The Yellow Wallpaper Symbolism

The Yellow Wallpaper Symbolism The Yellow Wallpaper written by Charlotte Perkins Gilman in 1892 is a collection of journal entries written by a woman who suffers from the mental disorder, namely temporary nervous depression. All of the entries constitute an account of the woman who is taken by her physician husband to the country in order to regain mental stability. More importantly, it portrays the protagonists preoccupation with the ugly wallpaper in her sickroom. The work is filled up with plenty of symbols, but the most important and prevailing one is the mentioned above wallpaper. The protagonist is engrossed in it and feels an uncanny connection to it. This seemingly irrelevant and ordinary element of decoration represents many arguable issues in the story, making the interpretation of the text more complex and meaningful at the same time. The yellow wallpaper stands for state of mind, restrictions placed on women as well as for the racial problems in the late 19th century particularly in the United States o f America. Firstly, let me have a look on the wallpaper as a symbol of the protagonists state of mind. The very colour of it is yellow. The most universal connotations with it are bodily fluids, sickness or uncleanness. In the case of The Yellow Wallpaper it would mirror a mental illness and the process of the downfall of the human mind. Moreover, the pattern of the wallpaper is illogical and chaotic just as the narrators shaken sanity. As her disease confuses her mind and contradicts logic, the paper parallels her psychological state at this point. She is confused and unstable just as the decoration. At first, the wallpaper is a source of an immense irritation to Jane as she cannot find any, even the smallest sign of consistency in it. I never saw a worse paper in my life (Gilman 4). However, she becomes gradually obsessed with deciphering its meaning. As her mental disorder progresses, she starts suffering from hallucinations and finally concludes that actually there is a logic in the papers pattern. I have finally found out. () The front pattern does move and no wonder! The woman behind shakes it! (Gilman 16). The wallpaper portrays a woman who is ambushed in this illogical system. It is only her who can see the woman, and therefore, the womans only chance to set her free. Jane slowly looses the contact with reality, retreats into her obsessive fantasy. As the time passes by, she becomes the woman within the paper who simultaneously loses her identity. She disconnects herself from Jane and assumes new personality as well as perception of herself. The subsequent deterioration of the protagonists mental state reaches the climax when she locks herself in the room to finally tear all of the wallpaper in order to set the woman free from imprisonment. When John finds her, with all the decoration torn to pieces, the woman vigorously shouts out: Ive got out at last () in spite of you and Jane. And Ive pulled off most of the paper, so you cant put me back! (Gilman 21). The nar rator is finally free and there is no power which would imprison her again. She got rid of all chains, societal norms and constraints by total descent into insanity which surprisingly, turned out to be her only salvation. Secondly, the wallpaper may be a metaphorical equivalent for all restrictions imposed on women in the 1800s. In those times, women were condemned from intellectual work, forced to conform to the dependence of males and all rules of decent woman behaviour. It goes without saying that as a result women were helpless and oppressed. The title wallpaper is a confusing and complicated pattern in which the fictional woman appears. This may represents womens feeling of being lost in the oppressive and strongly hierarchical society and living in the world which does not appeal to them. The historically shaped division of the roles within family and marriage leaves its unbearable mark on womens lives. As the time passes by, our protagonist starts to identify herself with the imaginary woman. At this point, all the narrators fears and inner emotions are projected on the wallpaper. Societal constraints and norms overwhelm her and deprive of any chance to live her life to the full. The only way t o know peace is a complete fall into insanity. The last and probably the most outrageous interpretation of the wallpaper is the one proposed by Susan Lanser. She set the story in the political and ideological context of racial anxiety and nativism. Her immensely provocative thesis that the yellow wallpaper is a reflection on Yellow Peril questioned the common perception of it and triggered out a wave of surprise and consternation. The main symbol of the story with its colour which stands for dirt, urine, inferiority and uncleanness, seems to signify the racial otherness. The racism is in a way encoded in the wallpaper. In the late 19th century Western countries, especially the United States of America, faced with a massive immigration of East Asians. This process evoked the conviction that new comers would be a threat for the Whites job market and may change standards of living (Frost). Due to that Americans were so obsessive and hostile towards the representatives of the yellow race. On the basis of this information, we may inte rpret the protagonists tearing of the wallpaper from the wall as an act of getting rid of all unwelcome immigrants as well as an expression of hostility and racism. Moreover, to prove this thesis more reliable and feasible there is evidence that the author was personally an active supporter of racial uniformity. She belonged for a time to eugenics and nationalist organizations; opposed open immigration; and inscribed racism, nationalism, and classism into her proposal for social change (Lanser 429). Therefore, according to Horvitz, we may state that the narrators descent into nervous depression is in metaphorical terms a kind of escape to an utopian word in which there is no yellow, stained and smelly wallpaper, and in consequence no presence of other race. The Yellow Wallpaper by Charlotte Perkins Gilman is a perfect example of the symbolism in the literature. It plays a soul part of The Yellow Wallpaper. The main ideas, points are presented across it making the text more complex, intricate and interesting. The story is overfilled with various symbols such as the window, nursery and obviously the most influential one the wallpaper. It may be a clear reflection of the protagonists state of mind, indication of societal suppression and its principles or as Susan Lanser pointed out, the metaphor of racial discrimination. In my paper I presented only three of the possible interpretations of this particular symbol, but it goes without saying that one may come up with as many ideas and conclusions as possible.

Are We Free Within Society Essay

One can never be completely free within society. Society places demands and forms what people do and even what they think and feel. In order to survive in society people must conform to what is acceptable, this is not freedom. Further constraints are placed on members of society because of gender, race and class differences. True equality can never exist, and therefore neither can freedom. One of the most powerful things contributing to conformity in society is persuasion. All sorts of ideas and ways of living are forced upon all members of society. Persuasion is everywhere, turn on the TV, read a magazine, use a computer, drive along the highway, read a newspaper, just opening your eyes and ears is enough to be made aware of society’s views. Whether you choose to go along with them, or reject them, they are still affecting you. There are differences between males and females and their freedoms in society. However contrary to the popular belief that society affords more freedom to males than to females, I believe the opposite. I think in the current society paths have been paved for females where they now have just as many opportunities as males and even beyond. Society seems to be more accepting and protecting of women’s freedoms than men’s. It is no longer acceptable to view women as inferior to men. However in social situations it is still custom for men to cater to the women, such as opening doors, and paying the bill. Women’s choices and actions seem to be more accepted, such as style of dress and career choice. It is acceptable in society for women to dress feminine or masculine, it is acceptable to be timid and weak, or loud and strong, it is acceptable to be a housewife or have any career. All of these things are encouraged. However, the same is not true for men. It is not nearly as socially acceptable for a man to dress feminine, or to be weak, or to not have a career. More freedoms are awarded to women in our current society as they are more protected and their choices more accepted. Many countries outside the US have considerably less freedoms and even more class and gender barriers. An extreme example of this is women in Afghanistan where women are treated as sub-humans, fit only for household  slavery and as means of procreation. They basically have no freedom whatsoever. They are deprived of the right to an education and the right to work, they aren’t even allowed to show their faces in public, but must cover themselves from head to toe. This demonstrates the extremely different societies and freedoms that go along with them throughout the world. An understanding of sociology can increase your freedom. Just opening your eyes and being aware of your surroundings and the workings of society allows you more freedom to your own thoughts and feelings. Society is constantly pushing you to conform to its standards, but if you are aware of what is going on then you are more able to make your own decisions regarding what you agree with and what you do not. It may not be possible to completely free yourself from the barriers of society, but with an understanding of sociology and that extra insight into the workings of society, you can increase your freedom and individuality.

What to Know Before Buying a Pet Tarantula

A tarantula can make a great pet, but its not right for everyone. Dont make an impulsive purchase at a pet store unless you understand your responsibilities as a tarantula owner. A spider is an animal, not a toy. Before making a commitment, make sure to ask yourself a few important questions. Are You Willing to Commit to a Long-Term Relationship With Your Pet Tarantula? Tarantulas are known for their long lifespans. A healthy female tarantula can live well over 20 years in captivity. During that time, it will need regular food and water, an environment with appropriate heat and humidity, and occasional cleaning of its terrarium. Should you tire of caring for your pet tarantula, you cant just take it outside and let it go. Be sure youre committed to keeping the tarantula for the long haul. Do You Want a Pet You Can Touch and Cuddle? If so, you might do better with a hamster or a gerbil. Though common pet tarantula species are docile, they can easily spook if you are trying to handle them and squirm out of your hand. Falls are nearly always fatal for tarantulas, as their abdomens rupture easily. In addition, tarantulas can and will bite you if they feel threatened. Even worse, theyve got a nasty habit of flicking urticating hairs at the faces of potential predators, which could include you and your loved ones. Do You Want an Active Pet That Does Cool Tricks and Can Be Let Loose in Your Home? When theyre not capturing and eating live prey, tarantulas spend a great deal of time doing absolutely nothing. They are masters of repose. Though it may appear sluggish in its terrarium, once your pet tarantula escapes, it can run with lightning quickness to find a hiding place. Tarantula owners even recommend cleaning the tarantulas habitat within the confines of a bathtub so the resident spider cant make a speedy retreat to some dark corner of the house. Do You Enjoy Feeding Live Prey to Your Pets? Tarantulas eat live prey, which you will need to provide. For some pet owners, this might not be a concern, but for others, its not a pleasant thought. For smaller tarantulas, a diet of crickets, grasshoppers, and roaches might suffice. For larger spiders, you might need to feed an occasional pinky mouse or even a gray mouse. Youll need a reliable supplier of crickets or other live prey in your area to make feeding easier. Its not a good idea to feed wild-caught crickets, as these can be infected with pathogens that may harm your pet tarantula. Do You Have a Responsible, Ethical Source From Which to Purchase Your Pet Tarantula? When pet tarantulas first became popular with spider enthusiasts, most of the tarantulas on the market came from the wild. As with any exotic animal in demand, over-collecting can soon put a species at risk in its native habitat. Such was the case with a few popular pet tarantula species, including the Mexican redknee tarantula, a vibrant species featured in several horror movies. A few tarantula species are now protected under the Washington Convention agreement, which limits or prohibits the commercial trade of listed species and their export from their native range. You can still obtain these protected species, but you must purchase a tarantula bred in captivity from a reputable source. Dont put the beautiful spiders at risk; do the right thing.

Impact of E-Commerce on Logistics and Transports - 3473 Words

April 4th 2012 E-Commerce Assignment topic: Impact of E-commerce on transport and logistics Table of content 1. Introduction 3 2. E-commerce and business 4 A. B2C E-commerce 4 B. B2B E-commerce 5 C. Evolution and forecast of E-commerce 5 3. Impacts on the supply chain 6 A. Problem raised by E-commerce 6 i. Demand 6 ii. Stocks 6 iii. Communication 6 B. Reaction and adaptation of companies 7 i. Information interchange 7 ii. Pure players 7 iii. Click and mortars 8 4. Upstream Logistics 9 A. Order reception and preparation 9 B. Transport and traceability 10 5. Conclusion 11 1. Introduction Since 2000 a lot of factors have changed the face of logistics in companies. Many were forced to change their†¦show more content†¦This allows companies to have a larger choice of products or clients and therefore reduce costs and deadlines. C. Evolution and forecast of E-commerce In Europe the E-commerce growth is forecasted to follow an 11% growth rate. The European E-commerce market, which includes the EU-17 — Austria, Belgium, Switzerland, Germany, Denmark, Spain, Finland, France, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Sweden, and the UK — will grow at 8% over the six-year forecast period of 2008 to 2014. Business-to-consumer (B2C) and C2C E-Commerce continue their double-digit year-over-year growth rate, in part because sales are shifting away from stores, the number of new online shoppers is rising, and online shoppers are less sensitive to adverse economic conditions than the average European consumer. Europeans will spend an annual average of â‚ ¬942 per person in 2009, and this amount will grow to â‚ ¬1,086 in 2014. 3. Impacts on the supply chain A. Problem raised by E-commerce i. Demand The problem raised by e-commerce is that production is not a mass production that is pushed to the consumer (Push Production) but a production pulled by the demand (Push production). 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