reedy and materialistic family. Through his death he was able to leave a life that was not even fulfilling. In a similar way to Gregor, I believe that the woman in “The Yellow Wallpaper” gained a kind of freedom through the deterioration of her sanity and her previous life. Her life before her confinement did not seem all that great to begin with. It seems as though her husband controlled every aspect of her life. But as she became more involved with finding out about this “woman” in the wallpaper, she gained a freedom from her husband. This is highlighted by her final act in the story. She said, “ I’ve got out at last, in spite of you and Jane. And I’ve pulled off most of the paper, so you can’t put me back!”(p. 588). And she proceeded to step over her husband, who had fainted on the floor. This act of stepping over him can be seen as her overcoming his total control over her life. She was now taking control, almost taking over the role that he had previously occupied.In conclusion, the stories of “The Yellow Wallpaper” and “The Metamorphosis” have clear similarities in theme. The main characters go through life-altering changes, causing them to be perceived as outcasts. They also eventually gain a freedom from these changes. These stories seem to show that such the shedding of a previous life is not always a bad thing, as much as it might seem that way at the time. Although Gregor’s metamorphosis into a bug was not a convenient change, it helped him to see how his family really was, and how little they cared about him. And the woman’s deteriorating mental health helped her to gain a new life and a freedom from her husband. In our lives, change may not always be a bad thing....
