Theme of Isolation in Gilman’s The Yellow Wallpaper,...

Despite differing story lines, Charlotte Gilman’s The Yellow Wallpaper, John Steinbeck’s The Chrysanthemums and Kate Chopin’s The Awakening, depict the same suffering; the isolation that women have been forced to endure throughout history. In the time period that all three characters were placed, it was culturally acceptable for wives to be dominated by their husbands; their responsibility revolving around the needs of their children and those of their spouse. Most women simply did not have a means or an idea of how to rebel against their husbands. The women in all three stories are protagonists who have poor relationships of emotional attachment with their spouses. While the main character of Gilman’s story endures multiple psychotic†¦show more content†¦In â€Å"A Feminist Reading of Gilman’s ‘The Yellow Wallpaper’† by Sandra M. Gilbert and Susan Gubar, Gilman herself also suffered from nervous breakdown and was treate d by S. Weir Mitchell, a famous nerve specialist. Her physician kept her in a big room and â€Å"he has forbidden her to touch pen to paper until she is well again† (Gilbert and Gubar 502). This story was quite actually based on her life and it still emits the pain of isolation she once felt. Similar to Gilman’s character is Elisa Allen from â€Å"The Chrysanthemums†, who is also not satisfied with her relationship with her husband. Quite comparable to the Salinas Valley, Elisa’s lifestyle is just as barren and limited to the responsibilities of her husband and her job. While she does take pride in growing the largest chrysanthemums in Salinas, her husband does not share the same respect, as proven by him continually making sarcastic jokes regarding her gardening success. Gregory j. Palmerino explains in his critique that the problems revolving around their relationship are as follows: â€Å"For everywhere is there a conflict in ‘The Chrysanthemums ,’ but nowhere is there a fight. This absence of friction prevents Henry and Elisas relationship from