1_2_Journal_LIT_300_1_14_2024
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English
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Apr 3, 2024
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docx
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Uploaded by HighnessAntelope11357
Nadia L Brady
LIT 300
Prof. Adam Meehan
1/14/2024
1-2 Journal
Finding Meaning in Form: The Yellow Wallpaper and New Criticism
In the short story "The Yellow Wallpaper," the wallpaper is a significant symbol contributing to the overall narrative. The yellow color of the wallpaper creates a feeling of confinement and decay. The protagonist's obsession with the wallpaper reflects her gradual mental and emotional decline throughout the narrative. Within the descriptions of the wallpaper, there is a deeper understanding to be had of the protagonist's state of mind. The wallpaper's repetitive patterns and intricate designs reflect the protagonist's obsession and entrapment. The narrator's detailed observations of the wallpaper's pattern reveal her growing fascination and increasing desire to decipher its hidden meanings. This captures her descent into madness as she becomes consumed by the repetitive and oppressive nature of her surroundings. (Perkins Gilman).
The narrative structure also plays a vital role in conveying the protagonist's journey. As the story progresses, the wallpaper becomes increasingly prominent, paralleling the intensifying psychological struggle within the protagonist. The gradual revelation of the wallpaper's true nature mirrors the unraveling of the narrator's sanity. We can gain a deeper understanding of the story by closely analyzing the wallpaper and its associated elements. Through a New Criticism
analysis, we can appreciate the meticulous craftsmanship of the text, exploring how the narrative structure, symbolism, and descriptive details regarding the wallpaper contribute to the portrayal of the protagonist's mental and emotional deterioration. (Bertens).
Works Cited
Bertens, Hans. Literary Theory: The Basics, 3rd Edition. Routledge, 2017-07-14. VitalBookfile.
Perkins Gilman, Charlotte. The Yellow Wallpaper
. The Project Gutenberg
,
https://www.gutenberg.org/cache/epub/1952/pg1952-images.html, Accessed 14 Jan. 2024.
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