The Yellow Wallpaper Themes
Freedom and Confinement
The narrator in "The Yellow Wallpaper" is essentially confined to a single room in a large house. Conversely, her husband frequently spends his nights in town as part of his duties as a big-shot do...
Madness
Thanks to the narrator’s confinement, she begins losing her sanity. And throughout "The Yellow Wallpaper," we see the narrator’s descent into madness through her eyes. Readers stay with the nar...
Gender
The reason for the narrator’s confinement is her gender. Although explicit references to either gender in the text are rare, there is certainly a gendered subtext, especially given what we know a...
Literature and Writing
In "The Yellow Wallpaper," writing is a healthy means of self-actualization denied to the narrator. The narrator portrays writing positively in the story, believing that it will help her depression...
Society and Class
The story and message of "The Yellow Wallpaper" are rooted in a very specific class and societal dynamic. The narrator's a member of the upper class; she and her husband are wealthy enough to take...