The Yellow Wallpaper Group

Question:

jcjcc1275
jcjcc1275
Student
Community / Jr. College

What is the major theme of The Yellow Wallpaper?

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Posted by jcjcc1275 on Tuesday May 5, 2009 at 9:38 AM and tagged with gilman, the yellow wallpaper, theme, yellow wallpaper.

Answers:

  1. speamerfam
    speamerfam Teacher
    Community / Jr. College

    eNotes Editor

    There might not be one right answer to this question, but in my opinion, the major theme of this story is the subjugation, imprisonment, and disrepect of the female in marriage. Throughout the entire story, the wife's expressions of her feelings and needs are completely disregarded. Who is the woman in the wallpaper who is trying to escape? She stands for the female protagonist, but also for all women who are trapped in marriage.  If you look up the date of publication for this story, you will find that it was written long ago, and was quite ahead of its time in discussing this theme.  Is this an important theme in today's world?  What evidence is there to show that married women's lives have or have not improved?

    Sources:
    http://www.enotes.com/yellow-wallpaper

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    Posted by speamerfam on Tuesday May 5, 2009 at 9:52 AM