Symbolism in THE YELLOW WALLPAPER
What is Literary Symbolism?
A literary symbol is an object used to depict an idea in a more in-depth manner; at times, the objects are events, words, or deeds.
How does Gilman use symbolism in her short story?
In her short story, The Yellow Wallpaper, Gilman uses the concept of symbolism to describe the different contexts in the story. She describes the isolated woman suffering from hysteria. However, later on in the story, it is identified that she suffered from postpartum depression. The narration of the story is the epicenter for the application of symbolism, in which the author provihttps://essaygroom.com/literacy-work/des in an epistolary approach. In the story, the narrator is seen to continuously recant her story because she did not want to be caught by her husband, she says that her husband did not want her to write anything (Gilman, 175). During the period, a lady was not expected to write, and also her husband considered writing as the cause of her dampening health (Gilman, 178). Therefore, by using the symbol of writing, the husband identifies it to her weakening health. However, the narrator feels that writing kept her insane.
Further, the concepts of symbolism are seen when the narrator deliberately misreads her surrounding, she mentions that the room contained multiple windows that enabled her to view flowers (Gilman, 176). This aspect symbolizes the narrator’s lack of employing the mysterious liberties provided to her by choosing to remain as old-fashioned. Additionally, the narrator mentions that she could see people as they walked in paths through the next window (Gilman, 176). This context of the room’s perception as large and yet finding herself trapped in it is symbolic of the freedom she lacks, although she can see other people. Therefore within the story, Gilman adopts the aspects of symbolism to engage the reader as well as form the narration of the story.