The Yellow Wallpaper

Is the sympathy evoked for her a significant difference?  Is it because of the humanitarian sympathies the story evokes?Gilman and Poe both portray dementia, false perception, and mental disintegration.  Poe tends to portray exotic characters, persons distant from the familiar, everyday world.  Gilman portrays a middle-class woman  who is a mother and a wife. 

I do think the realistic nature of the woman in "The Yellow Wallpaper" evokes more sympathy for her.  She is a character that many readers can relate to; whereas Poe's characters aren't easy to relate to, so yes, I think the difference in sympathy for Poe's and Gilman's characters definitely has to do with the "humanitarian sympathies" that "The Yellow Wallpaper" evokes.

If you are writing a compare and contrast essay between Gilman and Poe's motivations, you might find it helpful to visit our page here at eNotes, How to Write a Compare-and-Contrast Essay in Eight Easy Steps.

Good luck!

In reply to #2:

Thanks for your help!!!