The Yellow Wallpaper
by Charlotte Perkins Gilman

The Yellow Wallpaper: Tone 1 key example

Definition of Tone

The tone of a piece of writing is its general character or attitude, which might be cheerful or depressive, sarcastic or sincere, comical or mournful, praising or critical, and so on. For instance... read full definition
The tone of a piece of writing is its general character or attitude, which might be cheerful or depressive, sarcastic or sincere, comical or mournful, praising or critical... read full definition
The tone of a piece of writing is its general character or attitude, which might be cheerful or depressive, sarcastic or sincere, comical... read full definition
Second Entry
Explanation and Analysis:

The tone at the beginning of “The Yellow Wallpaper” is anxious yet optimistic. Jane is nervous about her illness (it’s implied that she’s suffering from postpartum depression) but still hopeful that she will be cured. However, as the story progresses, the tone becomes darker, reflecting her anger and misery.

Jane begins the story as an articulate narrator who's still in control of her mind. She worries about her depression, but she is still able to enjoy her life. Sitting by the window of her new room, she takes in the beautiful view and describes it in her second diary entry:

Out of one window I can see the garden, those mysterious deep-shaded arbors, the riotous old-fashioned flowers, and bushes and gnarly trees. Out of another I get a lovely view of the bay and a little private wharf belonging to the estate. There is a beautiful shaded lane that runs down there from the house.

Twelfth Entry
Explanation and Analysis:

The tone at the beginning of “The Yellow Wallpaper” is anxious yet optimistic. Jane is nervous about her illness (it’s implied that she’s suffering from postpartum depression) but still hopeful that she will be cured. However, as the story progresses, the tone becomes darker, reflecting her anger and misery.

Jane begins the story as an articulate narrator who's still in control of her mind. She worries about her depression, but she is still able to enjoy her life. Sitting by the window of her new room, she takes in the beautiful view and describes it in her second diary entry:

Out of one window I can see the garden, those mysterious deep-shaded arbors, the riotous old-fashioned flowers, and bushes and gnarly trees. Out of another I get a lovely view of the bay and a little private wharf belonging to the estate. There is a beautiful shaded lane that runs down there from the house.

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