What is a central idea?

Question

What is a central Idea and what is the central idea in "The Yellow Wall-Paper" by Charlotte Perkins Gilman?

Thank you for your time!

Answer 1

The central idea, theme or gist, is the basic point that the author wishes to make.  In order for the writing not to become a sermon or browbeating, the author must embroider the theme with tangential thoughts and parallels to try and make it interesting.

I'd never heard of Mrs Gilman before I just Googled her. Her work appears to be the  personal narrative of a very literate lady. Such theme as may be attributed to The Yellow Wallpaper has been injected by Feminists who, as is their wont, portray it as yet more evidence of man's inhumanity to woman.