"The Yellow Wallpaper"

Wow! That is a story! It can be a little hard to follow but that is one of the qualities that make this story so great. There are so many different little messages hidden within the text that if the little details aren’t getting enough attention, “The Yellow Wallpaper” could seem like a completely different story.

One part of the story that was really intriguing was when the narrator said, “I don’t blame her a bit. It must be very humiliating to be caught creeping by daylight. I always lock the door when I creep by daylight” (Gilman, 376).

When I first read this part of the story, I just thought that the narrator was talking about the woman trapped inside the wallpaper and then referring to herself. I was still thinking that these were considered two different “people” that both shared a common quality: being trapped. I realize that the woman inside the wall was not real, but my thoughts were that the narrator had created this person and was making it more real as the story went along so that they would always be connected together. I guess that is still partly true, because I’ve learned that they are the same person! Or at least the narrator has gone crazy enough so this other personality is now her own.

“I’ve got out at last, in spite of you and Jane. And I’ve pulled off most of the paper so you can’t put me back!” (Gilman, 378). This is the climax of the story. She really did completely lose it. The other personality has taken over! The whole story was leading up to this point. She went from being “sick” (Gilman, 367) to all out crazy. But I think a good question to ask is was it really her own fault or her culture’s fault for the person that the narrator becomes?

Works Cited
Gilman, Charlotte. "The Yellow Wallpaper." Literature, reading, reacting, writing. Thomson Wadsworth. compact sixth edition. Boston: Michael Rosenberg, 2007. 366-378.

The Yellow Wallpaper

This story has got to be one of the weirdest stories I have ever read in my life. I still dont really know what it is about. I just notice that the more she talks about the wallpaper the crazier the story gets. I actually feel bad for the lady because her husband doensnt let her do anything to make the time go by in. The things that John makes her eat and drink are grotesque, cod liver oil and lots of tonics and things. I dont really know how that is supposed to help a person but still they keep her in a room all by herself i would probally go crazy if that happened to me. I knew she was crazy when she said, "All those strangled heads and bulbous eyes and waddling fungus growths just shriek with derision" (Gilman, 12)! When a person starts to think of horrible things like that its pretty evident that there is something wrong in their head. The only thing i did not like about the story is the end where it says that John passed out i really want to know what that means. Did he die or pass out, and if he passed out what made him pass out. Was it that she was dead or was it that she was doing crazy things. Besides that i think the story is pretty good.

The Chrysanthemums

WOW!! I absolutely loved this story! In my opinion John Steinbeck is a terrific writer. The few stories of his that I have read are right to the point; he doesn’t try to confuse you with fancy words and other literary statements. The way he describes the setting on page 632 in the first paragraph makes me wish I was a character in this story. I love the simplicity of their lives, they seem relaxed and content with life. Although, when Elisa meets the man in the canvas covered wagon I believe her mind starts to wonder what it would be like to have that type of lifestyle. After the man asks her for some “chrysanthemum seeds” she reflects back on her life and realizes that her life right now is better than it would be if she lived like this man does. There a few lines in this story that baffle me like on page 638 when her husband tries to compliment her and she gets mad about it. Does he not compliment her often and that’s why he isn’t very good at it? What does the red bucket symbolize and why does he only keep that?

"The Yellow Wallpaper"

Even after our group discussion I feel like there are several unanswered questions about what really went on in "The Yellow Wallpaper." However, I do feel as if I have come to my personal conclusion of what happened in this story. At first I was convinced that the woman wasn't necessarily crazy, but that her husband wanted her to believe that she was. After discussing the topic with the class, I do think that something was altering her, but only slightly. Anybody can relate to that, especailly if it involes a change of pace like having a baby. It didn't seem like she was as crazy as John tried to make her believe. I agree with all the others, who have said that it was him locking her up in the house, constantly telling her what to do as if she were a child, and the numerous times he mentioned her illness, that all contributed to her actually going crazy. It became apparent that she didn't like the person she had become so she spent her days trying to brake away from John's control. She felt as if she were locked in a prison with no way out, but she found, what she would consider, the best place to start regaining part of herself. Her tearring the wallpaper that she hated so much, I thought, represented her saying goodbye to being in posession of her husband. She saw a woman in the paper, which I also agree with others, that the woman she saw was really her. I think the descriptions of the wallpaper were a very important part of this story as well. "The whole thing goes horizonatlly, too, at least it seems so, and I exhaust myself in trying to distinguish the order of its going in that direction (Gilman. 371)." I think this statement describes her confusion within herself, pondering if she honestly was crazy or if she was just portrayed that way. Not knowing the answer to this question led her to craziness! As her "condition" progressed so did her freedom. Once the wallpaper was removed her status of being controled disappeared. I am led to believe that is why she was convinced she got out at last. One thing that does seem to be a mystery is wither she killed herself or could it have been her plan to kill her husband with the rope and that was why he fainted and asked "For God's sake, what are you doing! (Gilman. 378)"?


Source:

Gilman, Charlotte. "The Yellow Wallpaper." Literature, reading, reacting, writing. Thomson Wadsworth. compact sixth edition. Boston: Michael Rosenberg, 2007. 366-378.

The Yellow Wallpaper

WOW!! This is one of the most interesting, and intriging story I have ever read. I felt really bad for her. Her own husband is keeping her hostage. No wonder why she's suffering from post partum depression. She gets treated like a child. Her husband, John, and sister-in-law, Jeannie are keeping her inside the house. They didn't allow her have any outside contact. So no wonder why she fell into a deep depression. All she could do is freak out on the wallpaper. I don't know why they wouldn't even let her write. By the middle of the story she kept getting worse, and worse. She was clearly losing her mind, and sainty. I was wondering who she was referring to as the women. When I went to class to discuss it is when I realized that it was herself. I was glad that she "got out at last in spite of you and Jane".

Yellow Wallpaper

When I read this story I thought that it was pretty good, and it kept my attention, but after the class discussion I liked it even more. I thought that she had killed herself with the rope, and that led me to believe that that was why John had fainted. With all the different views from everyone else in the class I now see the ending to be different. I went back and read it and I think that John fainted because he was shocked to see her acting the way she was.
When she kept saying things about the women that was kind of odd. I wasn't sure if it was her or if she was imagining someone else in the room with her. The neat part of the story though was when she said in Paragraph 265 "I've got out at last," said I, "in spite of you and Jane." I was like what?! After reading about john going away for a while i thought that maybe she thought he was having an affair, and Jane was this other woman. I now understand that she was refering to herself.
I was kind of confused before the class discussion but after hearing what everyone thought about it made it easier to understand.

"The Chrysanthemums"

This story was kind of pointless. She seems to be happy but just has too much time on her hands and it seems like she would like to live a different life. It also seems like her husband doesn't pay that much attention to her. He told her she looked nice and she got almost mad and defensive about it and questioned why he would say that. When she first met the guy with the covered wagon she seemed almost annoyed by him and didn't want him to fix anything for her. As they got to talking with him she almost seemed intrigued by what he does and maybe thought she would like to do that. But yet when she saw him ahead of them on the road she didn't want him to see her. But she did notice he had kept the pot. What was the significance of the pot? And why didn't she want to see him directly? It seems like she is happy with her life currently but would like to have something new. This story seems to have missing parts or specific details left out or something like that.

The Yellow Wallpaper

Confusing, confusing, confusing! What was going through this author's head when he wrote this? After class discussion and debate you are still left with unanswered questions. All left to do was look for supportive evidence on how I now perceive this story.
I believe this women suffered from a post partum depression. Nothing that serious, but at that time this was probably not discovered yet, calling it just depression. Something now days that is cured by medicine, good diet, rest, and healthy environment.
John, her husband, keeps telling her that she suffers from a nervous depression sickness, and pretty much locks her away, treats her like a kid, and even laughs at her. Even know she says, "Personally, I believe that congenial work, with excitement and change, would do me good", (Gilman 367) she goes on to trust her husband by doing what he says is best for her.
As days and day pass on she starts to drive herself crazy. She goes on and on about this yellow wallpaper that she dreads in her room. Starting to see images in it. Noting too that if all I was allowed to do was sleep, go out in a certain area outside, and eat I would probably start using my imagination too.
There comes John, and I must put this away. (Gilman 368) Now this sentence provides evidence how he has all the power and she lets him rule.
Weeks go by and now there is a women image in the wallpaper with bars to prevent her from escaping. She is going crazy in that paper. Sound familiar? Now I started to see the whole context. She feels trapped! As her husband reminds her, "You know the place is doing you good." (Gilman 369)
Now the story makes sense. Just before the three months was over at this isolated house, she freaks. The text explains that she is angry enough to do something desperate. (Gilman 377) She needs to free herself! She starts ripping all the wallpaper of in reach throws the key to the door.
She feels her power now as he pounds on the door to let her in. Creeping around the room, "I got out at last". (Gilman 378) He opens the door in astonishment and faints making me believe he is stunned to see she has overpowered him.

The Chrysantheums

The story in general was rather dry. However, I did enjoy the part about how they worked on the wagons and so forth. Some of this story was a little confusing. This also could be just a mere fact that I was not too interested in it. On page 637 paragraph 85,it speaks on Elisa lowering her prices to rival the other person. If I was that other person, I would have just said " Ok fine lower your prices, but my work speaks and sells for itself." That would just be me thought, because I am confident in my work. Also, what exactly do those plants do for us humans? It speaks on "Septmeber buds", what exactly are the buds for? What do they do? Are these plants edible or medicinal?

Chrysanthemums

I really enjoyed this story. Its so calming and in a way romantic. I believe that this story tells us to look at the small things in life. When the women gardens and looks up every so often to see what her husband is doing he is more fixed on selling his steer and the machine. She takes the time to carefully plant each flower, trim, and weed. I think that we take that for granted to take a look at the simple beautiful things. When the man on the wagon comes he really points that out. Or maybe he just wants to make money so he compliments her. She has beautiful Chrysanthemums and he tells her that she should give them to the lady down the way. What I don't understand is why she gets mad at the man who just wants to fix her pots? Is she mad because he insists?

The Storm

The story was horrible, but kept my attention. The plot steadily progressed as the story went along, and there was nothing to throw you off. In the introduction of Kate Chopin's "The Storm", when I read about "certain somber clouds that were rolling in with sinister intention from the west, accompanied by a sullen, threatening roar" I assumed that the characters were in for trouble(225). I thought there might be a very interesting struggle because the clouds had a "sinister intention" which suggests danger or devising of a plan. Therefore I was expecting a problem, when "Alcee Labaliere rode in at the gate"(256-8). But with the statement, "she had not seen him very often since her marriage, and never alone", I wanted to know what marriage had to do with Calixta not seeing him(256-8). He may have been an old boyfriend of Calixta's. I also wondered why the bedroom would be described in such detail and be "dim and mysterious" without a future scene taking place in there(256-13). When it became apparent that Alcee was attracted to her with the mention of "desire of her flesh", I wanted him to leave before he became a home wrecker(257-21). With "Assumption" being described, I hoped that they would just kiss and he would go, so everything would be back to normal(257-23). Therefore I was extremely upset that they didn't just leave it at that, and proceeded to have sex. Although it was not explicitly mentioned that they had sex, since "He stayed cushioned upon her, breathless, dazed, enervated, with his heart beating like a hammer" I concluded that it was more than kissing(258-27). What surprised me was how she "lifted her pretty chin in the air and laughed aloud", expressing shamelessness(258-29). When I also found out that Alcee had a wife and babies, it was even worse. After the in class discussion, my point of view is unchanged.

The Storm

When reading "The Storm" I was thinking that it was a love affair. Calixta was having it to make her love life more interesting hence her sexual experience with her current husband was not good enough. The storm was following along with the affair. As the storm was approaching and Calixta did not notice it coming she also was clueless on the fact that in awhile she would be having an affair with another guy. Alcee and Calixta seemed to have history before the storm, and feelings broke loose and they acted on them and that would have been compared with the storm just getting started before it exploded with rumble and lightening. Then when the storm had finished and passed by so did the affair. They went on living their normal lives acting like nothing happened.
After class discussion it made me think more about this love affair. First question that crossed my mind was why would someone cheat? Then I realized that Calixta could have had an arrange marriage. Some of the ideas in the story that helped me come to that conclusion would be Alcee was okay with his current wife to stay gone; Calixta seemed to marry the wealthy instead of having someone that could fulfill her sexual needs. If I was Calixta I would go with someone that could fulfill my needs even if they did not have the wealth that may make someone happy.

"The Storm"

Like I said in class, I would assume that this was a marriage due to pregnancy. The reason I think this is because, I don't think A women who was truly happy in her marriage would of risk the infidelity.
Since Calixta never reached a climax with her own husband, suggest to me that she was not that in love with him. Calixta was probably content in her marriage, but I don't believe she as truly happy.
I think Calixta, and Alcee have probably lusted after each other, and with given the right circumstances, they both acted on those feelings.
Being that Alcee is ok that his wife stays away for a while, I believe he is wanting more than just a one time fling. And I think Calixta will go on to being content in her marriage.
Obviously Calixta has no shame in what she did, and will probably take this secret to her grave.

"The Yellow Wall Paper"

Reading "The Yellow Wall Paper", it is hard to know what exactly is going on with this woman and her relationship with John. On just reading the story, I understand that she just had a child and she is dealing with post par tum depression. By her having a husband as a physician, we as readers just assume that she has post par tum depression and it is being taken care of by him. Being a woman, I get frustrated with this story because of the different feelings and view points that are dealt with. It seems to me that the story can brew up three different view points maybe even more. If you were a woman with children, having gone through the potential of post par tum and understanding the actual feelings of separation,depression,and nervousness would look at this story differently from lets say a woman with no children but still with that kind of emotion of motherhood intended. From a mans view can get foggy. Just because they are not women doesn't mean the feelings aren't there it's just a different catogory of feelings. They didn't have a human growing inside of them for nine months and feel that connection with the baby. When the child is born the mother feels like the connection is lost and those are the type of feelings men won't ever feel. Lets face it, men don't clearly understand women; just like women don't clearly understand men. Throwing a newborn in the mix only makes it more of a struggle to understand the level of emotions the new mother is going through. From discussion, I got the feeling that all the men in class are thinking the main character is just plain out crazy and weird, and John is doing nothing but keeping her from going more insane. Now, making that assumption rules out any possibility that maybe the husband is crazy or he is messing around with Mary. Having the husband be a physician, we just assumed that he knew what we was doing. From page 368 paragraph 45, "John does not know how much I really suffer. He knows there is no reason to suffer, and that satisfies him." She is feeling that he doesn't understand what she is going through, but shouldn't he understand due to the fact that he is a doctor?Another sentence that makes me wonder is on page 369 paragraph 51. "At first he meant to repaper the room, but afterwards he said that I was letting it get the better of me, and that nothing was worse for a nervous patient than to give way to such fancies." Wouldn't you think that as a caring and loving husband he would've made the room comfortable so she would rest easy and get well faster? Instead he leaves it like it is making her more nervous. To me it seems like John is making her believe she is crazy. For all we know of it, he could be having an affair with Mary. To me, I can't quite pinpoint why she has to be in the worst room in the house (bars on the windows, bolted down bed...) and she can't write down thoughts of feelings. Johns believes that she shouldn't write because it will bring more nervous feelings aboard. She attempts at writing down some thoughts but only writes a few for the fact that she is so nervous of getting caught.

A Rose for Emily

After I finished reading this I was a little disturbed from the ending. You never would have thought that something like that was going to happen . It was almost like she was obsessed with him or dead people! If I was Emily, I would be pretty mad about all the townspeople getting into my business all the time. It seemed as if they cared about her when they were in front of her but behind her back they were talking crap about her!I am not sure why they named it "A Rose for Emily"? There are so many ways that you could interpret it and you would never know unless you were the author. (122). I wish that they would have had added more to the story about Homer and their relationship they had. I didn't get why in the story the townspeople automatically assumed that they were married because they were hanging out all the time . I guess it was just the time period or they were all wanting her to get married and be happy. She was a weird person but that's what made this story so good! I thought that this story should have had a little more detail because at certain times I got confused! Overall this was a really good story and I enjoyed reading it. It was just the beginning that freaked me out!