There is more than that! : Theme

The theme of The Yellow Wallpaper is to uncover what somebody's problems are before judging them. Gilman talks about different things throughout her short story that have a deeper meaning that she is having trouble expressing through normal sayings. "There were greenhouses, too, but they are all broken now" (1). Gilman could really be saying that she is broken and is trying to seek help. Gilman's conditions were judged my men because she is a woman and must be crazy. She really had some serious conditions and was very smart. Also, Gilman could be realizing her problems through the wallpaper. "The whole thing goes horizontally, too, at least it seems so, and I exhaust myself in trying to distinguish the order of its going in that direction" (5).  She really could be trying to say that with her mental diseases, she tries very hard to figure out why she has it and what's going on. Also, with her state of confusion it becomes exhausting to figure it out.  "... I determine for the thousandth time that I will follow that pointless pattern to some sort of conclusion" (5).  Here, Gilman is trying to say that every time she tries to figure out what's happening she doesn't reach a conclusion and she is determined to find the answer. Overall, The theme of The Yellow Wallpaper is that you should uncover the real meaning of people's story before you judge them. 

Theme: A subject of discourse, discussion, meditation, or composition; topic.

http://www.novelguide.com/the-yellow-wallpaper/theme-analysis  This source helped me understand other views of the theme.

http://m.sparknotes.com/lit/yellowwallpaper/themes.html This source helped me understand other views of the theme.