This shows how much intelligence the husband thinks his wife has. The key phrase in the quote is “little goose”, the husband treats his wife like a child and speaks to her as such. This is made clear when the husband interacts with the Narrator, “The he took me in his arms and called me a blessed little goose, and said he would go down to the cellar, if I wished, and have it Whitewashed into the bargain” (Gilman). The Narrator also falls victim to oppression through derogatory names on behalf of her husband. The husband truly believes that nothing is wrong with his wife so he ignores the problem and adds to his wife’s illness. The typical male makes his wife a conformist by enforcing his beliefs on her. He strongly believes that his wife is being overly dramatic and that nothing is wrong. Gilman shows the male perspective through dialogue because the Narrator explains that no matter what she says her husband shrugs away her illness. This is made clear when the Narrator says, “If a physician of high standing, and one’s own husband, assures friends and relatives that there is really nothing the matter with one but temporary nervous depression- slight hysterical tendency- what is one to do?” (Gilman). The men are portrayed to really see women as children more than as individuals. Gilman makes a strong statement about males in society during her time period. To begin with, one can analyze “The Yellow Wallpaper” by examining the aspect of dialogue through the male perspective. Using the aspects of Feminist criticism, one can analyze “The Yellow Wallpaper” by Charlotte Perkins Gilman through the dialogue through both the male and female perspective, and through the symbol found in the story. Charlotte Perkins Gilman very accurately portrays the thought process of the society during the time period in which “The Yellow Wallpaper” is written. Women were treated as second rate people in society during this time period. The story appears to take place during a time period where women were oppressed. “The Yellow Wallpaper” is a short story about a woman who has a mental illness but cannot heal due to her husband’s lack of belief. Gilman’s belief that there really was no difference in means of mentality between men or women is strongly demonstrated through “The Yellow Wallpaper”.

Might as well speak of a female liver” (Brainyquote). Charlotte Perkins Gilman once said, “There is no female mind.

The yellow wallpaper analysis