Sturcturalism+and+the+Yellow+Wallpaper

Vladimir Propp and Calude Levi-Strauss first developed this particular literary theory in the 1950’s. Structuralism is a technique used to examine a literary work by analyzing the underlying constant structure while applying a basic scientific objectivity to it. Within Structuralism the author and text is not found to be important, however, there is a strong significance of the reader. This is seen as true due to the fact that “the text disappears in favor of looking at patterns, systems, and structures” (Structuralism 1). Therefore when structuralism is being applied to a literary work the structure of the text is placed at the center of the meaning, leaving the individual behind. In order to apply the structuralism literary theory to “The Yellow Wallpaper” one must take every aspect of the paper and use it to think outside of the box. At this point of structuralism, deconstruction becomes involved. There are two parts of deconstruction that are important when applying it to structuralism. The first is taking a look at the structure or system of the text and the thing that created that particular structure. The second is taking a look at the binaries, which are extremely important within “The Yellow Wallpaper.” The process of structuralism has several steps, the first being finding all the binaries within the text. A binary is a whole composed of two and have some sort of relation when put together (structuralism 1). For the purpose of this paper, I am using the binary “Sanity over insanity”. When finding a binary a structuralist would examine it and take examples from the text that would justify this binary. For instance in “The Yellow Wallpaper” the husband appears to be sane, which gives him more control or power over his wife, allowing himself to lock her up in this room. The next step within the structuralism process would be to flip the binary over making a critic examine “insanity over sanity” within “The Yellow Wallpaper”. If a structuralist looked at “insanity over sanity” within “The Yellow Wallpaper” they would discover that perhaps insanity is superior. The author of “The Yellow Wallpaper” is continuously experiencing moments of insanity. At first, she is angry for being forced into imprisonment while she tries to cure herself of the insanity. However, as time goes on the author begins to get happier and happier as she starts embracing her insanity. For example she writes, “Life is very much more exciting now than it used to be.” Looking at such enthusiasm from accepting her insanity a structuralist would conclude that Charlotte Gilman is stating that insanity could be a good thing as long as the person is experiencing happiness. The significance of structuralism is to look at every aspect of that particular piece of literature. A structuralist would not just look at one binary but all the binaries within “The Yellow Wallpaper.” For instance, he or she could also examine the binary of “The male role over the female role” or “power over weakness.” By taking each motif of the story and flipping them, more motifs develop which allows for the origin of the systems within the text to be analyzed. In “The Yellow Wallpaper” the systems and binaries within the text point to the origin of her very own experiences while being a patient during the Victorian era (Wikipedia). This knowledge of Charlotte Gilman’s life helps to analyze even more binaries without focusing primarily on the text and its plot. Structuralism is used in literary theory in order to examine the bigger picture of a text. It does not just focus on the storyline or the author, but it examines the systems in which the story is formed.

By Kathleen Corrigan

For more information on Structuralism and its component of deconstruction check out: http://www.colorado.edu/English/courses/ENGL2012Klages/1derrida.html

And

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Yellow_Wallpaper.