Response 8 (11/3)

The yellow wallpaper is a much more modern story in the sense of the horror that is entailed. The way the room is described and  how the wife sees a women crawling through the walls, combined with the creepy atmosphere of the children’s room is something that is associated with modern day horror films. The most intriguing idea from the story is that these horrific scenes aren’t even the worst part, the worst part is the oppression of women. Gilman’s depiction of the room is a metaphor for the woman’s crippling mental health from her being female. The fact that she remains unnamed throughout the story proves it further. The only name we are given is that of her husband, because woman seem to only be represented by their fathers until they’re married, then they are known through their husbands. And her sister-in-laws name is also given, however, she is unamarried. It’s as if the story itself is promotion for the woman. Like they are saying that the wife is not for sale, but whoever deems themself worthy can try for the hand of Jannie. I think the way the room is made shows this sexism as well. It is described that most of the destruction of the room reaches a certain point, which would be the height of a child. The higher parts of the room are retained. As the room is a metaphor for her mind, this shows how once she reaches a certain age (around puberty most likely) she was mentally repressed.her mind would roam free but after a certain point she was forced to keep it all in and tuck it away to the back of her mind. It’s is sad to say that once puberty hits children, this separation of genders usually takes place, and the sexes are forced to maintain “gender norms”. It is odd that this was so sudden, however, which is why I propose that her sudden “mental break” was because she bore a daughter, and fears for the future she faced, which would most likely mirror her own.