Truthfully the first time I read this story I finished it and went what did I just read. Even though I have read this story numerous times today in class was the first time I ever put together that she could be, and in my opinion is, dead the entire story. As a reader we have the opportunity to be engaged and drawn into stories especially ones like “The Yellow Wallpaper” because it is a first person narrative. The idea of insanity always has intrigued me and is a topic that will inevitably draw the reader in whether they would like to be or not. Short stories offer us a new way of reading and as we approach the 20th century we enjoy these engaging pieces of literature. As the reader we must alter our reading habits when encountering a short story versus a long drawn-out novel because as we all saw today, every single word counts. Throughout this short story we must make connections that our author is making a very strong social commentary on the treatment of women during this time and the role of husbands.
Gilman is introducing the idea of post-partum depression and uses this and the husband, John, to make a double commentary on marriage and the medical industry. If we do not read incredibly carefully it is easy to miss the social commentary on John as a husband because as she intended he is not made out to be a bad character. “He said I was his darling and his comfort and all he had, and that I must take care of myself for his sake, and keep well” (510). John is presented as the loving husband and father of their new child but when we look closer we are able to see that husbands miss part of their job, and that is to listen. “My darling,’ said he, ‘I beg of you, for my sake and for our child’s sake, as well as for your own, that you will never for one instant let that idea enter your mind! There is nothing so dangerous, so fascinating, to a temperament like yours. It is a false and foolish fancy. Can you not trust me as a physician when I tell you so?” (511). Using John as physician and husband Gilman is able to play off both of these to show that the treatments given to women during this time were not helping and that they were not listened to even though it is their own minds and bodies that are being affected. “If a physician of high 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?” (505). This quote is directly showing the issue of husband and doctors because what is she to do other than listen to people that “know” better than she?
If we do not read carefully we will miss what the author is trying to portray to us. I am not the kind of person that can read a short story once or even see a movie once and fully understand it. Think about a long story versus one like “The Yellow Wallpaper;” how can you not read more carefully when there are ten pages instead of six hundred? The author of short stories must pack all of the clues and details possible into something that is not drawn out with pages of detail to explain one aspect of a character, plot, setting, or more. Gilman does a beautiful job of incorporating a variety of issues into such a short story with a twist at the end that was unseen to me until today.
I like your perspective that the women form the "Yellow Wall Paper" might be dead the entire story. I do find it true that the idea of insanity does intrigue the reader and makes the story that more interesting. I also agree with how we must read carefully or we will miss what the author is trying to portray. Overall a very good posting.
ReplyDeleteI never thought that she was dead the whole story either. That point of view completely threw me off because I read the text quite literally as well. The idea of her being dead the whole story and narrating it from beyond the grave would completely throws off many readers.
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