Feminism and Imprisonment in 'The Yellow Wallpaper'

The protagonist of Gilman’s “The Yellow Wallpaper” is the visual representation of all the things women have to endure for their freedom of thought. The protagonist is locked away in, what seems to be a psychological prison of her husband’s design. It is clear that the story is from a feminist view. This feminist approach is made clear by: the characterization of John, the writing and thoughts of the protagonist, and the environment that they are place in. If combined, these elements describe the psychological imprisonment of women, and the power that was held by men.

John is a classic example of a dominating husband. John is the type of spouse who holds complete control over his wife. He treats her as a lesser being, here: “John laughs at

“Her environment is practically like a prison” (Ahmad 1). As the protagonist begs for her husband to change the yellow wallpaper John refuses, stating “That after the wallpaper was changed next it would be the heavy bedstead, and barred windows” (958). Though the protagonist feels blocked by the gates and bars, John refuses to change them for her, he wants to keep her “imprisoned.” It is perhaps the clearest use of setting to add on to the feminist prospective. “At night in any kind of light, in twilight, lamplight, candlelight, and worst of all by moonlight, it becomes bars!” (965). The yellow wallpaper is not physically restraining her like the bars and gates are. The wallpaper represents a psychological imprisonment. All of her views are directed completely to the wallpaper. She is fascinated by it, and is incapable to pull her mental presence from the strange patterns. This all links to the image of the woman that is trapped behind the wallpaper, the protagonist’s mind is not freed until the closing of the story, when she removes the majority of the wallpaper and refuses to allow them to put her