The Yellow Wallpaper by Charlotte Perkins Gilman

The Yellow Wallpaper by Charlotte Gilman was a very interesting story. What particularly stuck out to me were the vivid descriptions of the main character’s perceptions of what was going on around her. The descriptions that allowed the reader to see inside her head, figuratively speaking, was quite a testament to the challenging and misunderstood reality she was facing. That reality was postpartum depression, then diagnosed as simply hysteria. The common belief at the time by the distinguished professionals was that a brief rest with no mental stimulation would be the cure all for such maladies. It was rather unfortunate for the main character that her husband and brother were both physicians of high standing and were quite confident in their treatment protocols for her.

The irony in the situation is that from the very beginning she disagrees with their advice, but the knowledge of their love for her forces her into compliance. Compliance at least on the superficial level, as she is writing the very text the reader is experiencing, when she is alone in her room and can bring out her writing without being disturbed. Writing is one of her ways of escaping the circumstances, but in the end her limited mental stimulation leads her to have a strong mental preoccupation with the wallpaper: the yellow wallpaper in the room that confines her.

What is so interesting about her thoughts about the wallpaper is that she starts to go completely insane but the wallpaper is her escape from reality. It allows her something to focus on when she is supposedly supposed to be resting her mind. She starts to believe that it is almost alive and that she is the only one who truly knows it. It is the utmost irritant to her, yet, following the patterns becomes her prime pastime and insanity. In some parts she realizes that this has become a “bad habit” but as her husband continues to dote on her with his uninformed knowledge and care, it is her escape. Her inability to engage her mind on anything but the wallpaper in the room causes her some paranoia about her caregivers.
As the story progresses, her writing and descriptions become more bizarre and disjointed. Essentially, it seems as though what should be making her well is just driving her further and deeper into insanity. From a more modern psychological perspective that makes sense, because when someone is suffering from depression the very opposite is recommended.

The suggestion that someone with postpartum depression in modern times should be locked up in a room alone with no mental stimulation would be considered absurd, if not abusive. Yet, because of their understanding of the illness at the time it was considered to be an act of love and done out of deep care for the sufferer. I think it is really interesting how the different advances in psychological studies have completely turned around the approach to this condition. I am sure that the writings of Gilman were a contributing factor in the awareness and understanding of the women subjected to this treatment.