In her essay "Writing Short Stories" Flannery O'Connor says this about characterization:
"You can't cut characters off from their society and say much about them as individuals."
"You can't say anything meaningful about the mystery of personality unless you put that personality in a believable and significant social context."
Consider the quotations above. Then pick a story you read in Semester A, and evaluate how the social context and the characters work together not only to provide a vivid setting, but also to help explain and develop the characters' thoughts, words, and actions.
One story that exemplifies the effective integration of social context and characterization is "The Yellow Wallpaper" by Charlotte Perkins Gilman. This story delves into the mental and emotional deterioration of the narrator, paralleled with societal norms and expectations during the 19th century.
"The Yellow Wallpaper" is set during a time when gender roles and societal expectations greatly influenced women's lives. The protagonist, known only as the narrator, is trapped within a secluded mansion where she is subjected to a patriarchal control enforced by her physician husband and society at large. The social context of the story helps to explain and develop the character's thoughts, words, and actions.
Through the confined setting and the patriarchal society, the story highlights the oppressive environment in which the narrator is trapped. Being confined to a room with revolting yellow wallpaper mirrors the societal confinement and constraints placed upon women during this time period. The wallpaper itself symbolizes the societal expectations and restrictions that confine the narrator's thoughts and actions. The constant scrutiny and control of her husband and society push the protagonist further into isolation, leading to her descent into madness.
The social context in "The Yellow Wallpaper" also sheds light on the character's thoughts and actions in relation to her mental state. The pervasive cultural belief that women were weak and emotionally unstable contributes to the initial dismissal of the narrator's concerns regarding her mental well-being. As she tries to communicate her deteriorating mental state, her words are undermined and belittled, reinforcing the damaging effects of societal norms and expectations on her psyche.
Moreover, the story subtly explores the psychological impact of the narrator's confinement and isolation on her mental health. The wallpaper becomes a fixation for her, as she obsessively stares at it and tries to decipher its patterns, reflecting her deteriorating mental state and growing detachment from reality. The characters and the social context work together to emphasize the extent to which the narrator's thoughts, words, and actions are influenced by the oppressive society and her subsequent confinement.
In conclusion, "The Yellow Wallpaper" by Charlotte Perkins Gilman effectively integrates social context and characterization to provide a vivid setting and to explain and develop the character's thoughts, words, and actions. By highlighting the societal expectations and constraints within a confined space, the story portrays the impact of the oppressive environment on the protagonist's mental deterioration. The social context not only sets the stage for the narrative but also offers a deeper understanding of the character's psyche and the forces that shape her behavior.