How "The Yellow Wallpaper" Critiques the Role of Women in Late 19th-Century Society

The Yellow Wallpaper is not just a critique of medical practices but also an exploration of the societal roles imposed on women in the late 19th century. At the time, women were expected to adhere to strict norms that confined them to the domestic sphere. They were expected to be nurturing wives and mothers, and any deviation from this role was often viewed as a sign of mental instability. In Gilman’s story, the protagonist’s descent into madness is a direct result of these societal constraints, which limit her autonomy and freedom of expression.

The narrator of The Yellow Wallpaper is a woman who, despite her intellectual and emotional needs, is confined to a role that demands her to be docile and passive. Her husband, John, who is also her doctor, dictates her every move. She is prohibited from working, reading, or engaging in any meaningful intellectual activity, even though she expresses a deep need to write. Her husband dismisses her creative impulses as unimportant, telling her that such activities are bad for her health. This is reflective of the broader societal attitude that relegated women to the private sphere of the home, where their worth was determined by their ability to maintain the household and care for their children.

Gilman’s portrayal of the protagonist’s isolation in a room with yellow wallpaper symbolizes the confining nature of the domestic sphere. The room itself is described as oppressive, with its narrow windows and ugly, disorienting wallpaper, which becomes the object of the narrator’s obsession. As she spends more time in the room, her mental state deteriorates. She begins to see a woman trapped inside the wallpaper, which serves as a metaphor for her own entrapment. The woman in the wallpaper is unable to escape, just as the protagonist feels unable to break free from the role imposed upon her by her husband and society.

The critique of gender roles in The Yellow Wallpaper is further emphasized through the contrast between the narrator’s passive role and the active roles occupied by men in her life. John, her husband, is portrayed as a figure of authority who makes all decisions for her, while the narrator is expected to remain passive and obedient. This dynamic is representative of the patriarchal society in which women had little agency and were often treated as fragile or incapable of making their own decisions. Gilman uses the story to highlight the ways in which such gendered expectations stifled women’s potential and well-being.

By the end of the story, the narrator’s eventual breakdown—symbolized by her complete identification with the woman in the wallpaper—can be seen as a desperate act of defiance. She rejects the role that has been imposed upon her, even if it means losing her grip on reality. This act of rebellion, while tragic, represents a powerful statement about the consequences of denying women the freedom to express themselves and pursue their own desires.

In conclusion, The Yellow Wallpaper critiques the restrictive roles that were imposed on women in the late 19th century. Through the protagonist’s experiences, Gilman exposes the damaging effects of societal expectations that confined women to domestic spaces and denied them the autonomy to make their own decisions. The story is a powerful commentary on the need for women’s liberation and the dangers of a society that marginalizes their voices and experiences.