Yellow Wallpaper By Charlotte Gilman Essays (1126 words)

Yellow Wallpaper By Charlotte Gilman In "The Yellow Wallpaper", by Charlotte Perkins Gilman, the dominant/submissive relationship between an oppressive husband and his submissive wife pushes her from depression into insanity. Flawed human nature seems to play a great role in her breakdown. Her husband, a noted physician, is unwilling to admit that there might really be something wrong with his wife. This same attitude is seen in her brother, who is also a physician. While this attitude, and the actions taken because of it, certainly contributed to her breakdown; it seems to me that there is a rebellious spirit in her. Perhaps unconsciously she seems determined to prove them wrong. As the story begins, the woman -- whose name we never learn -- tells of her depression and how it is dismissed by her husband and brother. "You see, he does not believe I am sick! And what can one do? If a physician of high Kelly Flynn pg 2 standing, and one's own husband, assures friends and relatives that there is really nothing the matter with one but temporary nervous depression -- a slight hysterical tendency -- what is one to do?" (Gilman 165). These two men -- both doctors -- seem completely unable to admit that there might be more to her condition than than just stress and a slight nervous condition. Even when a summer in the country and weeks of bed-rest don't help, her husband refuses to accept that she may have a real problem. Throughout the story there are examples of the dominant - submissive relationship. She is virtually imprisoned in her bedroom, supposedly to allow her to rest and recover her health. She is forbidden to work, "So I . . . am absolutely forbidden to "work" until I am well again." (Gilman 165). She is not even supposed to write: "There comes John, and I must put this away -- he hates to have me write a word." (Gilman 167). She has no say in the location or decor of the room she is virtually imprisoned in: "I don't like our room a bit. I wanted . . . But John would not hear of it."(Gilman 166). Kelly Flynn Pg 3 She can't have visitors: "It is so discouraging not to have any advice and companionship about my work. . . but he says he would as soon put fireworks in my pillow-case as to let me have those stimulating people about now." (Gilman 169). Probably in large part because of her oppression, she continues to decline. "I don't feel as if it was worthwhile to turn my hand over for anything. . ." (Gilman 169). It seems that her husband is oblivious to her declining condition, since he never admits she has a real problem until the end of the story -- at which time he fainted. John could have obtained council from someone less personally involved in her case, but the only help he seeks was for the house and baby. He obtains a nanny to watch over the children while he was away at work each day: "It is fortunate Mary is so good with the baby." (Gilman 168). And he had his sister Jennie take care of the house. "She is a perfect and enthusiastic housekeeper." (Gilman 170). Kelly Flynn Pg 4 He does talk of taking her to an expert: "John says if I don't pick up faster he shall send me to Weir Mitchell in the fall." But she took that as a threat since he was even more domineering than her husband and brother. Her friend was under his care at one time and was telling her terrible stories about the place. Not only does he fail to get her help, but by keeping her virtually a prisoner in a room with nauseating wallpaper and very little to occupy her mind, let alone offer any kind of mental stimulation, he almost forces her to dwell on her problem. Prison is supposed to be depressing, and she is pretty close to being a prisoner. Perhaps if she had been allowed to come and go and do as she pleased her depression might have lifted: "I think sometimes that if I were only well enough to write a little it would relieve the press of ideas and rest me." (Gilman 169) It seems that just being able to tell someone how she really felt would have eased her depression, but John won't hear of it. The lack of an outlet caused the depression

How to Write a College Essay

How to Write a College EssayIf you're looking for an essay sample that can help you write the perfect college essay, there are many things that you can look at to find one. You might want to think about using the web or go straight to a college book, but there are also some great resources out there to help you with your writing.When you're trying to write a college essay on a variety of topics, the essay itself will be the most important personal growth activities you'll do for your own education. It is the one experience that everyone will read, but it's also the one that will shape your future.There are several common themes that students are most likely to see in their student essays. You will find that college essays include personal development and dealing with issues like family and faith. Here are some things that you can use to help you get started on the path to developing a successful essay.One of the best ways to start your personal growth activities is to look at the fir st few pages of your essay. You can begin by highlighting all of the sections and how they relate to each other. You should be very specific about the things that you want to highlight in the essay and make sure that you're including all of the necessary information that you need.Your first paragraph should start off with an intro sentence that answers the question, 'Why do you want to write this essay?' This is probably the best place to really give yourself a goal, and it can be followed up with more questions to encourage you in your quest.In your last paragraph, you should write out your conclusion. You should be careful not to fill the essay with too much of a description. You don't want to get too far ahead, but you should also keep in mind that it should be factual, but brief.For every essay you write, you need to include lots of details. You have to keep things as simple as possible. If you think about it, all of your readers have to have the same information that you do.