In "The Yellow Wallpaper," the protagonist's descent into madness is paralleled by the increasingly eerie and foreboding appearance of the wallpaper in the room where she is confined. The wallpaper is a yellowish color, with a faded, mottled appearance and a repetitive pattern that seems to undulate and writhe before the protagonist's eyes. It is possible to interpret the color of the wallpaper as a symbol for the protagonist's deteriorating mental state.
The color yellow is often associated with illness, both physical and mental. It is the color of jaundice, a condition caused by liver damage, and it is also the color of urine, a waste product excreted by the body. In the Western world, yellow is often seen as a color of cowardice, weakness, and cowardice. All of these associations could be seen as applicable to the protagonist's state of mind in "The Yellow Wallpaper."
The wallpaper itself could be seen as a metaphor for the protagonist's mental state. The wallpaper is old, faded, and has a repetitive, maddening pattern. The wallpaper seems to be alive, and it seems to be watching the protagonist. The wallpaper could be seen as a representation of the protagonist's mental state, which is slowly deteriorating throughout the story.
The color of the wallpaper is not the only thing that is symbolic in "The Yellow Wallpaper." The pattern on the wallpaper is also significant. The wallpaper has a repetitive, floral pattern that the protagonist finds to be maddening. The wallpaper seems to be alive, and it seems to be watching the protagonist. The wallpaper could be seen as a representation of the protagonist's mental state, which is slowly deteriorating throughout the story.
The protagonist's husband, John, is also symbolic in "The Yellow Wallpaper." John is a doctor, and he represents the patriarchal authority that the protagonist is rebelling against. John is also symbolic of the male gaze, which is a key theme in the story. The male gaze is the idea that women are seen as objects to be looked at and evaluated by men. The male gaze is oppressive and objectifying, and it is something that the protagonist is struggling against.
In conclusion, the color of the wallpaper is symbolic of the protagonist's mental state, and the pattern on the wallpaper is symbolic of the male gaze. The wallpaper could be seen as a metaphor for the protagonist's mental state, which is slowly deteriorating throughout the story.