Establishment of Logic in Literature

Establishment of Logic in Literature

“Literature illuminates’ life only for those to whom books are necessary”. The words of Anthony Powell are a genuine reflection of life to many people who value books. Arguably, the world of literature has driven people into the desire to not only evaluate the works of writing but also want to learn more about its components. The analysis of books, mainly short stories enhance a reader’s understanding of the book. For instance, evaluating the short story, A Rose for Emily, and comparing its features with the reading, The Yellow Wallpaper is likely to open up the eyes of the readers to notice the styles that were used. In this case, for instance, comparing the two short stories in terms of their formation, narrative structure, plot, and character development can be the most effective way of learning the ways of making literature and how value is given to complement its aesthetic value. A typical analysis of these two narratives on the angle of rationality and irrationality that can be depicted in the two stories will enhance our understanding of the construction of these works of literature.

First of all, the depiction of madness in terms of how it is diagnosed, the behavior that it comes with as well as the various attitude that it builds on the society for the two readings differ in significant aspects. In The Yellow Wallpaper, for instance, the narrator is diagnosed with hysteria by her husband, John. John does not want to accept that his wife might be seriously unwell fully, and he thinks that it is a temporary illness that will be cured over time. According to Gilman, “You see he does not believe am sick, and what can one do?” (13). The community that is presented in this case is a modern one, and John is a representation of society. Accordingly, John believes that his wife is facing some hysterical moments but will get better over time. Following this, he warns her against doing any work and encourages her to take drugs that he prescribes. This is not the case in A Rose for Emily. Here, the author depicts madness as an illness that is determined by the behavior that is represented by a specific individual. This narrative presents a society that is actively involved in the lives of one another. This is because people reflect on the experience that Emily led, and they express sympathetic responses such as “poor Emily”. These people observe that Emily can be mentally ill, considering the behavior she displays. For example, the community realizes that the house where Emily lives is emanating a horrible smell that most of them cannot stand. They wonder how Emily can cope in such a house while it is so smelly.

The authors of these two narratives coin the mental illness problem around the character’s lifeline and, in doing so, expose the construction of themes in the stories. Arguably, Gilman, in the Yellow wallpaper, constructs the integrity of the narrator to bring out the topics of need for expression, oppressive nature of the gender roles, and the need for self-expression. Gilman creates logic when she drives the readers to understand that it is because of long periods of isolation, alienation from work, and loneliness that drive the narrator even further into her madness. Agreeably, long periods of solitude, especially for a person suffering from hysteria, are likely to contribute to mental illness. Gilman illustrates that “John is away all day and even some nights when his cases are too serious” (14). The narrator is not allowed to do anything, even writing, which she loves and enjoys doing. The whole day and some nights, she spends alone and barely changes the location of the room. A Rose for Emily, on the other hand, presents the case of Emily having spent so much time alone. Arguably, the narrators reflect on the last time they have seen her out of her front door, and it goes to over a year. She is not only alienated but also expresses a great need for attention and expression. Through the actions of Emily, such as the case of buying rat poison, the author works towards showing the need for Emily to express herself in a way that only she understood. The author repeatedly employs the use of conflict of the past (the relationship between Emily and her father), to show the impacts that it has created in the life of Emily. Since her father had chased most of her suitors, Emily had not gotten the chance to express herself in the social world. The death of her father leaves her in a state of confusion since she does not know what to do with her life. As such, she resorts to staying alone, and this contributes to her mental illness. The author then introduces the character old Wyatt lady, who was Emily’s aunt and was believed to be completely mad. Through this character, the author creates the logic that mental illness is something that runs in the family.

The features of the narratives that have been used in the two descriptions are not only different, but they contribute to identifying the authors’ styles. First of all, the narrative, A Rose for Emily, employs the use of a non-chronological order in the narration (Faulkner). As the story opens, Emily is dead, and the community members go back in time in their thoughts to reflect on the life of Emily. In the process also, the author incorporates other reflections, new stories, and the opinions of the community members. From this form of narrative arrangement, it is logical to argue that the author uses a non-chronological argument. The narrative structure in the Yellow wallpaper, however, is chronological. The author not only introduces the beginning of the diagnosis but also explains that the symptoms begun surfacing after the birth of the child. Moreover, these narratives differ in the pronouns that are used in the narration. Red rose for Emily uses the collective pronoun ‘we”, as the book is written on the society’s point of view. The yellow wallpaper, however, is written in the first person, in which the narrator is the protagonist. The story is told from her point of view, majorly. It is more of a semi-autobiographical novel of the author’s experience with depression.

Additionally, the two works of literature can also be evaluated based on the perspective they logically appeal to. For example, A Rose for Emily is written in a modern era (Faulkner). After reading the story, it is evident that Faulkner captures aspects of modernism. For instance, when Emily is called upon to pay taxes, she refuses, claiming that she had been exempted from paying taxes. The society, however, does not understand since they believe that paying taxes is an individual’s obligation to his or her country.  Similarly, the Yellow Wallpaper depicts aspects of modernism since modern health methods determine the diagnosis of the illness. The narrator is also put under prescribed drugs that she has to take to control her state. The narratives that are created through the experiences of Emily in the story work towards the reinforcement of the gothic genre. The Yellow Wallpaper is also deemed as grotesque since it presents aspects of a haunted house.  This genre of literature, in most cases,, is defined by themes such as death, decay, madness, and suspense. Both these authors employ the use of literary devices to enhance the aesthetic aspects of the narratives.

Furthermore, madness, as depicted in the two narratives, is the moment when a person’s behavior and response towards specific stimuli do not relate to the socially acceptable norms. Gilman, for example, creates the narrator as a character who has hysteria, and this hinders her from wanting to see her child. It is unlikely that after giving birth, a mother becomes scared of the child she has bought to the world. Most of the time, the mothers will be united with the children. As much as the narrator talks of reason and tries to sober up to writing, her sense of purpose, to distinguish what is real from fantasies, has escaped her body, and she is currently a skeletal person with no idea. ( Faulkner) This is the same case with Emily in Faulkner’s work. Arguably, she depicts the behavior that makes people wonder if she is alright. There was a time she buys two gold rings that she makes inscriptions of their name initials. She also buys suits and everything that they will require for the wedding. Society waits for the wedding, which does not happen. She lives in a house that smells bad, and yet she is comfortable. From the two descriptions, it is evident that the authors depict madness through the actions taken by people and the observation. Through her crazy ways, Emily tries to seek help from the society, who do not understand the signal she sends.

All in all, evaluating the techniques that are used in writing thee narratives can contribute actively to a person’s understanding. As such, the depiction, as well as construction of the metal illness in both, stories is coined within the creation of the characters. Most of the factors that contribute to the mental condition revolve around isolation, detachment from the social world, and the reactions that are seen from the behavior represent an attempt to express oneself. The narration style in both stories differs since Faulkner employs the use of first-person and views the majority of the novel through the narrator’s eyes. This is not the case for Gilman since his narration is on a non-chronological order. The stories begin from the end when Emily is dead and follows through years in the past when the community reflects on the life that Emily led when she was alive. The authors both work towards using literary devices to reinforce the gothic genre that the two narratives fall under. Arguably, the analysis of these two articles has proven to be insightful.

Work Cited

Faulkner, Wiliam. A Rose For Emily. 2020, Accessed 21 Feb 2020.

Gilman, Charlotte. A Yellow Wallpaper. 1st ed., 2020, Accessed 21 Feb 2020.