Gerald has asked for help with his writing assignment. He is most likely taking the easy way out.
getting excellent grades.
solving an academic challenge.
avoiding doing the work himself.

as for symbolic actions, the narrator's tearing down the wallpaper in an attempt to find the "woman" in the wallpaper represents her struggle to retain or regain her sanity.   the wallpaper has been part of her confinement and by her tearing it down, she is freeing herself from that confinement.