Character Mandala

“Mandala” is a Sanskrit word meaning center or circle. A mandala shows that the center of any circle is tied to its circumference and the circumference is determined by the center. As such, the mandala represents wholeness. Therefore, your character mandala should represent the whole character, not just one aspect.

1. Choose a character from “The Yellow Wallpaper” and consider what characteristics he/she displayed and what happened to him/her. Then, look at the Color Symbolism chart. Circle or highlight any of the characteristics that fit the character you have chosen. Make sure you have chosen characteristics from at least three different colors.

2. Next, write the character’s name at the bottom of the mandala.3. Decide which of the characteristics you have chosen was most

important in this character. Keeping that in mind, begin to fill in the mandala with the colors that symbolize the characteristics you chose. If the predominant characteristic of a character was confidence, then you may want to use more blue in your mandala or use blue mainly at the center of the graphic.

4. Once your mandala is completed, write a brief explanation about your character.

5. In your explanation, you should include the following: Introduce the character whom you represented in the graphic.

Explain what each color on your mandala represents and the significance of its placement.

For example, Black is for fear because Ishmael Beah feared for his life on many occasions in A Long Way Gone. He remembers being captured by the rebels and the fear they instilled in him when he said, “I have never been so afraid to go anywhere in

Adapted from Chris Bezy

my life as I was that day…Tears had begun to form in my eyes, but I struggled to hid them and gripped my gun for comfort” (p.116).

Color Symbolism ChartColors are often used symbolically by writers. If you study the list below, you will

see that the same color can symbolize both positives and negatives.

REDExcitement, energy, passion, speed, strength, power, heat,

love, aggression, danger, fire, blood, war, violence

YELLOWJoy, happiness, optimism, idealism, imagination, hope,

sunshine, gold, philosophy, dishonesty, cowardice, betrayal, jealousy, covetousness, deceit, illness, hazard

BLUEPeace, tranquility, calm, stability, harmony, unity, trust, truth, confidence, conservatism, security, cleanliness, order, loyalty,

cold, technology, depression

ORANGEEnergy, balance, warmth, enthusiasm, vibrancy, expansion,

flamboyance, demanding of attention

GREENNature, environment, healthy, good luck, renewal, youth,

vigor, spring, generosity, jealousy, inexperience, envy

PURPLERoyalty, spirituality, nobility, ceremony, mysterious,

transformation, wisdom, enlightenment, cruelty, arrogance, mourning

GRAYSecurity, reliability, intelligence, modesty, dignity, maturity,

solid, conservative, practical, old age, sadness, boring

BROWNEarth, hearth, home, outdoors, reliability, comfort, endurance,

stability, simplicity

Adapted from Chris Bezy

WHITEReverence, purity, simplicity, cleanliness, peace, humility,

precision, innocence, youth, birth, winter, snow, good marriage (Western cultures), death (Eastern cultures), cold

BLACKPower, sophistication, formality, elegance, wealth, mystery,

fear, evil, anonymity, unhappiness, depth, style, evil, sadness, remorse, anger, underground, mourning, death (Western

cultures)

Adapted from Chris Bezy