Early Stream Of Consciousness And Feminism In Fiction

Read the excerpt from "The Yellow Wallpaper." I wonder how it was done and who did it, and what they did it for. Round and round and round—round and round and round—it makes me dizzy! I really have discovered something at last. Through watching so much at night, when it changes so, I have finally found out. The front pattern DOES move—and no wonder! The woman behind shakes it! Sometimes I think there are a great many women behind, and sometimes only one, and she crawls around fast, and her crawling shakes it all over. Then in the very bright spots she keeps still, and in the very shady spots she just takes hold of the bars and shakes them hard. And she is all the time trying to climb through. Which statement describes a gothic element in this excerpt that reflects a social attitude of Gilman's time? The fact that the pattern moves contributes to the idea that the narrator's husband is tyrannical. The fact that the pattern moves creates a sense of mystery and suspense, since the source of the moving is unknown. The image of the woman trying to escape suggests that supernatural forces are present in the narrator's room. The image of the woman trying to escape contributes to the idea that the narrator feels trapped and unable to control her fate.

Read the excerpt from "Why I Wrote 'The Yellow Wallpaper.'" Being naturally moved to rejoicing by this narrow escape, I wrote The Yellow Wallpaper, with its embellishments and additions, to carry out the ideal (I never had hallucinations or objections to my mural decorations) and sent a copy to the physician who so nearly drove me mad. He never acknowledged it. What was Gilman's most likely reason for sending a copy of her story to her former physician? She wanted him to prescribe a new treatment plan for her. She wanted him to come visit her to discuss her work. She wanted to show him that his treatment plan was wrong. She wanted to encourage him to continue treating her.

Read the excerpt from "Why I Wrote 'The Yellow Wallpaper.'" The little book is valued by alienists and as a good specimen of one kind of literature. It has, to my knowledge, saved one woman from a similar fate—so terrifying her family that they let her out into normal activity and she recovered. What does Gilman indicate is the impact of her work? Women are more likely to seek employment that satisfies them. Women are more likely to have a voice in their own treatment. Women are more likely to frighten their families in order to escape them. Women are more likely to read literature that they can relate to.

Read the excerpt from "The Yellow Wallpaper." I don't like our room a bit. I wanted one downstairs that opened on the piazza and had roses all over the window, and such pretty old-fashioned chintz hangings! but John would not hear of it. He said there was only one window and not room for two beds, and no near room for him if he took another. He is very careful and loving, and hardly lets me stir without special direction. Which statement describes a gothic element in this excerpt that reflects a social attitude of Gilman's time? John makes decisions on his wife's behalf, which illustrates that she is not in control of her own fate. John's words to his wife indicate that he is a strange and mysterious character who may have other motives. The narrator's description of the nearly windowless room contributes to the sense of longing and fear. The narrator's description of the rooms that open to the piazza contributes to the sense of mystery and suspense.

Which excerpt from "The Yellow Wallpaper" contradicts the narrator's belief that she is improving? I really do eat better, and am more quiet than I was. Life is very much more exciting now than it used to be. You see I have something more to expect, to look forward to, to watch. I don't sleep much at night, for it is so interesting to watch developments; but I sleep a good deal in the daytime. John is so pleased to see me improve! He laughed a little the other day, and said I seemed to be flourishing in spite of my wall-paper.

In "The Yellow Wallpaper," which description of John indicates that the narrator does not trust him? When I get really well, John says we will ask Cousin Henry and Julia down for a long visit; but he says he would as soon put fireworks in my pillow-case as to let me have those stimulating people about now. He asked me all sorts of questions, too, and pretended to be very loving and kind. He says no one but myself can help me out of it, that I must use my will and self-control and not let any silly fancies run away with me. John says I musn't lose my strength, and has me take cod liver oil and lots of tonics and things, to say nothing of ale and wine and rare meat.

Read the excerpt from "The Yellow Wallpaper." At night in any kind of light, in twilight, candle light, lamplight, and worst of all by moonlight, it becomes bars! The outside pattern I mean, and the woman behind it is as plain as can be. What does the narrator's description of the wallpaper reveal about the context of the story? The narrator feels imprisoned by her life. The narrator wants everyone to study the wallpaper. The narrator thinks that the wallpaper hides a secret room. The narrator prefers to do her writing work at night.

Read the excerpt from "The Yellow Wallpaper." John does not know how much I really suffer. He knows there is no REASON to suffer, and that satisfies him. Of course it is only nervousness. It does weigh on me so not to do my duty in any way! I meant to be such a help to John, such a real rest and comfort, and here I am a comparative burden already! Nobody would believe what an effort it is to do what little I am able,—to dress and entertain, and order things. How does the narrator's viewpoint reveal a social attitude of Gilman's time? The narrator questions why she should perform certain duties, such as entertaining guests. The narrator feels an overwhelming responsibility to meet society's expectations. The narrator thinks that her husband displays a great deal of nervousness, and she wonders about its source. The narrator questions her place in society and her role as a mother and a wife.

In "The Yellow Wallpaper," which description of the narrator's room best indicates that it probably was not a nursery in the past? It is a big, airy room . . . with windows that look all ways, and air and sunshine galore. The furniture in this room is no worse than inharmonious, however, for we had to bring it all from downstairs. There is a very funny mark on this wall, low down, near the mopboard. The windows are barred . . . and there are rings and things in the walls.

Read the excerpt from "The Yellow Wallpaper." The front pattern DOES move—and no wonder! The woman behind shakes it! Sometimes I think there are a great many women behind, and sometimes only one, and she crawls around fast, and her crawling shakes it all over. Then in the very bright spots she keeps still, and in the very shady spots she just takes hold of the bars and shakes them hard. And she is all the time trying to climb through. But nobody could climb through that pattern—it strangles so; I think that is why it has so many heads. They get through, and then the pattern strangles them off and turns them upside down, and makes their eyes white! If those heads were covered or taken off it would not be half so bad. I think that woman gets out in the daytime! And I'll tell you why—privately—I've seen her! I can see her out of every one of my windows! It is the same woman, I know, for she is always creeping, and most women do not creep by daylight. I see her on that long road under the trees, creeping along, and when a carriage comes she hides under the blackberry vines. I don't blame her a bit. It must be very humiliating to be caught creeping by daylight! Whom does the narrator see hiding in the wallpaper? herself, trapped in her life Jennie, trapped in her job the neighbor, trapped outside the house Mary, trapped with the baby