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Mental instability is a theme that is portrayed in stories and novels by many writers and the stories “Young Goodman Brown” by Nathaniel Hawthorne and “The Yellow Wallpaper” by Charlotte Gilman are not an exception. The setting of the two stories differs and creates a slightly different background force for the reader to empathize with. In both stories, the main characters have encountered traumatic experiences that caused major changes in their life's. The significant difference is the sexuality of the protagonists and the power of expression and the different settings of the stories. Hawthorne expresses the sins and evils in human nature while Gilman uses the theme of family to show the roles of women and the oppression they face in society. The similarity in both stories is vivid. Both stories depend on possible illusions and denial of the world.
Sexuality is a theme and major focus in both stories, but they have their unique differences. In “The Yellow Wallpaper” by Charlotte Gilman, the oppression of females in society is widely portrayed. Women are supposed to be assigned to specific duties that exclude freedom of expression. “There is nothing so dangerous, so fascinating, to a temperament like yours. It is a false and foolish fancy. Can you not trust me as a physician when I tell you so?” (pg.652 Gilman). This quote explains the repression of Jane by her husband. He calls her ideas foolish and false and questions her trust in his profession. While in “Young Goodman Brown” by Nathaniel Hawthorne, there is no form of rejection and oppression of ideas and freedom. Another contrasting idea between both stories is the belief in natural evil and the sins of man. After Goodman Brown discovers the evil that surrounds the people who influence his life, he is convinced that the nature of Humans is evil. “There is no good on earth, and sin is but a name. Come devil; for to thee is this world given”. (Hawthorne). When Goodman Brown realizes that his wife is part of evil, he is broken and says to himself that there is no good in this world anymore. On the other hand, there is no evident description of the evil of human nature in “The Yellow Wallpaper”.
One of the most important similarities between “Young Goodman Brown” and “The Yellow Wallpaper” is the possibility of an illusion. The author in both stories raises the curiosity of the readers. Is there a woman behind the wallpaper or is Jane hallucinating? Did Young Goodman Brown have an encounter with the devil or is this his imagination? These questions are left behind for the readers to figure out the answer. “Had Goodman Brown fallen asleep in the forest, and only dreamed a wild dream of a witch-meeting?” (Hawthorne). The narrator explains that the experience of Goodman Brown may or may not have been real. Furthermore, both stories show the protagonist's denial and isolation from the world. Young Goodman Brown's traumatic experience made him sad, stern, and distrustful. He isolated himself from the company of people and lived in fear. Jane is unable to deal with the repression of her emotions and dives into depression and internal conflict. She refuses to confront reality because of the nature of her surroundings and relationships with people. “I'm getting fond of the room despite the wallpaper. Perhaps because of the wallpaper. It dwells in my mind so!” (pg. 650 Gilman). This quote shows how Jane slowly accepts the fascination and consolation the wallpaper brings to her, but she does not realize that her behavior is a result of a lack of communication with people. She has no other companion to turn to.
In conclusion, the stories “Young Goodman Brown” and “The Yellow Wallpaper” present similar ideas but with distinct influences and structures. The themes of depression, sadness, and separation from reality can be found in both stories. However, each story has its main idea that it wants the reader to dwell on. The power of sexuality, repression, and loss of self-expression can be widely found in “The Yellow Wallpaper”. Whereas supernatural, good vs evil, and family are the themes of “Young Goodman Brown”. Both authors use symbolism to express the nature of the individualism of each protagonist.
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