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Which of these lines from "The Yellow Wallpaper" by Charlotte Perkins Gilman best demonstrates the unreliability of the narrator? A. John laughs at me, of course, but one expects that in marriage. B. There comes John's sister. Such a dear girl as she is, and so careful of me! C. I can see a strange, provoking, formless sort of figure, that seems to skulk about behind that silly and conspicuous front design. D. But I can write when she is out, and see her a long way off from these windows. E. He is very careful and loving, and hardly lets me stir without special direction.

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Answer:

The narrator’s unreliability in the story 'The Yellow Wallpaper' by Charlotte Perkins Gilman is evident in her viewing the unreal and unexisting on a dirty yellow paper in her room. The answer is option ‘c’. It is a fabrication of her mind - the strange, provoking, formless figure.

Explanation:

The narrator is suffering from depression and as a consequence is forced to live in isolation in the room of her husband’s choice. Relieved of her household and social duties, all alone for most of the day with nothing to do, she is instructed to rest and sleep more as this was the trusted cure of depression.

The husband, a physician, who though is very polite to her and very caring too constantly imposes his will on her, not listening to her pleadings of letting her leave the room and taking the one downstairs - the room of her choice, or even agrees to shift the residence as the murky yellow paper on the wall of the room constantly gives his wife a creepy feeling.

Even when she has visitors, they stay on the floor downstairs and her time spent with them is limited as she gets tired soon. All alone she starts imagining moving images on the yellow paper. The woman in her, who unconsciously feels trapped and wants to break the shackles of imposed alienation by her husband, sees first one woman, then many women behind the bars on the yellow paper making desperate efforts to come out. She wants to help.

On the last day of their stay in the house, she succeeds in doing so and then starts behaving like the woman behind the bars creeping on the floor, enjoying her freedom in the room and not wanting to go out anymore.

The depression has grown with time, accentuated by isolation and restricted social contact. In the end, she is even seen creeping over her husband who lies fainted on the floor when he witnesses her condition on opening the door.  He lies in her way to the wall.

Thus, the selected option tells us that she is unreliable, suffering from illusions, imagining the unreal on the yellow paper on the wall.

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