Mental Illness and Self-Destruction in 'The Yellow Wallpaper'

Making the Claim

In the literary work, the protagonist has been suffering for the post-partum disorder right from the time she gave birth due to the frustrations from the husband. It is a situation which has led to the frustrations, creeping and tearing of the wallpaper which was witnessed towards the end of the story. These are due to overdependence on men for decision making as well as provision of care.

Evidence to Support the Claim

In the literary work, The Yellow Wallpaper, it can be evident that the lady was running nuts as she was creeping and tearing the wallpaper towards the end of the story. It was mainly due to the hallucinations she was seeing from the wallpaper. These depicts that the depression got worse, a situation which made her to adopt abnormal behavior which shocks her husband hence rendering him unconscious. Besides, she was complaining that John never cared for her as well as the baby since he was coming home late. It shows that the lady fully depend on her husband for all the support, direction and care over time. She knew what she was supposed to do so as to improve the nature and standards of the room and health as oppose to fully relying on her husbands' direction before taking any actions but she did not take any action due to fear she had from her husband. For instance, she was growing weaker and weaker every week since she did fail to undertake the physical activities. These did affect her health conditions greatly.

Refute the Counterclaim

In accordance with the professional ethics and standards, John who was the husband to the protagonist had the capability to provide both emotional and physical care to the wife. However, the condition is different as portrayed in the story. For instance, John has denied her the love and emotional care which she would have got from him. He was coming late; he denied her an opportunity to write, and to undertake the activity (writing) which makes her happy and charming. These had posited a lot of threats on her health, a situation which led to a high degree of depression. Also, the lady was locked inside a room and was not allowed to make any decision concerning the room arrangements. Due to the fact that the arrangement of the room is more feminine, the condition seems to be extreme and displays an era of hopelessness to her since it is assumed that she was not allowed to take any action without her husband's consent. These tend to go against the norms and standards of John's profession, a situation which is put the plight of women in the society in question. Moreover, in the story, the protagonists have highlighted her depression concern to her husband in different occasions but in vein. He never bothered about her physical and emotional state since the lady was growing weaker day by day without him taking any remedial actions. These reveal a high level of negligence which should not be embraced by the practitioners. Therefore, anyone who can argue against the causes of protagonist's miseries is mistaken. It is evident that the husband is to be blamed for the breach of tort. Therefore, there is a call for the rights of all be upheld and certain norms which violates the rights of women should be eliminated. Women should also rise to the occasion and improve their status in the society.

Women Discrimination and Abuse in Contemporary Society

Another way to evaluate and analyze the Yellow Wallpaper is to fight against women discrimination and abuse in the contemporary society. Women discrimination should be abolished by all means and men should take full responsibility of embracing gender equality in all aspect to grant women voice and opportunities to take actions which can improve their lifestyle. It's not prudent when women are undergoing through frustrations, inability to vote, acquire resources and even vie for political position since they have been denied an opportunity by men. Besides, men should provide emotional support to their spouse as oppose to leaving them to suffer depression to an extent of mental illnesses which adversely affect their health conditions. Therefore, when the plight of women is taken into consideration, then they will rise to the occasion and take responsibility.

Development of the Argument

In the society, the protagonists should be provided support for the good of the society. These should be done by changing the view and cultural practices which people hold against women. For instance, women should not just be viewed as people whose responsibility is to take care of the children and the homes. Since they are more creative and can participate fully in economic development the women like the protagonists should be given an opportunity to get education, write about the topics they love most and move freely as oppose to being locked into a confined room which limits her freedom of movement and association. In the situation where such support is provided, women will take vital steps in all steps and they will take a lot of steps in correcting the ills which happens in the society. The women will get their voice back and will not suffer in silence just like the protagonists.

The women need both physical and emotional care as well as giving the necessary opportunity in the job market. In the story, John is a health practitioner while the protagonist is locked in a cage writhing in pain and stress. They should be given equal chances to make decision as oppose to be shunned when they want to make critical decisions about their plight and right in the society. It will make them to pursue job opportunities. When women have stabled emotional feelings, they will always think in the right direction hence making sound judgment about the opportunities which arises in the society. It thus calls for the authorities to change which creates opportunities and ensure that women are not discriminated against in the society.

Women should always take responsibility and fight for their own rights. They should use their wits to challenge the oppressions which they are undergoing through on the hands of men. They should not always be complaining without taking action. The key step which the protagonist have taken by creeping and tearing the images in the Yellow wallpaper lays a foundation in which women shall trod in at a future date. In cases where women are discriminated and assaulted in any manner, they should take responsibility and take actions to shun such demeaning behavior as the one the protagonist have underwent on the hands of antagonists.

Conclusion

From the analysis, women discrimination is very vital in ensuring that the rights of all are upheld in the society as oppose to subjecting women to such discriminatory act. In the story, it can be evident that John's actions and the norms which are set by the society subjected the protagonist into a great depression which she did undergo. However, women should take actions which encourage the development of laws which promote their participation in the societal economic, political and legal aspects of life.