The Yellow Wallpaper is the story of a young woman’s mental breakdown from a first-person perspective. The narrative style makes the audience sympathize with the character. Readers go through her horror as she is slipping into madness.
Detailed answer:
The Yellow Wallpaper was written in 1892. It is a masterpiece of American feminist literature. The story touches upon women’s physical and mental health, methods of treatment, and gender roles. The narrator is a young woman who has maternity blues and neurosis. Her husband brings her to a countryside mansion for treatment.
The story is told in the first person through the main character’s secret journal. She keeps the diary as she remains secluded in a room. Her husband forces her to refrain from all healthy activities. Jane is an unreliable narrator. Her mental illness progresses throughout the story, and she tries to hide it. The writing style is similar to a stream of consciousness. The narrator reflects her thoughts, emotions, and feelings.
The narrative style makes the audience sympathize with the character and relieve the horror she lives through. She feels more and more imprisoned and becomes obsessed with the wallpaper on the walls of her room. The narrative becomes more emotional. It creates the impression of being trapped inside the woman’s troubled mind. As she slips into madness, the writing becomes less rational and coherent. This technique reflects the character’s gradual mental breakdown.
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