Home > Q&A by Experts > Literature >
Q

What Is the Main Conflict in The Yellow Wallpaper?

A

The Yellow Wallpaper contains several controversies. But the central conflict is the opposition between society and a man. This struggle of two concepts reflects modern problems as well.

Detailed answer:

Several conflicts are going on in The Yellow Wallpaper. However, the primary one concerns the struggle between a man and society. The main character has to live in a place that she thinks is corrupted. Her surroundings do not treat her the way she wants to. The woman is given a mental diagnosis, which is likely to be postpartum depression. The narrator should not have any mental stimulation. She cannot read or write, communicate with other people, or even think about anything very much.

Therefore, her husband and brother control her as they consider her sick. They attempt to save an ill woman and think of their interventions as an excellent treatment for her. They do not take into consideration what she needs and wants. Her husband and brother make her believe that her thoughts do not represent reality. Moreover, they do not want her to have an opinion on anything. The only idea for her to accept is that of the men who care for, and she must adapt to it whether she wants it.

Here, a reader can observe a Self vs. Man conflict. John told Jane about her mental problems. Thus, she could not trust her thoughts and had to give men absolute control over her life. The woman struggled to keep her sanity and decide for herself what was authentic. It turns out that she gradually realizes her weakness and, trying to suppress this newfound awareness, slides further.

Answer's rating:
Updated:
Ask your Question
(We won’t publish it)
Cite This page
You're welcome to use this expert's answer in your assignment. Be sure to cite it correctly

Reference

IvyPanda. (2024, August 21). What Is the Main Conflict in The Yellow Wallpaper? https://ivypanda.com/q/what-is-the-main-conflict-in-the-yellow-wallpaper/

Work Cited

"What Is the Main Conflict in The Yellow Wallpaper?" IvyPanda, 21 Aug. 2024, ivypanda.com/q/what-is-the-main-conflict-in-the-yellow-wallpaper/.

References

IvyPanda. (2024) 'What Is the Main Conflict in The Yellow Wallpaper'. 21 August.

References

IvyPanda. 2024. "What Is the Main Conflict in The Yellow Wallpaper?" August 21, 2024. https://ivypanda.com/q/what-is-the-main-conflict-in-the-yellow-wallpaper/.

1. IvyPanda. "What Is the Main Conflict in The Yellow Wallpaper?" August 21, 2024. https://ivypanda.com/q/what-is-the-main-conflict-in-the-yellow-wallpaper/.


Bibliography


IvyPanda. "What Is the Main Conflict in The Yellow Wallpaper?" August 21, 2024. https://ivypanda.com/q/what-is-the-main-conflict-in-the-yellow-wallpaper/.

Privacy Settings

IvyPanda uses cookies and similar technologies to enhance your experience, enabling functionalities such as:

  • Basic site functions
  • Ensuring secure, safe transactions
  • Secure account login
  • Remembering account, browser, and regional preferences
  • Remembering privacy and security settings
  • Analyzing site traffic and usage
  • Personalized search, content, and recommendations
  • Displaying relevant, targeted ads on and off IvyPanda

Please refer to IvyPanda's Cookies Policy and Privacy Policy for detailed information.

Required Cookies & Technologies
Always active

Certain technologies we use are essential for critical functions such as security and site integrity, account authentication, security and privacy preferences, internal site usage and maintenance data, and ensuring the site operates correctly for browsing and transactions.

Site Customization

Cookies and similar technologies are used to enhance your experience by:

  • Remembering general and regional preferences
  • Personalizing content, search, recommendations, and offers

Some functions, such as personalized recommendations, account preferences, or localization, may not work correctly without these technologies. For more details, please refer to IvyPanda's Cookies Policy.

Personalized Advertising

To enable personalized advertising (such as interest-based ads), we may share your data with our marketing and advertising partners using cookies and other technologies. These partners may have their own information collected about you. Turning off the personalized advertising setting won't stop you from seeing IvyPanda ads, but it may make the ads you see less relevant or more repetitive.

Personalized advertising may be considered a "sale" or "sharing" of the information under California and other state privacy laws, and you may have the right to opt out. Turning off personalized advertising allows you to exercise your right to opt out. Learn more in IvyPanda's Cookies Policy and Privacy Policy.