A form of Depression, either postpartum or the regular kind, it's never really specified. Also referred to as a "nervous complaint."
the pattern of the wallpaper
The narrator in "The Yellow Wallpaper" believes that the woman she sees trapped in the wallpaper is actually herself. This realization symbolizes her own entrapment and descent into madness, as she feels trapped and oppressed in her marriage and society.
The narrator in "The Yellow Wallpaper" believes that she has fully transformed into the woman trapped behind the wallpaper, symbolizing her descent into madness and loss of identity. She feels liberated by her confinement and finally escapes by tearing down the wallpaper, losing touch with reality.
It is extremely ugly>Apex
The narrator thought she was the woman behind the wallpaper.
John is a physician in "The Yellow Wallpaper." He is also the narrator's husband and plays a significant role in her treatment for postpartum depression.
Her obsession with the wallpaper (Apex)
The window in the narrator's room in "The Yellow Wallpaper" is odd because it has bars on it, making it resemble that of a prison or mental asylum. This detail contributes to the sense of confinement and oppression experienced by the narrator.
the pattern of the wallpaper
deteriorating
In "The Yellow Wallpaper," madness is depicted as a result of the narrator's confinement and lack of agency. The oppressive environment, coupled with societal expectations, leads the narrator to descend into madness as she fixates on the wallpaper in her room. Through the narrative, madness is portrayed as a product of repression and isolation.
An example of an extended metaphor in "The Yellow Wallpaper" is the narrator's comparison of the wallpaper in her room to a prison or cage. Throughout the story, the deteriorating wallpaper symbolizes the narrator's own mental state and confinement within her oppressive surroundings, creating a sense of entrapment and confinement that mirrors her own psychological deterioration.