What is the theme of the yellow wallpaper?

The theme of "The Yellow Wallpaper" by Charlotte Perkins Gilman is the oppression of women in patriarchal society. The story highlights the societal norms that restrict women from expressing themselves creatively, from making significant decisions in their own lives, and from experiencing full autonomy. The narrator of the story is a woman who is suffering from depression and has been prescribed bed rest by her physician husband. As she is confined to her bedroom, she becomes increasingly obsessed with the yellow wallpaper in the room, which she perceives as a symbol of her own entrapment. The story reflects the patriarchal norms of the time and how they limited women's personal freedom, intellectual pursuits, and autonomy. It sheds light on the importance of women's empowerment and the need for societal changes that prioritize gender equality.