The Yellow Wallpaper: a Descent Into Madness
By: Charlotte Perkins Gilman
Throughout the story, Gilman uses multiple forms of literary elements to subtley convey a message of warning. She is telling the reader about the dangers of postpartum depression, as well as the dangers of opressing women both medically and mentally. Some of these elements used include; Foreshadowing, conflict, choice of narration style, and theme.
Foreshadowing
4th Example
3rd Example
2nd Example
1st Example
"John does not know how much I really suffer. He knows there is no reason to suffer, and that satisfies him" (Gilman 3). This foreshadows the fact that she will eventually suffer to the point that it will affect John as well, as he faints at the end of the story after seeing the woman's state
"I always lock the door when I creep by daylight. I can’t do it at night, for I know John would suspect something at once". (Gilman 12). Even though this is later on in the story, it still is foreshadowing the ultimate demise, by showing how the narrator hides her true mental state, until it all comes crashing down
"There is something strange about the house—I can feel it". (Gilman 2) This shows early signs of obsession with the house itself. This foreshadows the breakdown later on throughout the story due to the wallpaper.
"The windows are barred for little children, and there are rings and things in the walls". (Gilman 2). This example of foeshadowing is the author hinting at the narrator's own mental imprisonment later on in the story
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Title
Title
Title
Title
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tion here
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Conflict (Internal and External)
Internal Conflict
External Conflict
""I've got out at last," said I, "in spite of you and Jane. And I've pulled off most of the
paper, so you can't put me back!""(Gilman 15). This is the climax of the story, and shows a conflict that has been building up throughout the story between the narrator and her husband.
"John laughs at me, of course, but one expects that in marriage". (Gilman 1). This is a conflict between her and her husband, due to the fact that he doesn't listen to her and laughs her off.
"Personally, I disagree with their ideas. Personally, I believe that congenial work, with excitement and change, would do me good". (Gilman 1). This is an example of internal conflict, as we are shown the battle between her own desires, and listening to her loved ones.
"I have a schedule prescription for each hour in the day; he takes all care from me, and so I feel basely ungrateful not to value it more." (Gilman 2). This shows a conflict in her own mind, because she disagrees with her husband, but wants to be grateful for him.
Use this side of the card to provide more information about a topic. Focus on one concept. Make learning and communication more efficient.
Use this side of the card to provide more information about a topic. Focus on one concept. Make learning and communication more efficient.
Use this side of the card to provide more information about a topic. Focus on one concept. Make learning and communication more efficient.
Use this side of the card to provide more information about a topic. Focus on one concept. Make learning and communication more efficient.
Use this side of the card to provide more information about a topic. Focus on one concept. Make learning and communication more efficient.
Use this side of the card to provide more information about a topic. Focus on one concept. Make learning and communication more efficient.
Use this side of the card to provide more information about a topic. Focus on one concept. Make learning and communication more efficient.
Use this side of the card to provide more information about a topic. Focus on one concept. Make learning and communication more efficient.
Use this side of the card to provide more information about a topic. Focus on one concept. Make learning and communication more efficient.
Use this side of the card to provide more information about a topic. Focus on one concept. Make learning and communication more efficient.
Use this side of the card to provide more information about a topic. Focus on one concept. Make learning and communication more efficient.
Use this side of the card to provide more information about a topic. Focus on one concept. Make learning and communication more efficient.
Subtitle
Title
Title
Title
Title
Write a brief description here
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Narration Choice/Style
First Person Perspective
Some Examples from the Text
The choice of writing the story from the narrator's perspective is very intentional. The first-person style in this story can be seen as symbolism as well. Historically, first-person narration is often unreliable, just as the woman's own thoughts and mind became unreliable as the story went on.
Yassine Rhouati describes the first-person point of view saying, "The first-person point of view is one of the most common and powerful ways to tell a story. In this perspective, the narrator speaks directly as “I” (or “we”), drawing readers into their thoughts, emotions, and experiences." (Rhouati).
First Person Narration
Title
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Subtitle
The Theme
Read below, then click
There can be many takeaways from this short story, and many possible themes. However, the one I took away from it is how the oppression of women and the dangers of not listening to concerns about mental health can cause larger problems. A good example from the text that helped me make this observation is when the narrator says, “He is very careful and loving, and hardly lets me stir without special direction” (Gilman 2). On the surface, this may seem to be a very loving and caring thing to do. However, looking deeper into it, this is actually a form of control and later on will lead to issues because the narrator is not given respect and is not trusted to speak for herself.
In Conclusion
When you start to really look into the deeper parts of this book, it starts to become more than just a story. Taking into account the time period that this story was written and released, it was a form of protest at the time, and a good reminder for us even today. Through Gilman’s use of literary elements, we are taken through a woman’s mind and life after birth, where she isn't listened to and it becomes a large problem. Some people, when this story was written, only saw it as a thriller/horror story. Others saw it as this too, but were also able to detect the underlying message that Gilman was trying to spread to the world. Stories like this are important to remember, because they can be used to form opinions and views on history, and to see how women were treated back then.
Works Cited
Charlotte Perkins Gilman. "The Yellow Wallpaper". May, 1892 https://d1lexza0zk46za.cloudfront.net/history/american-documents/documents/cpgilman-yellow-wallpaper-1892.pdf
Yassine Rhouati. "First Person Point of View: Definition With Examples". August 23, 2025. https://www.authorflows.com/blogs/first-person-point-of-view-definition-examples
Kevin Cummins. "The Author’s Purpose for students and teachers". July 23, 2021. https://literacyideas.com/authors-purpose/
Chiranjit Sinha Mahapatra. "DETERIORATION OF WOMAN’S MENTAL HEALTH IN GILMAN’S THE YELLOW WALLPAPER". October 3, 2025 https://www.ijsred.com/volume8/issue2/IJSRED-V8I2P159.pdf
"Mood - Examples and Definition of Mood as a Literary". October 26, 2021. https://literarydevices.net/mood/#google_vignette
Sean Glatch. "What is Theme? A Look at 20 Common Themes in Literature". September 18, 2025. https://writers.com/common-themes-in-literature
Chiranjit Sinha Mahapatra, an independent researcher, wrote a report on the book. She writes, "The yellow wallpaper itself symbolizes female
entrapment, and serves as a powerful metaphor for a psychological rebellion" (Mahapatra 1). She believes that the story was written as a form of rebelling in a sense, against the patriarchy at the time.
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Transcript
The Yellow Wallpaper: a Descent Into Madness
By: Charlotte Perkins Gilman
Throughout the story, Gilman uses multiple forms of literary elements to subtley convey a message of warning. She is telling the reader about the dangers of postpartum depression, as well as the dangers of opressing women both medically and mentally. Some of these elements used include; Foreshadowing, conflict, choice of narration style, and theme.
Foreshadowing
4th Example
3rd Example
2nd Example
1st Example
"John does not know how much I really suffer. He knows there is no reason to suffer, and that satisfies him" (Gilman 3). This foreshadows the fact that she will eventually suffer to the point that it will affect John as well, as he faints at the end of the story after seeing the woman's state
"I always lock the door when I creep by daylight. I can’t do it at night, for I know John would suspect something at once". (Gilman 12). Even though this is later on in the story, it still is foreshadowing the ultimate demise, by showing how the narrator hides her true mental state, until it all comes crashing down
"There is something strange about the house—I can feel it". (Gilman 2) This shows early signs of obsession with the house itself. This foreshadows the breakdown later on throughout the story due to the wallpaper.
"The windows are barred for little children, and there are rings and things in the walls". (Gilman 2). This example of foeshadowing is the author hinting at the narrator's own mental imprisonment later on in the story
Use this side of the card to provide more information about a topic. Focus on one concept. Make learning and communication more efficient.
Use this side of the card to provide more information about a topic. Focus on one concept. Make learning and communication more efficient.
Use this side of the card to provide more information about a topic. Focus on one concept. Make learning and communication more efficient.
Use this side of the card to provide more information about a topic. Focus on one concept. Make learning and communication more efficient.
Title
Title
Title
Title
Write a brief description here
tion here
Write a brief description here
Write a brief description here
Write a brief description here
Conflict (Internal and External)
Internal Conflict
External Conflict
""I've got out at last," said I, "in spite of you and Jane. And I've pulled off most of the paper, so you can't put me back!""(Gilman 15). This is the climax of the story, and shows a conflict that has been building up throughout the story between the narrator and her husband.
"John laughs at me, of course, but one expects that in marriage". (Gilman 1). This is a conflict between her and her husband, due to the fact that he doesn't listen to her and laughs her off.
"Personally, I disagree with their ideas. Personally, I believe that congenial work, with excitement and change, would do me good". (Gilman 1). This is an example of internal conflict, as we are shown the battle between her own desires, and listening to her loved ones.
"I have a schedule prescription for each hour in the day; he takes all care from me, and so I feel basely ungrateful not to value it more." (Gilman 2). This shows a conflict in her own mind, because she disagrees with her husband, but wants to be grateful for him.
Use this side of the card to provide more information about a topic. Focus on one concept. Make learning and communication more efficient.
Use this side of the card to provide more information about a topic. Focus on one concept. Make learning and communication more efficient.
Use this side of the card to provide more information about a topic. Focus on one concept. Make learning and communication more efficient.
Use this side of the card to provide more information about a topic. Focus on one concept. Make learning and communication more efficient.
Use this side of the card to provide more information about a topic. Focus on one concept. Make learning and communication more efficient.
Use this side of the card to provide more information about a topic. Focus on one concept. Make learning and communication more efficient.
Use this side of the card to provide more information about a topic. Focus on one concept. Make learning and communication more efficient.
Use this side of the card to provide more information about a topic. Focus on one concept. Make learning and communication more efficient.
Use this side of the card to provide more information about a topic. Focus on one concept. Make learning and communication more efficient.
Use this side of the card to provide more information about a topic. Focus on one concept. Make learning and communication more efficient.
Use this side of the card to provide more information about a topic. Focus on one concept. Make learning and communication more efficient.
Use this side of the card to provide more information about a topic. Focus on one concept. Make learning and communication more efficient.
Subtitle
Title
Title
Title
Title
Write a brief description here
Write a brief description here
Write a brief description here
Write a brief description here
Narration Choice/Style
First Person Perspective
Some Examples from the Text
The choice of writing the story from the narrator's perspective is very intentional. The first-person style in this story can be seen as symbolism as well. Historically, first-person narration is often unreliable, just as the woman's own thoughts and mind became unreliable as the story went on.
Yassine Rhouati describes the first-person point of view saying, "The first-person point of view is one of the most common and powerful ways to tell a story. In this perspective, the narrator speaks directly as “I” (or “we”), drawing readers into their thoughts, emotions, and experiences." (Rhouati).
First Person Narration
Title
Use this side to give more information about a topic.
Use this side to give more information about a topic.
Use this side to give more information about a topic.
Use this side to give more information about a topic.
Use this side to give more information about a topic.
Subtitle
The Theme
Read below, then click
There can be many takeaways from this short story, and many possible themes. However, the one I took away from it is how the oppression of women and the dangers of not listening to concerns about mental health can cause larger problems. A good example from the text that helped me make this observation is when the narrator says, “He is very careful and loving, and hardly lets me stir without special direction” (Gilman 2). On the surface, this may seem to be a very loving and caring thing to do. However, looking deeper into it, this is actually a form of control and later on will lead to issues because the narrator is not given respect and is not trusted to speak for herself.
In Conclusion
When you start to really look into the deeper parts of this book, it starts to become more than just a story. Taking into account the time period that this story was written and released, it was a form of protest at the time, and a good reminder for us even today. Through Gilman’s use of literary elements, we are taken through a woman’s mind and life after birth, where she isn't listened to and it becomes a large problem. Some people, when this story was written, only saw it as a thriller/horror story. Others saw it as this too, but were also able to detect the underlying message that Gilman was trying to spread to the world. Stories like this are important to remember, because they can be used to form opinions and views on history, and to see how women were treated back then.
Works Cited
Charlotte Perkins Gilman. "The Yellow Wallpaper". May, 1892 https://d1lexza0zk46za.cloudfront.net/history/american-documents/documents/cpgilman-yellow-wallpaper-1892.pdf
Yassine Rhouati. "First Person Point of View: Definition With Examples". August 23, 2025. https://www.authorflows.com/blogs/first-person-point-of-view-definition-examples
Kevin Cummins. "The Author’s Purpose for students and teachers". July 23, 2021. https://literacyideas.com/authors-purpose/
Chiranjit Sinha Mahapatra. "DETERIORATION OF WOMAN’S MENTAL HEALTH IN GILMAN’S THE YELLOW WALLPAPER". October 3, 2025 https://www.ijsred.com/volume8/issue2/IJSRED-V8I2P159.pdf
"Mood - Examples and Definition of Mood as a Literary". October 26, 2021. https://literarydevices.net/mood/#google_vignette
Sean Glatch. "What is Theme? A Look at 20 Common Themes in Literature". September 18, 2025. https://writers.com/common-themes-in-literature
Chiranjit Sinha Mahapatra, an independent researcher, wrote a report on the book. She writes, "The yellow wallpaper itself symbolizes female entrapment, and serves as a powerful metaphor for a psychological rebellion" (Mahapatra 1). She believes that the story was written as a form of rebelling in a sense, against the patriarchy at the time.