Gilbert and Gubar argue that 19th-century female writers were trapped between two opposing images of femininity. The 'Angel in the House' represented the societal ideal of a docile, submissive, and domestic woman, while the 'Madwoman in the Attic' symbolized the repressed anger, creativity, and rebellion simmering beneath the surface. Authors often felt pressured to conform to the angelic ideal, fearing social ostracism if they embraced their full creative potential. This conflict created a profound sense of anxiety and duality in their writing.

Writing, for these women, became an act of defiance against patriarchal limitations. By claiming their voices and expressing their experiences, they challenged societal norms and asserted their intellectual and artistic autonomy. Gilbert and Gubar demonstrate how authors like Charlotte Brontë in 'Jane Eyre' and Emily Brontë in 'Wuthering Heights' subverted traditional literary conventions to explore themes of female desire, ambition, and self-discovery. Through their writing, they carved out a space for female perspectives and experiences within a male-dominated literary tradition.

The Madwoman in the Attic emphasizes the significance of recognizing and analyzing a distinctly female literary tradition. The authors argue that women writers, often excluded from the traditional literary canon, engaged in a dialogue with each other through their work. They adopted literary foremothers, borrowed themes and motifs, and created a network of shared experiences and concerns. By highlighting these connections, Gilbert and Gubar offer a new lens through which to understand and appreciate the richness and complexity of women's contributions to literature.