Gilman’s “The Yellow Wallpaper.”
“The Yellow Wallpaper” develops its symbolism throughout the story. In the beginning, it merely appears unpleasant. The color yellow is filthy, unclean, and torn, and it has a formless pattern. The indeterminate pattern captivates the storyteller as she tries to find out its organization. As the narrator stares at the wallpaper for hours, she sees a spectral sub-pattern that is behind the main pattern, noticeable only in a specific light. Finally, the sub-pattern is a distressed woman who is looking for a way to escape from behind the pattern that resembles the bars of a cage. The storyteller views this cage as decorated with numerous heads of women who tried to escape and were strangled in the process. The yellow wallpaper represents the structure of medicine, tradition, and family, where the storyteller is trapped. It symbolizes the domestic life of many women who have been trapped.
- “The Lottery.”
“The Lottery,” by Shirley Jackson is an allegory since it bears several ideas that try to carry a message about change, tradition, and human nature. The title of the short story appears to be like a positive feature, similar to today’s lottery, where one wins money. However, as the story develops, the meaning of the lottery seems to change. The lottery represents bankruptcy rather than the actual lottery. It is an allegory that represents tradition and death in several ways. According to the storyteller, the little black box that comprises of the names to be drawn is in lousy shape; thus, it should be replaced. However, since the box has existed for so long, the people decline to replace it due to their tradition. Them refusing to replace the box shows the unwillingness and conformity to change the culture. Another aspect of refusing to change their tradition shows up when the winner of the lottery is stoned to death since their ancestors have done this act for long. The allegory in this short story is the unwillingness to change, the conformity that everyone returns, and the belief of tradition.