The Intersection of Feminist Psychoanalysis and Literature: A Critical Examination of Sylvia Plath’s The Bell Jar and Charlotte Perkins Gilman’s "The Yellow Wallpaper"

Abstract

This paper explores Sylvia Plath's "The Bell Jar" and Charlotte Perkins Gilman's "The Yellow Wallpaper" through a feminist psychoanalytical lens, uncovering how Freudian theories have perpetuated gender biases. By examining the themes of hypocrisy and ontological insecurity, this analysis reveals the profound impact of societal expectations on women's mental well-being.  The relationship between the two works and feminine writing and the way they both undermine conventional narrative formations while presenting genuine voices of women is also explored in the analysis. Last, this paper also examines the ongoing significance of "The Bell Jar" and "The Yellow Wallpaper" in feminist and women's mental health contexts, emphasizing their continued relevance today.