Emerging Feminism in The Yellow Wallpaper The Yellow Wallpaper, by Charlotte Perkins Gilman, is about a woman who suffers from temporary nervous depression. Her husband, a doctor, took her to a summer vacation home for rest therapy; however, the woman's condition worsens and she sees images of faces on the wallpaper of her room. He believes the images are of women crawling behind the paper and can't help but fixate on them. She tries to tell her husband without success and over time sees the images more and more frequently. Eventually he locks himself in his room and tears up the wallpaper. The story is a depiction of the plight of women's suffrage and the beginning of the rise of feminism, as well as a reflection of the author's life and experiences. The most obvious representation is the pattern on the wallpaper and the images of women crawling behind the wallpaper. “At night, in any kind of light,… they become bars!… and the woman behind is as plain as can be… In daylight she is subdued, silent. I guess that's the pattern that keeps her so still " (1578). The bars symbolize the division between men and women and how women are held back. Because there is visibility during the day, the quiet during the day is representative of feminism's fear of being discovered. Gilman's use of the word "creeping" is symbolic of the rise of feminism. The Merriam-Webster dictionary defines creep as “developing or advancing by imperceptible degrees.” The images on the wall move at night, showing how the beginnings of feminism happened because they weren't made visibly. Furthermore, Gilman presents the behavior of society at the time. Throughout the story, the woman states her intentions, but then doesn't act on them because of her husband and says "what must be done", as if she has no power or authority to do what she believes is best for her. This is further demonstrated when she talks about her husband and her brother, who "is also of high rank", showing the high rank of men in society. Jane is the representation of a typical woman: "She is a perfect and enthusiastic housekeeper and does not hope for a better profession!" (1574). The oppression of women is shown when the woman tries to tell her husband how she feels, but he quickly silences her and assures her that his prescription for rest is all she needs. In the conclusion of the story, when she tears off the wallpaper and says, 'I am out at last,' I said, 'in spite of you and Jane? And I have removed most of the paper, so you cannot take me back!'" (1582) Gilman shows society's discovery of feminism. Her husband and Jane were the symbol of society and when the wallpaper is down and the images are out of style, feminism is out of style too.