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.
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