First published in 1892 in the New England Magazine, The Yellow Wallpaper is said by many to be Charlotte Perkins Gilman best short story. This is the first story I have read by Charlotte Perkins Gilman. If her other shorts are only half as good as The Yellow Wallpaper, I want to read them all.
Narrated in the first person by an un-named woman, The Yellow Wallpaper delves into the woman’s post-partum depression. Her husband, John takes her to a rented summer home, where she is kept in a roon with yellow wallpaper, that use to be a nursery. Her husband/doctor prescribed total rest without any stimulation what so ever. She is not even allowed to see her baby.
The woman thinks that some work, going outside, and meeting with friends would help her but her husband will not allow it. So the woman goes about stimulating herself by staring at the ugly yellow wall paper for hours at a time. She notices different patterns and shapes where the wallpaper has torn away from the wall and eventually she sees that there is a woman trapped in the wallpaper.
Total rest and no stimulation was the prescription for postpartum depression and depression for women back then. Both were viewed by men as “in the woman’s head” rather than an actual disease. Luckily things have changed. Now exercise other stimulating activities are seen as very beneficial.
This is a gem of a story. It’s very deep and contemplative and explores the treatment of women. Ms. Gilman had trouble getting anyone to publish it at first. I would guess that it dug a little too deeply into woman’s issues. Highly recommended. You can read it here.
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