Jurnal Dieksis ID
Vol. 5 No. 2 (2025): Juli - Desember 2025

Trapped Behind the Wallpaper : A Thematic Study of Female Oppression in The Yellow Wallpaper

Surbakti, Natalia Br (Unknown)
Ambarita , Enjelina (Unknown)
Sitompul , Roselyn (Unknown)
Purba, Nurhayati (Unknown)



Article Info

Publish Date
10 Sep 2025

Abstract

This article explores the theme of oppression against women in Charlotte Perkins Gilman's short story The Yellow Wallpaper. Through thematic analysis, this study examines how the mental breakdown of the main character reflects rigid gender roles and patriarchal norms that dominated American society in the 19th century. The story follows a woman undergoing a ‘rest cure,’ a treatment method that emphasises isolation and prohibits intellectual activity, which only exacerbates her mental condition. Gilman not only criticises medical practices but also the oppressive social structures and marriages that silence women's voices. Symbolism, particularly the yellow wallpaper, plays a crucial role in depicting the protagonist's entrapment and despair. Her mental decline is understood not merely as an illness but as a symbolic form of resistance against oppressive norms. This finding suggests that The Yellow Wallpaper functions not only as a psychological study but also as a powerful feminist statement on the importance of autonomy, self-expression, and a gender-sensitive approach to mental health.

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Journal Info

Abbrev

dieksis

Publisher

Subject

Arts Education Languange, Linguistic, Communication & Media

Description

Jurnal Dieksis ID merupakan Jurnal atau publikasi karya ilmiah yang diterbitkan oleh Pustaka Digital Indonesia. Jurnal Dieksis ID menyebarluaskan hasil-hasil penelitian yang ditulis berdasarkan hasil kajian dan kajian literatur di bidang Bahasa, Sastra, Budaya, dan Seni pada pendidikan dasar, ...