Question

The narrator begins to see a woman in the wallpaper pattern. Why does she then tear at the wallpaper?

Answer 1

The narrator tears at the wallpaper because she becomes obsessed with the figure she sees in it, which represents her confinement and oppression. This tearing can be seen as a symbolic act of rebellion.

Step-by-step explanation:

In the story "The Yellow Wallpaper," the narrator tears at the wallpaper because she becomes obsessed with the figure she sees in the wallpaper pattern. The woman/women in the wallpaper represent the oppression and confinement the narrator feels as a woman in a patriarchal society. The tearing of the wallpaper can be seen as a symbolic act of rebellion and an attempt to break free from the constraints imposed on her.