ween men and women. Women are clearly not considered equals to men in society. To oppress some group- in this case women, the oppressor must have some influence. Influence is authority, and in the 19th century the gender with authority was most definitely men. But, perhaps this comparison between men and women has been made too easily without considering others. In an effort to make a plea for recognizing women, some feminist criticism has missed opportunities to be critical of women by focusing on the differences between men and women in literature (Lanser 434-35). Criticism that is strictly focused on the oppression of women by men overlooks how the lack of support amongst women may contribute to oppression. This disunity is a result of the sociological concept of gender and perpetuates the problem.
The lack of unity between female characters in literature is as damaging as the effect of men on women in story. In “The Yellow Wallpaper” the protagonist is confined in a former nursery (fitting because she is treated like a helpless child) at the top of the house with barred windows that seem most like a prison, or an attic. Her husband, who carries her downstairs when she is allowed, controls her access to the rest of the house. She quickly becomes obsessed with the wallpaper on the walls of the room. As she struggles with her anxiety, she is made to believe it is only nervousness, and she feels guilt for her “condition” as it “does weigh on me so not to do my duty in any way” (Gilman 44). On top of this, she finds it is difficult to talk to her husband, “ It is so hard to talk to John about my case, because he is so wise and because he loves me so” (Gilman 50). When she does express herself to him, he easily talks her out of her thinking. Unable to comfortably relate she finds console in the wallpaper. But this can only be a one-sided relationship stoked and reinforced by her thoughts.
At some point the protagonist’s...