Gilman Background Info

Charlotte Perkins Gilman was born on July 3, 1860. Gilman was known for having troubled and loveless relationships with her family. I think this might play a part in Gilman writing "The Yellow Wallpaper". She was a Women's Rights Activist and a free thinker. Gilman became very dedicated to her work and later on, in 1892, wrote her famous short story: The Yellow Wallpaper. It was published in 1898 but unfortunately she never lived to see its success. Gilman fell into a depression and committed suicide in 1935 at the age of 75. Without Gilman's inspirational literature and her dedication the world would not be the same.

http://www.biography.com/people/charlotte-perkins-gilman-9311669

http://www2.webster.edu/~woolflm/gilman.html

Social/Historical Connections

The Yellow Wallpaper has many connections to society and historical events that were going on in the time of its release. Gilman, the author, was fighting for women's rights and she related to Jane in many ways. When Jane talks about being trapped behind bars I think that Gilman is trying to say how she is trapped in society and she has little freedom (Pg. 2). The "woman" behind the paper represents all of the women that Gilman is fighting for. When John faints at the end I think Gilman wants to say how she will defeat men (Pg. 11). Also, fainting is typically a feminine thing to do so maybe Jane has become stronger than John (men). After John faints and Jane says "…and right across my path by the wall, so that I had to creep over him every time!" I think that Gilman is saying that women will easily overcome any obstacles while they are fighting for their rights.

http://battyenglish.wordpress.com/2011/09/17/historical-context-of-the-yellow-wallpaper/

http://edsitement.neh.gov/lesson-plan/charlotte-perkins-gilmans-yellow-wall-papermdashthe-new-woman

Self Reflection

Dear Mrs. Donnelly,

   I did not think that this assignment was difficult. I thought it was very fun and I liked reading the Yellow Wallpaper. I liked the story a lot. I thought it was confusing but I liked that because it gives the reader room to think about what might be happening. I learned how to analyze a story and cite better. This will help me do better on future literary analysis's.
   My favorite part of the assignment was the comments. It allowed me to receive criticism and then I can tell what I'm doing wrong. If I had to do this again then I would like more time for each blog. Maybe just another day. That is the only thing I would change. Overall, I really enjoyed this assignment and I think that it will be helpful in the long run.

Theme

I think that the theme of The Yellow Wallpaper is that women are just as strong as men. I think this because Charlotte Perkins Gilman was a Women's Rights Activist and the main character, Jane, is not taken seriously by men (Pg. 1). At the end of the story, Jane "defeats" John (or men) and sets "the woman" free (Pg. 11). This might be Gilman's way of telling us that she wants to free all oppressed women. Throughout the story Jane gets stronger and becomes more obsessed with the wallpaper. I think this means that women are getting stronger and more dedicated to their work. In Gilman's life she also became very dedicated to what she did. Gilman probably used The Yellow Wallpaper to send a message to society.

Theme: A unifying or dominant idea, motif, etc. as in work of art or literature.

http://www.novelguide.com/the-yellow-wallpaper/theme-analysis

http://www.enotes.com/topics/yellow-wallpaper/themes

Symbolism

At the end of the story, Jane becomes so obsessed with the paper that she won't let anyone else near it (Pg. 10). I think that the last page has a lot of symbolism. Whenever Jane talks about the woman I think that the woman is supposed to represent all of the women trying to gain equal rights. When she says, "I am securely fastened now by my well-hidden rope--you don't get me out in the road there!", I think that's supposed to mean that she wants to stand out and not give up (Pg. 11). Jane finally rips off the paper in the end and I think that this means she is breaking down the barriers of gender and setting all of the oppressed women free. The whole time John represented all men and then Jane was able to "defeat" him. I believe that, all along, "the woman" was just a reflection of Jane in the future when women are free and then, at the end of the story, she becomes the woman and is no longer weak.

Symbolism: The practice of representing things by symbols, or of investing things with a symbolic meaning or character.

http://voices.yahoo.com/symbolism-yellow-wall-paper-charlotte-gilman-23758.html

http://www.enotes.com/homework-help/symbolism-yellow-wallpaper-387309

Protagonist

Jane feels like no one takes her seriously. She is becoming obsessed with the wallpaper and examines it for hours (Pg. 7). When she says that there is a woman creeping behind the pattern I think she is referring to all of the women fighting for equal rights. The wallpaper is society holding them back. She says she doesn't like the smell but it is her (Pg. 8). The smell is her mind slowly decaying. She is beginning to see the woman everywhere (Pg. 9). I think Jane is slowly becoming insane.

Protagonist: The leading character, hero, or heroine of a drama or other literary work.

http://www.sparknotes.com/lit/yellowwallpaper/facts.html

http://www.gradesaver.com/the-yellow-wallpaper/study-guide/character-list/