Symbolism
The wallpaper transforms in the narrators eyes throughout the story. However, the wallpaper always has an effect on the narrator although the effect changes. In the beginning of the story the narrator describes how she hates the wallpaper and how she finds it repulsive. The narrator says, “I’m really getting quite fond of the big room, all but that horrid paper” (Stetson 649). At this point in the story the narrator has accepted that she will be stuck in the yellow wallpapered room while she recovers from her sickness. She does not like the wallpaper, however, she has not developed an obsession with it quite yet. She merely does not have the desire to be in a room that is run down and she would rather be in the room downstairs with the patio (Stetson 648).
As the story progresses the narrator starts to despise the wallpaper because of the oppression of women that the wallpaper represents instead of just disliking the color and pattern. The narrator says, “This paper looks to be as if it knew what a vicious influence it had!” (Stetson 649). The wallpaper is the only thing in the room that the woman can look at and think about which is why her obsession begins. The narrator sees a woman who is trapped in the wallpaper, and this is symbolic of women of the time period being trapped in societal norms and gender roles. The woman becomes obsessed with finding some sense to the pattern in the hopes of being able to free the woman who is trapped inside the wallpaper. The narrator actually wants to free herself from the oppression she is feeling by her husband and society in general.
The narrator finally frees herself by ripping off all the wallpaper and freeing the woman (who she actually sees as herself). The narrator says, "It is so pleasant to be out in this great room and creep around as I please!" (Stetson 656). This is the narrator expressing how happy she is to have been freed from the wallpaper. At this point in the story the narrators obsession with the wallpaper has has overcome her sanity and she just creeps around the room, while stepping over her husband when he faints at the sight of his wife.
As the story progresses the narrator starts to despise the wallpaper because of the oppression of women that the wallpaper represents instead of just disliking the color and pattern. The narrator says, “This paper looks to be as if it knew what a vicious influence it had!” (Stetson 649). The wallpaper is the only thing in the room that the woman can look at and think about which is why her obsession begins. The narrator sees a woman who is trapped in the wallpaper, and this is symbolic of women of the time period being trapped in societal norms and gender roles. The woman becomes obsessed with finding some sense to the pattern in the hopes of being able to free the woman who is trapped inside the wallpaper. The narrator actually wants to free herself from the oppression she is feeling by her husband and society in general.
The narrator finally frees herself by ripping off all the wallpaper and freeing the woman (who she actually sees as herself). The narrator says, "It is so pleasant to be out in this great room and creep around as I please!" (Stetson 656). This is the narrator expressing how happy she is to have been freed from the wallpaper. At this point in the story the narrators obsession with the wallpaper has has overcome her sanity and she just creeps around the room, while stepping over her husband when he faints at the sight of his wife.