The long and short of it is, ‘The Yellow Wallpaper’ really is an excellent example of how women were treated in the past and how we are still treated in the present. I got into a fight last night with a long time friend who I think has reached the toxic level of friendship for me. Every time we hang out I am always worried about what will I say or do or not say or do that is going to set him off to end up yelling at me. Though of course he does not consider it yelling, because there may be a tone, he doesn’t raise his voice. And every time afterwards I am always worried that maybe I was in the wrong and end up apologizing even though I know I am right. It just starts to feel easier to just go along and not say anything. And man oh man, who knew this book would be perfect for when I got home.
The narrator is ‘resting’ after giving birth to her first born child it seems. Her husband, who is also a doctor, is telling her constantly that she needs to rest, that she doesn’t need to concern herself with household matters, or even their child. Based on what the narrator writes about her husband, the word condescending asshat is not too harsh.
Reading the narrator’s journal through a period of three months we follow her as she finds herself getting more and more obsessed with the yellow wallpaper in the bedroom that she is sleeping in. With barred windows, peeling paper, and the room having an odor only she can smell, she asks to be moved or to at least re-do the room and is once again put off by her husband because he doesn’t think that would be good for her and doesn’t want to spend the funds to re-do a room when they are only there for three months.
Eventually the wallpaper that she despises ends up being her friend and then she starts to see many hidden women in it looking to get out.
I absolutely loved the ending. I think for me I liked it because not only was she proven right in her assertions about her own body/mind (which is sad that she was being ignored). But I loved the imagery of her and what occurred between her and her husband in the end.
- Goodreads rating – 4.11
- REVIEW – Obsidian