Lauren LaRocqueApril ManterisLIT2020 Paper 110/29/2012 In Charlotte Perkins Gilman’s short story “The Yellow Wallpaper”, there is a rather controversial debate by readers as to whether the narrator’s death was literal or symbolic. Though one may be able to provide reasoning to the narrator’s death as being symbolic, I argue that the narrator’s death is literal. Gilman uses many hidden clues, instances and narrative elements that I will cite in order to prove my overall claim. The narrator’s experiences with being oppressed, isolated and depressed are only a handful of reasons associated with a literal death. The significance of my thesis provides a different, yet more intense view to Gilman’s overall purpose to writing this story and will also bring forth insight on the overall theme of the story. Gilman is notorious for being a feminist writer, or someone whom is determined to establish and vitalize equality for woman. She uses the narrator in “The Yellow Wallpaper” as asymbol for woman’s oppression. Throughout the story the narrator is ignored, treated like a child and isolated from the outside world, much like women back in the 1800’s. Due to the narrator’s “nervous condition” her husband, John, locks her in a room and is told to do nothing but rest. In response to this, she turns to writing, which provides her with a small sense of expression and joy. John however, disagrees to her expressing herself in any way, for she says at one instance: “There comes John, and I must put this away, - he hates to have me write a word” (Gilman 1125). While reading this passage, I start to notice that John often belittles his wife and treats her like a child. He may even act as a metaphor for how society in the 1800’streated women- stripping them of all emotional and mental freedom. He refers to her as “little goose”, opposes all contact with the outside world, and even places her in a former nursery. These instances collectively provide explanation as to why our narrator eventually morphs into a state of insanity and depression. She becomes so insane that she begins to “see” a woman entrapped in the wallpaper, and focuses all her time and energy into freeing her. She says at one instance, “I’ve seen her! I can see her out of every one of my windows! I see her on that long road under the trees, creeping along” (Gilman 1132). In my opinion, the narrator’s suicide at theend was Gilman’s way of portraying freedom of oppression. By the narrator killing herself in the end allowed her to finally escape the horrors of isolation. Gilman implements many symbols throughout the story that eventually led me to believethat our narrator’s death is literal. For example, the yellow wallpaper may act as a symbol for death or suicide. The word choice used to depict the wallpaper is a bit too obvious when deciding as to whether or not our narrator actually died; after all, the wallpaper is guilty for her death in the end. When initially studying the pattern of the paper, the narrator states, “It is dull enough to confuse the eye in the following…and when you follow the lame uncertain curves fora little distance they suddenly commit suicide- plunge off at outrageous angles, destroy themselves in unheard of contradictions” (Gilman 1125). This provided me with a small sense of foreshadowing. In my opinion, to use this sort of wording to describe wallpaper is a bit extreme; leading me to believe our narrator is starting to develop a problem that might lead to a not-so-happy ending. The most significant actions and inner thoughts that the narrator shows in the story that convinced me of a literal death happened more towards the end of the story. In the concludingscene of the story where our narrator locks herself in the upstairs bedroom and throws the key out of the window, a few peculiar things are said and done. The narrator exclaims, “I’ve got a rope up here that even Jennie did not find”, as well as “But I could not reach far without something to stand on” (Gilman 1133). In this scene I get the feeling the narrator is contemplating suicide by hanging herself. The rope, and the bedframe together act as a sort of gallow. She later says, “I am getting angry enough to do something desperate. To jump out of the window would be admirable exercise, but the bars are too strong even to try” (Gilman 1133). This definitely portrays thoughts of literal suicide. The final clue as to why I believe our narrator has killed herself is when she says “But I am securely fastened now by my well-hidden rope” (Gilman 1134). By this I believe she has the rope around her neck and is about to step off the bedframe, allowing the rope to suffocate her to death. In the end, it is explained that John had fainted when he was finally able to set foot in the room. I believe he fainted from shock due to the sight of his wife’s tragic death. By the narrator committing suicide, it would provide the perfect example of how women felt back in the 1800’s and early 1900’s when they had no rights. With no opinions, respect or say, women felt trapped and wanted to be not only heard but also recognized. When the narrator committed suicide she was finally set free from her horrid life of isolation and oppression. A final element to consider is that Charlotte Perkins Gilman committed suicide herself in 1935. Also, according to secondary sources such as biography.com, Charlotte experienced severe depression. It is likely that Charlotte used “The Yellow Wallpaper” to express her desires to commit suicide, therefore providing perfect back up to my thesis of a literal death. Works cited:- " Charlotte Perkins Gilman." 2012. Biography.com 25 Oct 2012, 01:54 http://www.biography.com/people/charlotte-perkins-gilman-9311669- Gilman, Charlotte Perkins. “The Yellow Wallpaper.” In Perspectives on the Short Story. Eds. Scott Orlando and Caitlin Newcomer. Boston, MA: Pearson, 2012. 1124-1134.