symbolism

I think Jane symbolized addiction in the yellow wallpaper .Addiction is the state of being enslaved to a habit or practice or to do something with psychology or physically habit-forming.   She was addicted to the wallpaper. Thats what I think truly drew her insane. She would rub against the wall so much the wall would decay and she would smell like the wallpaper.If you think about it the wall was probably made of wood or cement, imagine how many times she would have to rub up against it for it to slowly break down. She even had to make room behind her bed since it was nailed to the wall she  had to make room to get behind the bed.  Also the paint of the paper would smear on her clothes in the wallpaper.
http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/addiction?s=t

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Physical_dependence