The Metaphor of the Walled-in Woman

the Representation of Domestic Violence in the Stories The Black Cat" and "The Yellow Wallpaper

Abstract

Although Edgar Allan Poe and Charlotte Perkins Gilman have been comparatively discussed, most studies have focused more on their differences than on their similarities. Many studies focus solely on Gilman's feminist writing (1892) or Poe's madness (1843). The closest comparison of these two works was made by Băniceru (2015), who discussed their similarities through the domesticity of the Gothic. Therefore, the aim of this paper is to analyze another type of proximity between the works, based on a metaphor that hovers over the plots of both stories: the walled-in woman. This metaphor links the stories in their representation of the physical and psychological violence that women suffered throughout the 19th century and continue to suffer. To this end, the analysis was conducted through a literature review, providing an overview of the stories and their authors, as well as the critical perspectives of psychoanalysis and feminism in dealing with Gothic literature. Subsequently, aspects of domestic violence were explored, starting from the central point — the women trapped within walls — and, finally, how the freedom of these women is represented. Poe's and Gilman's short stories not only reflect the social anxieties of their times but also remain relevant in contemporary discussions about mental health, gender violence, and the struggle for freedom. Gothic literature, with its layers of meaning and symbolism, continues to be a fertile ground for exploring the complexities of the human condition, especially concerning women's experiences.