By using the first-person point of view, Gilman successfully places us, the readers, inside the protagonist's narrator's head, allowing us to sympathize and empathize with her plight. The narrator provides a personal account of her experiences, thoughts, feelings, and perceptions using deep emotions to create a relatable personal experience. The use of first-person narrative also creates a connection that separates the reader from secondary characters in the story. Gilman's personal experience forms the basis for the narrative, and the first-person point of view provides unique insight into the character's emotional and psychological state. The following quote demonstrates this: "And that cultivates deceit, for I don't tell him I'm awake-oh-no! The fact is, I am getting a little afraid of John. He seems very queer sometimes, and even Jennie has an inexplicable look" (Gilman 8).

Question 2:

The story portrays the entrapment of not only the protagonist but all women in the 19th century by cultural and societal norms. Gilman employs symbolism effectively to represent the societal cage in which women are trapped, represented by the protagonist's entrapment behind the yellow wallpaper. The yellow wallpaper represents her depression, leading to her eventual madness, which only a realization of her situation can cure. The protagonist realizes that she must escape the wallpaper to overcome her madness and be free, just as all women must break free from cultural and societal norms to realize their true potential. The metaphor of looking out the window represents the protagonist's realization that others are in a similar state of entrapment, leading to an opportunity for solidarity. Today, many social and cultural norms still restrict free actions, and thus this story serves as a reminder of the importance of resisting and breaking free from oppressive traditions.