I know that there has been a lot of contraversy over whether or not the narrator killed herself at the end of the Yellow Wallpaper among my classmates. Personally, I'm not sure what to think of the story.
The thing that stood out the most to me in the story was not the fact that the narrator supposed went mad, but the way it was written in the first person. I liked the fact that it felt to me as if I was reading her diary. The fact that I could see what she was saying in her own way instead of hearing it through the author as a third person helped me to understand her mind set better.
The big reason for the narrator's mental state was her husband. It seemed to me that John didn't care about what happened to his wife. Had he cared, he would have been around more instead of always off helping others and leaving the narrator alone in the room with the yellow wallpaper. Also, if he cared, wouldn't one think that John would appease the narrator's wish to have a room on one of the lower floors in the house. Also, he would have encouraged her to help out in the house to the best of her ability instead of staying in the room all the time as it seemed to me.
The room the narrator was in also added to her problems and the fact that she was alone for so long. I know myself that when I am sick I love to have visitors because I go insane by myself. It is only natural that she go insane sitting in a room with yellow wallpaper. Its such an insane feeling being along when you are sick, especially when you are in a room you don't really care for. I have no idea how people that are constantly sick and in a hospital bed are able to handle it and still keep their sanity...I know that I would go insane, just like the narrator with the yellow wallpaper!
Tiffany
Posted by Tiffany Brattina at January 19, 2004 6:39 PMI also liked the fact that it was like reading her diary, that is why I don't believe she killed herself at the end. She couldn't have written in her diary while it was happening, so it makes me believe that she wrote it after it happened. She would have to be alive to write in her diary. Who knows for sure? I do wish the story was a little longer, believe it or not, so I would know what happened to her after the scene in the bedroom. I hate it when stories end unexpectedly. It's like a movie that leaves you hoping a good sequel will come out soon so you can get more of the storyline.
Posted by: Sherry at January 23, 2004 11:36 AMSherry, I agree with you on the quick ending of short stories. Last semester I took a Women's Writers course and the focus was women authors and their short stories. Many of the stories ended so quickly that you couldn't believe it was over and left you wanting more. I find it difficult to read a short story because when I read I like the story to progress more and to learn more about the characters, the plot, and the way the story will proceed.
Thanks for visiting!
Tiffany
Posted by: Tiffany at January 23, 2004 1:54 PMI think the lady killed her husband and exused it for him fainting. Also, the lady did write down her experiences, as we see when she writes- "There is sister on the stairs."
Here we see she was in the act of writing, so it is possible she died.