wallpaper, Jane sees herself trying to escape her depression which is being with John. Jane wants to John to love her and be with her all the time but unfortunately John just wants her to believe him when he says, “Can you not trust me as a physician?” (263). Jane decides that the best thing for her is try ripping apart the paper because that is what it will take for her to leave John. As Jane starts ripping the paper apart, the woman behind the bars in the wallpaper does the same thing but is actually herself doing it. After ripping the wallpaper apart, Jane feels like a weight is lifted off her shoulders. “I’ve got out of last” and “I’ve pulled off most of the paper, so you can’t put me back!” (269). Jane accomplished something most women back then in a patriarchal world could not do, stand up to a

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