The narrator tells us she has a child at first, but we later learn the
child is not real, Apeex
The fact that the narrator is a mother in "The Yellow Wallpaper" adds an extra layer of complexity to her character. It highlights the societal expectations placed on women during that time, as well as the impact of these expectations on her mental health. Her role as a mother also emphasizes the sacrifices she has made and the isolation she feels, which contributes to the overall theme of confinement and oppression in the story.
So... um... yeah.
The child is a figment of her over active imagination.
I highly suggest reading the passage given if you're interested in schizophrenic psychosis.
EXPLANATION: The woman (Our narrator) has a mental illness. (it's not stated, but rather construed. People with schizophrenic tendencies hallucinate, unable to deter fantasy from reality. Schizophrenics usually suffer from paranoia, our main author continuously saw a lady lurking everywhere as her psychosis progressed.) Therefore, with the mentioning of her child in the begining I believe that the child was fabricated... I also am lead to believe that John isn't actually her husband, but a doctor taking care of her in the countryside.
Further more about the reading:
I was reeled in. Since it's written using uncommon English it was a bit confusing, but eventually, I was able to use context clues and cone t things to my own understandings to read and understand what the author was writing.
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.