Gender Roles and Literary Symbolism in Short Fiction
Part 2: Gender and Symbolism
Both “The Yellow Wallpaper” by Charlotte Perkins Gilman and “Cat Person” by Kristen Roupenian explore how gender roles limit women’s freedom and self-expression. In both stories, symbolism helps the reader understand the emotional and social struggles women face.
In “The Yellow Wallpaper,” the narrator is a woman suffering from depression whose husband controls every part of her life. He decides what she does, what she reads, and even what she thinks. The yellow wallpaper in her room becomes a symbol of her mental and physical imprisonment. As she stares at it, she imagines a woman trapped behind the pattern, which represents herself. When she tears the wallpaper at the end, it shows her desperate attempt to break free from her husband’s control and from society’s expectations of women.
In “Cat Person,” Margot also feels limited by social and gender expectations. She tries to be polite and to make Robert feel comfortable, even when she feels uncomfortable herself. The story uses symbolism—for example, the cat and the title—to show misunderstanding and emotional distance. Both characters project their own ideas onto each other, which shows how modern relationships are often shaped by insecurity and unequal power.
Both authors use gender and symbolism to reveal the challenges women face in expressing their true feelings. Gilman shows how social control destroys a woman’s identity, while Roupenian shows how similar pressures still exist in modern life. Together, they suggest that gender roles continue to influence how women experience freedom, power, and self-respect.
Part 3: Literary Value and Opinion
In my opinion, “The Yellow Wallpaper” by Charlotte Perkins Gilman has the greatest literary value among the stories we studied.
First, it deals with universal and timeless themes such as gender inequality, mental health, and personal freedom. The story was written in the 19th century, but its message about how society controls women is still relevant today.
Second, the use of symbolism gives the story emotional and psychological depth. The wallpaper is not just part of the setting—it becomes a symbol of the narrator’s inner world and her struggle to escape social oppression. When she finally tears it down, it represents both madness and liberation, showing how freedom can come at a high cost.
Finally, the first-person point of view makes the story more powerful because the reader experiences the narrator’s thoughts directly. We see how her mind changes as she loses control, which creates empathy and emotional intensity.
Because of its strong message, symbolic power, and lasting impact, “The Yellow Wallpaper” continues to be an important literary work that helps readers think critically about gender, identity, and freedom. That is why I believe it has the highest literary value of all the texts we studied.
| Term | Easy Definition | Example (Text) |
|---|---|---|
| Narrative Point of View | Who tells the story. | Cathedral – 1st person narrator changes his view. |
| Types of Narrator | Reliable, unreliable, omniscient, limited. | The Yellow Wallpaper – unreliable narrator. |
| Metaphor | One thing represents another (no “like/as”). | The Yellow Wallpaper – wallpaper = prison. |
| Symbolism | Object or image represents an idea. | The Swimmer – pools = time/loss. |
| Omission (Iceberg) Theory | Meaning is hidden under the surface. | Hills Like White Elephants – abortion not said. |
| Allusion | Reference to another text or idea. | A Good Man Is Hard to Find – Bible/grace. |
| American Minimalism | Simple style, few details, emotional depth. | Cathedral – short, realistic, deep. |
| Ethical Systems | Deontology = duty; Utilitarianism = results. | Omelas – happiness from one child’s pain. |
| Southern Gothic | Dark Southern stories with violence and sin. | A Good Man Is Hard to Find – fake goodness, violence. |
| Irony | Opposite of what is expected. | A Good Man Is Hard to Find – “good” woman dies. |
Narrative Point of View
Definition:
It means who tells the story and how much that person knows or feels.
It helps the reader understand the story’s emotions and ideas.
Types:
- First-person: narrator is a character, uses “I.”
- Third-person limited: knows the thoughts of one character.
- Third-person omniscient: knows everything about all characters.
- Objective: only tells what is seen or heard, no thoughts.
Symbolism
Definition:
When an object, color, or image represents a bigger idea or feeling.
Example:
In “The Swimmer” (John Cheever), the swimming pools symbolize the passage of time and the main character’s loss of control over his life.
Irony (Dramatic, Verbal, Situational)
Irony = something happens that is different from what we expect.
- Verbal irony: the character says the opposite of what they mean.
- Situational irony: the opposite of what we expect happens.
- Dramatic irony: the reader knows more than the characters.