The narrator finds the yellow color of the wallpaper disturbing and revolting. She doesn’t like the erratic patterns and the fact that the wallpaper is peeling off. She claims it’s the worst paper she has seen in her life.
Detailed answer:
The narrator’s first impression of the wallpaper is complicated. She describes the color as varying from “lurid orange” to “sulfur tint.” The patterns seem dull and irritating at the same time. As her eye follows the lines, she notes that they “commit suicide.” This metaphor is indicative of the protagonist’s mental state. Now, it’s worth looking at the story’s setting to understand where her anxiety comes from.
The narrator finds herself imprisoned in a room that she believes was previously used as a nursery. She cannot engage in any activities due to her physician’s recommendations. No wonder she only sinks deeper into depression.
When the narrator wants to replace the wallpaper, her husband refuses. He thinks she will find a new source of the disturbance. In her diary, she admits he’s probably right about that. It points out that the narrator’s anxiety is the real source of the problem, rather than the wallpaper. But the negligence of her husband contributes to the decline of her mental health.
As the story progresses, the woman’s obsession with the wallpaper grows. Her perception of reality starts distorting. She has hallucinations and spots a woman behind the wallpaper. By the time they’re about to leave the mansion, she has completely lost grip on reality. The woman believes she is the one trapped in the wallpaper.
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