Introduction：The narrator is a woman whose husband—a physician—has confined her to the upstairs bedroom of a house he has rented for the summer。She is forbidden from working so that she can recover from what he has diagnosed as a slight hysterical tendency。The windows of the room are barred，and there is a gate across the top of the stairs，allowing her husband to control her access to the rest of the house。With nothing to stimulate her，she becomes obsessed by the pattern and color of the room’s wallpaper。
1 It is very seldom that mere ordinary people like John and myself secure ancestral halls for the summer。
2 A colonial mansion，a hereditary estate，I would say a haunted house，and reach the height of romantic felicity—but that would be asking too much of fate！
3 Still I will proudly declare that there is something queer aboutit。
secure：v。得到
ancestral：adj。祖先的
mansion：n。别墅
hereditary：adj。世袭的
haunted：adj。闹鬼的
felicity：n。精美
ask too much of……：对……要求过高
queer：adj。奇怪的4Else，why should it be let so cheaply？And why have stood so long untenanted？
5 John laughs at me，of course，but one expects that in marriage。
评注：“空间”在小说中极具象征意义。空间焦虑感反映了女性在父权社会所处的从属地位，决定了她们有限的活动范围和生活内容。19世纪的西方社会认为女人应该是“屋子里的天使”，这种在空间上对女人的束缚也是女性焦虑的根源。吉尔曼在小说的一开头就呈现给读者一幢给人哥特式幻想的旧宅。这座房子到底是否闹鬼并不重要，重要的是它带给叙述者“我”的不安和疑虑，而这种疑虑却受到了丈夫的嘲笑。
6 John is practical in the extreme。He has no patience with faith，anintense horror of superstition，and he scoffs openly at any talk of things not to be felt and seen and put down in figures。
7 John is a physician，and perhaps—（I would not say it to a livingsoul，ofcourse，but this is dead paper and a great relief to my mind）—perhaps that is one reason I do not get well faster。
8 You see he does not believe I am sick！
9 And what can one do？
10 If a physician of high standing，and one’s own husband，assures friends andrelatives that there is really nothing the matter with one but temporary nervous depression—a slight hysterical tendency—what is one to do？
11 My brother is also a physician，and also of high standing，and he says the same thing。
12 So I take phosphates or phosphites—whichever it is，and tonics，and journeys，and air，andexercise，and am absolutely forbidden to“work”until I am well again。
superstition：n。迷信
scoff at：嘲弄
physician：n。内科医师
high standing：地位高
temporary：adj。暂时的
hysterical：adj。歇斯底里的
tendency：n。倾向
phosphate：n。磷酸盐
phosphite：n。亚磷酸盐
tonic：n。滋补品13Personally，I disagree with their ideas。
14 Personally，I believe that congenial work，with excitementand change，would do me good。
15 But what is one to do？
16 I did write for a while in spite of thembut it does exhaust me a gooddeal—having to be so sly about it，or else meet with heavy opposition。
17 I sometimes fancy that in my condition if I had less opposition and more society and stimulus—but John says the very worst thing I can dois to think about my condition，and I confess it always makes me feel bad。
评注：第6段到第17段简单介绍了事情的来龙去脉。因为叙述者“我”有些“神经衰弱”，或者说有点“歇斯底里的倾向”，她的丈夫，一位医生，把她带到这个古宅对她进行“休息疗法”，这种疗法强调完全休息，强迫进食和与外界隔绝。值得注意的是这种疗法是被强加于女患者身上的。叙述者自己认为工作会缓解她精神上的压力，但是在这件事情上，就如同在其他任何事情上一样，她是没有话语权的。她得听从丈夫和哥哥的指令和安排。
18 So I will let it alone and talk about the house。
19 The most beautiful place！It is quite alone standing well back from theroad，quite three miles from the village。It makes me think of English places thatyou read about，for there are hedges and walls and gates that lock，and lots ofseparate little houses for the gardeners and people。
20 There is a delicious garden！I never saw such a garden—large and shady，full of box-bordered paths，and lined with long grape-covered arbors with seats under them。
21 There were greenhouses，too，but they are all broken now。
22 There was some legal trouble，I believe，something about the heirs and co-heirsanyhow，the place has been empty for years。
23 That spoils my ghostliness，I am afraid，but I don’t care—there is something strange about the house—I can feel it。
24 I even said so to John one moonlight evening but he said what I felt wasa draught，and shut the window。
congenial：adj。适宜的
sly：adj。偷偷摸摸的
opposition：n。反对
let it alone：别管它
box-bordered paths：镶着方块的小径
arbor：n。凉亭
heir：n。继承人
co-heir：n。共同继承人
spoil：vt。损坏
ghostliness：n。对幽灵的遐想
draught：n。气流25I get unreasonably angry with John sometimes I’m sure I never used to beso sensitive。I think it is due to this nervous condition。
26 But John says if I feel so，I shall neglect proper self-controlso I take pains to controlmyself—before him，at least，and that makes me very tired。
27 I don’t like our room a bit。I wanted one downstairs that opened on the piazza and had roses all over the window，and such pretty old-fashioned chintz hangings！But John would not hear of it。
28 He said there was only one window and not room for two beds，and no nearroom for him if he took another。
29 He is very careful and loving，and hardly lets me stir without special direction。
30 I have a schedule prescription for each hour in the dayhe takes all care from me，and so I feel basely ungrateful not to value it more。
31 He said we came here solely on my account，that I was to have perfect rest and all the air I could get。“Your exercise depends on your strength，my dear，”said he，“and your food somewhat on your appetitebut air you can absorb all the time。”So we took the nursery at the top of the house。
due to：由于……
piazza：n。走廊
chintz：n。印花棉布
stir：vi。走动
direction：n。指示
prescription：n。处方
on one’s account：由于……的缘故
appetite：n。食欲
nursery：n。托儿所32It is a big，airy room，the whole floor nearly，with windows that look all ways，and air and sunshine galore。It was nursery first and then playroom and gymnasium，I should judgefor the windows are barred for little children，and there are rings and things in the walls。
评注：叙述者所住的房间是一个封闭与隔绝的空间。房间里被装上栅栏的窗户和固定在地板上的床，都会使人想起监狱或精神病院里用于禁锢囚犯或病人的工具。
33 The paint and paper look as if a boys’school had used it。It is stripped off—the paper—in great patches all around the head of my bed，about as far as I can reach，and in a great place on the other side of the room low down。I never saw a worse paper in my life。
34 One of those sprawling flamboyant patterns committing every artistic sin。
35 It is dull enough to confuse the eye in following，pronounced enough to constantly irritate and provoke study，and when youfollow the lame uncertain curves for a little distance they suddenly commit suicide—plunge at outrageous angles，destroy themselves in unheard of contradictions。
galore：adv。丰富地
sprawling：adj。杂乱无章向外延伸的
flamboyant：adj。华丽的
artistic：adj。艺术的
sin：n。不合情理之事
confuse：vt。迷惑
pronounced：adj。明显的，醒目的
irritate：v。刺激
provoke：vt。唤起，引起
lame：adj。不完全的
curve：n。曲线，弯曲
plunge：vi。陷入
outrageous：adj。不寻常的，不依惯例的
contradiction：n。矛盾36The color is repellent，almost revoltinga smouldering unclean yellow，strangely faded by the slow-turning sunlight。
37 It is a dull yet lurid orange in some places，a sickly sulphur tint in others。
评注：墙纸在小说情节中起着重要作用。它以不同的形态表现了女主人公的思想状况。
38 No wonder the children hated it！I should hate it myself if I had to livein this room long。
39 There comes John，and I must put this away—he hates to have me write a word。
……
40 We have been here two weeks，and I haven’t felt like writing before，since that first day。
41 I am sitting by the window now，up in this atrocious nursery，and thereis nothing to hinder my writing as much as I please，save lack of strength。
评注：写作是叙述者排解内心压抑的一种方式，但是她的丈夫却禁止她写作。十九世纪美国社会对女性作家持强烈的怀疑态度，女作家被看作是怪物。这充分体现了父权制社会对女性话语权的剥夺和压制。
42 John is away all day，and even some nights when his cases are serious。
43 I am glad my case is not serious！
44 But these nervous troubles are dreadfully depressing。
repellent：adj。讨人嫌的
revolting：adj。令人厌恶的
smouldering：adj。压抑的
lurid：adj。可怕的
sulphur：n。硫磺
tint：n。色彩
atrocious：adj。糟糕的
hinder：v。阻碍
dreadfully：adv。可怕地
depressing：adj。压抑的45John does not know how much I really suffer。He knows there is no reasonto suffer，and that satisfies him。
46 Of course it is only nervousness。It does weigh on me so not to do my duty in any way！
47 I meant to be such a help to John，such a real rest and comfort，and here I am a comparative burden already！
48 Nobody would believe what an effort it is to do what little I am able—to dress and entertain，and order things。
49 It is fortunate Mary is so good with the baby。Such a dear baby！
50 And yet I cannot be with him，it makes me so nervous。
51 I suppose John never was nervous in his life。He laughs at me so aboutthis wall-paper！
52 At first he meant to repaper the room，but afterwards he said that I was letting it get the better of me，and that nothing was worse for a nervous patient than to give way to such fancies。
53 He said that after the wall-paper was changed it would be the heavy bedstead，and then the barred windows，and then that gate at the head of the stairs，andso on。
54 “You know the place is doing you good，”he said，“and really，dear，I don’t care to renovate the house just for a three months’rental。”
55 “Then do let us go downstairs，”I said，“there are such pretty rooms there。”
56 Then he took me in his arms and called me a blessed little goose，and saidhe would go down to the cellar，if I wished，and have it whitewashed into the bargain。
57 But he is right enough about the beds and windows and things。
58 It is an airy and comfortable room as any one need wish，and，of course，I would not be so silly as to make him uncomfortable just for a whim。
59 I’m really getting quite fond of the big room，all but that horrid paper。
60 Out of one window I can see the garden，those mysterious deepshaded arbors，the riotous old-fashioned flowers，and bushes and gnarly trees。
61 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 runsdown there fromthe house。I always fancy I see people walking in these numerous paths and arbors，but John has cautioned me not to give way to fancy in the least。He says that with my imaginative power and habit of story-making，a nervous weakness like mine is sure to lead to all manner of excited fancies，and that I ought to use mywill and good sense to check the tendency。So I try。
62 I think sometimes that if I were only well enough to write a little it would relieve the press of ideas and rest me。
63 But I find I get pretty tired when I try。
64 It is so discouraging not to have any advice and companionship about my work。When I get really well，John says we will ask Cousin Henry and Julia down fora long visitbut he says he would as soon put fireworks in my pillow-case as to let me have those stimulating people about now。
65 I wish I could get well faster。
66 But I must not think about that。This paper looks to me as if it knew what a vicious influence it had！
renovate：v。翻新
whim：n。怪念头
riotous：adj。狂欢的
gnarly：adj。多瘤的
wharf：n。码头
estate：n。房产
caution：vt。警告
good sense：理性
companionship：n。友谊
put fireworks in my pillow-case：火上浇油
stimulating：adj。刺激的
vicious：adj。不道德的67There is a recurrent spot where the pattern lolls like a broken neck and two bulbous eyes stare at you upside down。
68 I get positively angry with the impertinence of it and theeverlastingness。Up and down and sideways they crawl，and those absurd，unblinking eyes are everywhere。There is one place where two breadths didn’t match，and the eyes go all up and down the line，one a little higher than the other。
69 I never saw so much expression in an inanimate thing before，and we all knowhow much expression they have！I used to lie awake as a child and get more entertainment and terror out of blank walls and plain furniture than most children could find in a toy-store。
70 I remember what a kindly wink the knobs of our big，old bureau used to have，and there was one chair that always seemed like a strong friend。
71 I used to feel that if any of the other things looked too fierce I could always hop into that chair and be safe。
72 The furniture in this room is no worse than inharmonious，however，for wehad to bring it all from downstairs。I suppose when this was used as a playroom they had to take the nursery things out，and no wonder！I never saw such ravages as the children have made here。
recurrent：adj。反复出现的
loll：v。懒洋洋地垂着
impertinence：n。无礼
everlastingness：n。没完没了
absurd：adj。荒谬的
breadth：n。宽幅，在文中是“墙纸的宽度”的意思
inanimate：adj。无生命的
wink：n。眼色
bureau：n。衣柜
fierce：adj。凶猛的
hop：v。单脚跳
no worse than：并不……
inharmonious：adj。不和谐的
ravage：n。破坏73The wall-paper，as I said before，is torn off in spots，and it sticks closer than a brother—they must have had perseverance as well ashatred。
74 Then the floor is scratched and gouged andsplintered，the plaster itselfisdug out here and there，and this great heavy bed which is all we found in the room，looks as if it had been through the wars。
75 But I don’t mind it a bit—only the paper。
76 There comes John’s sister。Such a dear girl as she is，and so careful ofme！I must not let her find me writing。
77 She is a perfect and enthusiastic housekeeper，and hopes for no better profession。I verily believe she thinks it is the writing which made me sick！
78 But I can write when she is out，and see her a long way off from thesewindows。
79 There is one that commands the road，a lovely shaded winding road，and onethat just looks off over the country。A lovely country，too，full of great elmsand velvet meadows。
80 This wall-paper has a kind of sub-pattern in a differentshade，a particularly irritating one，for you can only see it in certain lights，and not clearly then。
stick：v。粘
perseverance：n。坚定不移
scratch：vt。划，刮
gouge：vt。挖
splinter：v。裂成碎片
verily：adv。真正地
elm：n。榆树
velvet：adj。天鹅绒般的
meadow：n。草地
sub-pattern：n。潜在的图案，隐藏的图案81But in the places where it isn’t faded and where the sun is just so—I cansee a strange，provoking，formless sort of figure，that seems to skulk about behind that silly and conspicuous front design。
82 There’s sister on the stairs！
……
83 Well，the Fourth of July is over！The people are all gone and I am tired out。John thought it might do me good to see a little company，so we just had mother and Nellie and the children down for a week。
84 Of course I didn’t do a thing。Jennie sees to everything now。
85 But it tired me all the same。
86 John says if I don’t pick up faster he shall send me to Weir Mitchell inthe fall。
87 But I don’t want to go there at all。I had a friend who was in his hands once，and she says he is just like John and my brother，only more so！
88 Besides，it is such an undertaking to go so far。
89 I don’t feel as if it was worth while to turn my hand over for anything，and I’m getting dreadfully fretful and querulous。
skulk：vi。偷偷隐躲
conspicuous：adj。明显的
see to：照料
pick up：恢复（健康，精力）
only more so：甚至有过之而无不及
undertaking：n。负担
fretful：adj。烦躁的，焦躁的
querulous：adj。发牢骚的90I cry at nothing，and cry most of the time。
91 Of course I don’t when John is here，or anybody else，but when I am alone。
92 And I am alone a good deal just now。John is kept in town very often by serious cases，and Jennie is good and lets me alone when I want her to。
93 So I walk a little in the garden or down that lovely lane，sit on the porch under the roses，and lie down up here a good deal。
94 I’m getting really fond of the room in spite of the wall-paper。Perhapsbecause of the wall-paper。
95 It dwells in my mind so！
96 I lie here on this great immovable bed—it is nailed down，I believe—and follow that pattern about by the hour。It is as good as gymnastics，I assure you。I start，we’ll say，at the bottom，down in the corner over there where it has not been touched，and I determine for the thousandth time that I will follow thatpointless pattern to some sort of a conclusion。
97 I know a little of the principle of design，and I know this thing was not arranged on any laws of radiation，or alternation，or repetition，or symmetry，oranything else that I ever heard of。
98 It is repeated，of course，by the breadths，but not otherwise。
99 Looked at in one way each breadth stands alone，the bloated curves and flourishes—a kind of“debased Romanesque”with delirium tremens—go waddling upand down in isolated columns of fatuity。
100 But，on the other hand，they connect diagonally，and the sprawling outlinesrun off in great slanting waves of optic horror，like a lot of wallowing seaweeds in full chase。
dwell：vi。反复考虑
gymnastics：n。体操
principle：n。原理
radiation：n。放射
alternation：n。交替
symmetry：n。对称，匀称
bloated：adj。浮肿的
flourish：n。流畅的曲线
debased Romanesque：
低劣罗马式花纹
delirium tremens：
〈医〉震颤性谵妄
waddle：vi。摇摇晃晃
fatuity：n。愚蠢
diagonally：adv。对角地，倾斜地
slanting：adj。倾斜的
optic：adj。视觉的
chase：n。追赶101 The whole thing goes horizontally，too，at least itseems so，and Iexhaust myself in trying to distinguish the order of its going in that direction。
102 They have used a horizontal breadth for a frieze，and that adds wonderfully to the confusion。
103 There is one end of the room where it is almost intact，and there，when the crosslights fade and the low sun shines directly upon it，I can almost fancy radiation after all—the interminable grotesques seem to form around a common centre and rush off in headlong plunges of equal distraction。
评注：月光和日光这两种关联的意象在小说中多次被提到，如第103段和第128段。日光在小说中象征着父权。白天里的世界是男性化的世界。男性通过参与社会工作来实现自身的价值。
104 It makes me tired to follow it。I will take a nap I guess。
……
105 I don’t know why I should write this。
106 I don’t want to。
107 I don’t feel able。
108 And I know John would think it absurd。But I must say what I feel and think in some way—it is such a relief！
109 But the effort is getting to be greater than the relief。
110 Half the time now I am awfully lazy，and lie down ever so much。
111 John says I mustn’t lose my strength，and has me take cod liver oil andlots of tonics and things，to say nothing of ale and wine and rare meat。
horizontally：adv。地平地
frieze：n。[建]中楣
add to：增加
wonderfully：adv。惊人地
confusion：n。混乱
intact：adj。完整无缺的
crosslight：n。交叉的光线
interminable：adj。冗长的
grotesque：n。奇形怪状的图案
plunge：n。跳
distraction：n。疯狂
lose one’s strength：萎靡不振
to say nothing of：更不用说……
ale：n。淡色啤酒
rare：adj。嫩的112 Dear John！He loves me very dearly，and hates to have me sick。I tried to have a real earnest reasonable talk with him the other day，and tell him how I wish he would let me go and make a visit to Cousin Henry and Julia。
113 But he said I wasn’t able to go，nor able to stand it after I got thereand I did not make out a very good case for myself，for I was crying before I had finished。
114 It is getting to be a great effort for me to think straight。Just this nervous weakness I suppose。
115 And dear John gathered me up in his arms，and just carried me upstairs and laid me on the bed，and sat by me and read to me till it tired my head。
116 He said I was his darling and his comfort and all he had，and that I must take care of myself for his sake，and keep well。
117 He says no one but myself can help me out of it，that I must use mywill and self-control and not let any silly fancies run away with me。
118 There’s one comfort，the baby is well and happy，and does not haveto occupy this nursery with the horrid wall-paper。
119 If we had not used it，that blessed child would have！What a fortunate escape！Why，I wouldn’t have a child of mine，an impressionable little thing，livein such a room for worlds。
120 I never thought of it before，but it is lucky that John kept me here after all，I can stand it so much easier than a baby，you see。
121 Of course I never mention it to them any more—I am too wise—but I keep watch of it all the same。
122 There are things in that paper that nobody knows but me，or ever will。
123 Behind that outside pattern the dim shapes get clearer every day。
124 It is always the same shape，only very numerous。
125 And it is like a woman stooping down and creeping about behind that pattern。I don’t like it a bit。I wonder—I begin to think—I wish John would take me away from here！
……
126 It is so hard to talk with John about my case，because he is so wise，and because he loves me so。
127 But I tried it last night。
128 It was moonlight。The moon shines in all around just as the sun does。
评注：月光则恰恰相反地传递女性化含义，如128段。白天的工作停止，女性在两性关系中的劣势稍稍得到平衡，而夜晚也通常是人们休息放松的时间，父权的控制相对地松懈下来，女性意识得以抬头。女主人公几次向丈夫提出要求，反对他的安排，以及后来的反抗举动都发生在晚上。
129 I hate to see it sometimes，it creeps so slowly，and always comes in by one window or another。
130 John was asleep and I hated to waken him，so I kept still and watched the moonlight on that undulating wall-paper till I felt creepy。
131 The faint figure behind seemed to shake the pattern，just as if shewanted to get out。
132 I got up softly and went to feel and see if the paper did move，andwhen I came back John was awake。
133 “What is it，little girl？”he said。“Don’t go walking about like that—you’ll get cold。”
134 I thought it was a good time to talk，so I told him that I really was not gaining here，and that I wished he would take me away。
135 “Why darling！”said he，“our lease will be up inthree weeks，and I can’t see how to leave before。”
136 “The repairs are not done at home，and I cannot possibly leave town just now。Of course if you were in any danger，I could and would，but you really are better，dear，whether you can see it or not。I am a doctor，dear，and I know。Youare gaining flesh and color，your appetite is better，I feel really much easierabout you。”
137 “I don’t weigh a bit more，”said I，“nor as muchand my appetite may be better in the evening when you are here，but it is worse in the morning when youare away！”
138 “Bless her little heart！”said he with a big hug，“she shall be as sickasshe pleases！But now let’s improve the shining hours by going to sleep，and talk about it in the morning！”
139 “And you won’t go away？”I asked gloomily。
140 “Why，how can I，dear？It is only three weeks more and then we will take a nice little trip of a few days while Jennie is getting the house ready。”
141 “Really dear you are better！”
142 “Better in body perhaps—”I began，and stopped short，for he satup straight and looked at me with such a stern，reproachful look that I could not say another word。
143 “My darling，”said he，“I beg of you，for my sake and for our child’ssake，as well as for your own，that you will never for one instant let that idea enter your mind！There is nothing so dangerous，so fascinating，to a temperament like yours。It is a false and foolish fancy。Can you not trust me as a physicianwhen I tell you so？”
144 So of course I said no more on that score，and we went to sleep beforelong。He thought I was asleep first，but I wasn’t，and lay there for hours tryingto decide whether that front pattern and the back pattern really did move together or separately。
评注：叙述者被丈夫称为“小傻瓜”、“小女孩”，体现了男性对女性的藐视。他们把女人看成没有独立的思想和行为能力，像婴儿、病人一样。
……
145 On a pattern like this，by daylight，there is a lack of sequence，a defiance of law，that is a constant irritant to a normal mind。
146 The color is hideous enough，and unreliable enough，and infuriating enough，but the pattern is torturing。
think straight：正常地想问题
stoop：vi。弯下
creep：vi。爬
undulate：v。波动，起伏
creepy：adj。感到毛骨悚然的
lease：n。租约
temperament：n。性格
on that score：在那一点上
sequence：n。顺序
defiance：n。蔑视，反抗
constant：adj。持续的
irritant：n。刺激物
hideous：adj。丑恶的
unreliable：adj。不可靠的
infuriating：adj。令人发怒的
torturing：adj。使痛苦的147 You think you have mastered it，but just as you get well underway in following，it turns a back somersault and there you are。It slaps you in the face，knocks you down，and tramples upon you。It is like a bad dream。
148 The outside pattern is a florid arabesque，reminding one of a fungus。If you can imagine a toadstool in joints，an interminable string of toadstools，budding and sprouting in endless convolutions—why，that is something like it。
149 That is，sometimes！
150 There is one marked peculiarity about this paper，a thing nobody seems to notice but myself，and that is that it changes as the light changes。
somersault：n。翻筋斗
florid：adj。华丽的
arabesque：n。阿拉伯式图饰
fungus：n。菌类
toadstool：n。[地]伞菌，毒菌
in joints：一节一节连接起来
budding：adj。发芽的
sprouting：adj。发芽的
convolution：n。回旋151 When the sun shoots in through the east window—I always watch for thatfirst long，straight ray—it changes so quickly that I never can quite believe it。
152 That is why I watch it always。
153 By moonlight—the moon shines in all night when there is a moon—I wouldn’t know it was the same paper。
154 At night in any kind of light，in twilight，candlelight，lamplight，andworst of all by moonlight，it becomes bars！The outside pattern I mean，and the woman behind it is as plain as can be。
155 I didn’t realize for a long time what the thing was that showed behind，that dim sub-pattern，but now I am quite sure it is a woman。
156 By daylight she is subdued，quiet。I fancy it is the pattern that keepsher so still。It is so puzzling。It keeps me quiet by the hour。
157 I lie down ever so much now。John says it is good for me，and to sleep all I can。
158 Indeed he started the habit by making me lie down for an hour aftereach meal。
159 It is a very bad habit I am convinced，for you see I don’t sleep。
160 And that cultivates deceit，for I don’t tell them I’m awake—Oh no！
161 The fact is I am getting a little afraid of John。
162 He seems very queer sometimes，and even Jennie has an inexplicable look。
163 It strikes me occasionally，just as a scientific hypothesis—that perhaps it is the paper！
164 I have watched John when he did not know I was looking，and come into theroom suddenly on the most innocent excuses，and I’ve caught him several times looking at the paper！
165 And Jennie too。I caught Jennie with her hand on it once。
166 She didn’t know I was in the room，and when I asked her in a quiet，a veryquiet voice，with the most restrained manner possible，what she was doing with the paper—she turned around as if she had been caught stealing，and looked quite angry—asked me why I should frighten her so！
167 Then she said that the paper stained everything it touched，that she had found yellow smudges on all my clothes and John’s，and she wished we would be more careful！
168 Did not that sound innocent？But I know she was studying that pattern，and I am determined that nobody shall find it out but myself！
……
169 Life is very much more exciting now than it used to be。You see I have something more to expect，to look forward to，to watch。I really do eat better，andam more quiet than I was。
170 John is so pleased to see me improve！He laughed a little the otherday，and said I seemed to be flourishing in spite of my wall-paper。
171 I turned it off with a laugh。I had no intention of telling him it wasbecause of the wall-paper—he would make fun of me。He might even want to take me away。
172 I don’t want to leave now until I have found it out。There is a week more，and I think that will be enough。
……
173 I’m feeling ever so much better！I don’t sleep much at night，forit isso interesting to watch developmentsbut I sleep a good deal in the daytime。
174 In the daytime it is tiresome and perplexing。
175 There are always new shoots on the fungus，and new shades of yellow allover it。I cannot keep count of them，though I have tried conscientiously。
cultivate：vt。养成
deceit：n。欺骗
hypothesis：n。假设
stain：v。污染，弄脏
smudge：n。污点，污迹
perplexing：adj。令人困惑的
shoot：n。（芽）长出
conscientiously：adv。认真地176 It is the strangest yellow，that wall-paper！It makes me think of all the yellow things I ever saw—not beautiful ones like buttercups，but old foul，bad yellow things。
177 But there is something else about that paper—the smell！I noticed it themoment we came into the room，but with so much air and sun it was not bad。Now we have had a week of fog and rain，and whether the windows are open or not，thesmell is here。
178 It creeps all over the house。
179 I find it hovering in the dining-room，skulking inthe parlor，hiding in the hall，lying in wait for me on the stairs。
180 It gets into my hair。
181 Even when I go to ride，if I turn my head suddenly and surprise it—there is that smell！
182 Such a peculiar odor，too！I have spent hours in trying to analyze it，to find what it smelled like。
183 It is not bad—at first，and very gentle，but quite the subtlest，mostenduring odor I ever met。
184 In this damp weather it is awful，I wake up in the night and find it hanging over me。
185 It used to disturb me at first。I thought seriously of burning the house—to reach the smell。
186 But now I am used to it。The only thing I can think of that it is like is the color of the paper！A yellow smell。
187 There is a very funny mark on this wall，low down，near the mopboard。Astreak that runs round the room。It goes behind every piece of furniture，except the bed，a long，straight，even smooth，as if it had been rubbed over and over。
buttercup：n。[植]毛茛科
foul：adj。邪恶的
creep：vi。蔓延
hover：v。盘旋
parlor：n。客厅
enduring：adj。持久的
mopboard：n。踢脚板188 I wonder how it was done and who did it，and what they did it for。Round and round and round—round and round and round—it makes me dizzy！
……
189 I really have discovered something at last。
190 Through watching so much at night，when it changes so，I have finally found out。The front pattern does move—and no wonder！The woman behind shakes it！
191 Sometimes I think there are a great many women behind，and sometimes only one，and she crawls around fast，and her crawling shakes it all over。
192 Then in the very bright spots she keeps still，and in the very shady spots she just takes hold of the bars and shakes them hard。
193 And she is all the time trying to climb through。But nobody could climbthrough that pattern—it strangles soI think that is why it hasso many heads。
194 They get through，and then the pattern strangles them off and turnsthem upside down，and makes their eyes white！
195 If those heads were covered or taken off it would not be half so bad。
评注：叙述者被限制在狭窄的空间中，每日面对的墙纸成了她关注和解读的对象，她试图了解墙纸背后的秘密，经过仔细观察，她发现了在图案背后有一个被囚禁的女人，这个女人似乎是她的替身，于是她开始解救这个女人。
……
196 I think that woman gets out in the daytime！
197 And I’ll tell you why—privately—I’ve seen her！
198 I can see her out of every one of my windows！
199 It is the same woman，I know，for she is always creeping，and most women do not creep by daylight。I see her in that long shaded lane，creeping up and down。I see her in those dark grape arbors，creeping all around the garden。
200 I see her on that long road under the trees，creeping along，and when a carriage comes she hides under the blackberry vines。
201 I don’t blame her a bit。It must be very humiliating to be caught creeping by daylight！
202 I always lock the door when I creep by daylight。I can’t do it at night，for I know John would suspect something at once。
203 And John is so queer now，that I don’t want to irritate him。I wish he would take another room！Besides，I don’t want anybody to get that woman out at night but myself。
204 I often wonder if I could see her out of all the windows atonce。
205 But，turn as fast as I can，I can only see out of one at one time。
206 And though I always see her，she may be able to creep faster thanI can turn！
……
207 I have watched her sometimes away off in the open country，creeping as fast as a cloud shadow in a high wind。
208 If only that top pattern could be gotten off from the underone！I mean to try it，little by little。
209 I have found out another funny thing，but I shan’t tell itthis time！It does not do to trust people too much。
210 There are only two more days to get this paper off，and I believe Johnis beginning to notice。I don’t like the look in his eyes。
211 And I heard him ask Jennie a lot of professional questions about me。She had a very good report to give。
212 She said I slept a good deal in the daytime。
213 John knows I don’t sleep very well at night，for all I’m so quiet！
214 He asked me all sorts of questions，too，and pretended to be very loving and kind。
215 As if I couldn’t see through him！
评注：具有讽刺意味的是，叙述者的丈夫实施的治疗方案并不奏效。她开始看透“他”，并发现他的关怀是假象。“疯癫”使叙述者更为清醒地看到她被束缚的命运。她决定帮助被困在墙纸里的女人走出墙纸，摆脱她被束缚的命运。
216 Still，I don’t wonder he acts so，sleeping under this paper for three months。
217 It only interests me，but I feel sure John and Jennie are secretly affected by it。
……
218 Hurrah！This is the last day，but it is enough。John to stay in town over night，and won’t be out until this evening。
219 Jennie wanted to sleep with me—the sly thing！But I told her I should undoubtedly rest better for a night all alone。
220 That was clever，for really I wasn’t alone a bit！As soon as it was moonlight and that poor thing began to crawl and shake the pattern，I got up and ran to help her。
221 I pulled and she shook，I shook and she pulled，and before morning we had peeled off yards of that paper。
222 A strip about as high as my head and half around the room。
223 And then when the sun came and that awful pattern began to laugh atme，I declared I would finish it to-day！
224 We go away to-morrow，and they are moving all my furniture down againto leave things as they were before。
225 Jennie looked at the wall in amazement，but I told her merrily thatI did it out of pure spite at the vicious thing。
226 She laughed and said she wouldn’t mind doing it herself，but I must not get tired。
227 How she betrayed herself that time！
228 But I am here，and no person touches this paper but me—not alive！
229 She tried to get me out of the room—it was too patent！But I said it was so quiet and empty and clean now that I believed I would lie down again and sleep all I couldand not to wake me even for dinner—I would call when I woke。
230 So now she is gone，and the servants are gone，and the things are gone，and there is nothing left but that great bedstead nailed down，with the canvas mattress we found on it。
231 We shall sleep downstairs to-night，and take the boat home to-morrow。
232 I quite enjoy the room，now it is bare again。
233 How those children did tear about here！
234 This bedstead is fairly gnawed！
235 But I must get to work。
236 I have locked the door and thrown the key down into the front path。
237 I don’t want to go out，and I don’t want to have anybody come in，tillJohn comes。
238 I want to astonish him。
239 I’ve got a rope up here that even Jennie did not find。If that woman does get out，and tries to get away，I can tie her！
240 But I forgot I could not reach far without anything to stand on！
241 This bed will not move！
242 I tried to lift and push it until I was lame，and then I got so angry I bit off a little piece at one corner—but it hurt my teeth。
243 Then I peeled off all the paper I could reach standing on the floor。Itsticks horribly and the pattern just enjoys it！All those strangled heads and bulbous eyes and waddling fungus growths just shriek with derision！
strangle：v。扼死
blame：vt。责备
for all：尽管
peel：v。剥
patent：adj。显著的
gnaw：v。咬
lame：adj。软弱无力的
shriek：v。尖声喊叫
derision：n。嘲笑244 I am getting angry enough to do something desperate。To jump out ofthe window would be admirable exercise，but the bars are too strong even to try。
245 Besides I wouldn’t do it。Of course not。I know well enough that astep like that is improper and might be misconstrued。
246 I don’t like to look out of the windows even—there are so many ofthose creeping women，and they creep so fast。
247 I wonder if they all come out of that wall-paper as I did？
248 But I am securely fastened now by my well-hidden rope—you don’t get me out in the road there！
249 I suppose I shall have to get back behind the pattern when it comesnight，and that is hard！
250 It is so pleasant to be out in this great room and creep around as I please！
251 I don’t want to go outside。I won’t，even if Jennie asks me to。
252 For outside you have to creep on the ground，and everything is green instead of yellow。
253 But here I can creep smudge on the floor，and my shoulder just fits in that long smudge around the wall，so I cannot lose my way。
254 Why there’s John at the door！
255 It is no use，young man，you can’t open it！
256 How he does call and pound！
257 Now he’s crying for an axe。
258 It would be a shame to break down that beautiful door！
259 “John dear！”said I in the gentlest voice，“the key is down by the front steps，under a plantain leaf！”
260 That silenced him for a few moments。
261 Then he said—very quietly indeed，“Open the door，my darling！”
262 “I can’t，”said I。“The key is down by the front door under a plantain leaf！”
263 And then I said it again，several times，very gently and slowly，and said it so often that he had to go and see，and he got it of course，and came in。He stopped short by the door。
264 “What is the matter？”he cried。“For God’s sake，what are you doing！”
265 I kept on creeping just the same，but I looked at him over my shoulder。
266 “I’ve got out at last，”said I，“in spite of you and Jane。And I’ve pulled off most of the paper，so you can’t put me back！”
267 Now why should that man have fainted？But he did，and right across my path by the wall，so that I had to creep over him every time！
评注：从表面上看，故事结尾处叙述者似乎是彻底疯了，但实际上她却用自己独特的疯癫方式打败了象征着男性话语权的丈夫。
misconstrue：vt。误解
shame：n。可惜
plantain：n。[植]车前草
faint：vi。昏倒
Comprehension Exercises
1.What is the significance of the fact that the narrator’s room in“The Yellow Wallpaper”was once a nursery？
2.What happened at the end of the story？What happened to John？
3.How does setting affect the narrator’s perspective in the story？
夏洛特·珀尔金斯·吉尔曼（1860—1935）：著名的美国小说家，短篇小说家和诗人。同时，她又是一位女性主义者，她曾自办杂志《先驱者》并担任主编。她积极地投身于社会改良运动，尤其是为女性争取权利。她所取得的成就对于当时的女性来说是不同寻常的，她非正统的观点和生活方式使她成为后来的女性主义者效仿的榜样。她的半自传体短篇小说《黄色糊墙纸》是吉尔曼最著名的作品，也是公认的美国女性主义文学作品之一。故事描述了一位19世纪的妇女逐渐走向疯狂的过程。小说体现了一个文学母体，即：女性的疯癫实质上反映了父权制社会对她们的束缚，疯癫也是她们反抗的一种方式。