Charlotte Perkins Stetson's The Yellow Wallpaper

“The Yellow Wallpaper” Analysis Essay

Widely known as the dreary, haunting, and most importantly, a feminist-based story, “The Yellow Wallpaper” by Charlotte Perkins Stetson uses many different literary skills and strategies to keep the reader on the edge of their seat. The story follows the woman’s forced breaks from work, communication, and intellectual writing. From the get-go, Stetson starts her story by stating very clearly that the woman is not thrilled about her move outside of town into the old house. In fact, she believes it to be haunted which is supported when she says that there is “Something queer about it.”

Her husband, a well-known physician, has diagnosed her with temporary depression as well as her brother who is also a physician. This being said, there is not much a woman in the current time period can do to change their minds and convince them that it is much more than temporary. She uses phrases like “And what can one do?” to set the tone of disappointment and defeat against her husband and family. By using many details, some of which are unnecessary but add much depth to the piece, Stetson creates a setting for which the protagonist (The main woman) and antagonist (John, the husband) will be living in.

Despite her pleas with her husband to stay in one of the pleasant downstairs

I cry at nothing, and cry most of the time.” These lines show obvious signs of her depression, however, she goes on to say that she refuses to cry when John or anyone else is around. Perhaps it is because she is fearful of their judgment, as she has been put down by her husband before when she first confronted him about the effect the wallpaper was having on her well-being. (“Bless her little heart! She shall be as sick as she pleases!”) Or perhaps it is because she does not understand that it could possibly help her get a better