a feminist perspective found in "the yellow wallpaper
...ane. She eventually locks herself in the room, allowing herself to do as she pleases and rip down the wallpaper. This is her way to freedom in her inferior life. The room represents women in society who were suffering from oppression. They have their small place, yet they are not allowed to do as they wish. The rest of the house represents the world in which she is not allowed to explore. Even the bed is nailed to the floor, allowing no movement, just as women are not allowed any mobility in this culture. There are other women in society who give in to patriarchy and allow men to control their lives. Jennie is an example of women in that society who allow themselves to be treated as inferiors. “She is a perfect and enthusiastic housekeeper, and hopes for no better profession” (337). This is what all men expected their wives to be. John represents males in this patriarchal society. He expects his wife to obey his orders and get “better”. John is a physician, providing all the financial support that his family needs. There is no need for his wife to do anything else but be a housewife. John has others keep a close watch on his wife, not allowing her to express her true self. John treats the narrator like a child, as all men act superior to women. “I must not let her find me writing” (337). This is repeatedly expressed throughout the entire story. The narrator is hiding just as the woman in the wallpaper. Those days men had so much power over woman that they allowed males to tell them how they were feeling. The narrator represents a woman, overpowered by male dominance, convinced to believe that her husband wants only the best for her. “I meant to be such a help to John, such a real rest and comfort, and here I am a comparative burden already!”(336). Even the narrator gives into patriarchy a bit, her she is feeling like a problem of John’s. As you read this story, the narrators deepest thoughts are expressed, yet the character remains nameless. She wants more than to be the standard homemaker, cooking, cleaning, and raising the children. Her husband is the typical male; working to pay the bills while his wife stays home miserable and isolated. “John does not know how much I really suffer” (336). Her husband misunderstands her and does not care to learn or stand for the woman that she is. She wants freedom but is constantly oppressed by her husband. She escapes reality through her writing. Everyone sees her writing as unhealthy due to her “condition”. “There comes John, and I must put this away, he hates to have me write a word” (336). The narrator is an outcast compared to other females in this story. These days woman are free to do as they please. Gradually women are reaching gender equality. Although this is true, there are still those people who have not come to acknowledge the changing roles of women in society. The yellow wallpaper represents the narrator. It is an ugly shade of yellow, not a pretty one. It could be pretty, just as the narrator, but the male dominance does not allow this. “The color is repellent, almost revolting; a smoldering unclean yellow, strangely fading by the slow-turning sunlight” (335). She is being classified as hideous both inside and out by being confined to this room with the yellow wallpaper. The narrator sees a woman in the wallpaper. The woman is creeping around in the pattern as if she is hiding. In any kind of light the patt...