Eliana Defreitas
Short Stories
October 19,2023
1150 words
Charlotte Perkins Gilman's 'The Yellow Wallpaper' is an incredibly thought-provoking piece of literature that delves into
the harrowing consequences of 19th-century patriarchal medical and societal norms on women's mental well-being. This
haunting short story vividly depicts the oppressive limitations placed on women during that era, underscoring the
importance of considering the historical context to fully grasp the story's themes and the protagonist's descent into
madness. Through the eyes of the main character, we get a stark glimpse into a society that marginalized and pathologized
women's experiences, pushing them to the brink of sanity. Gilman's narrative doesn't just chill us with one woman's
suffering; it also offers a compelling commentary on broader issues like gender, mental health, and societal control that
continue to persist in various forms even today.Charlotte Perkins Gilman's 'The Yellow Wallpaper' is a powerful portrayal
of the damaging effects of the 19th-century patriarchal medical and social norms on women's mental health, highlighting
the significance of historical context in understanding the story's themes and the protagonist's descent into madness. In
this analysis, we'll take a deep dive into the historical backdrop that shaped Gilman's writing and explore how it sheds
light on the story's themes and the protagonist's tragic journey into madness.
To comprehend the depths of 'The Yellow Wallpaper,' one must first step back into the 19th century, a time characterized
by deeply entrenched patriarchal norms and medical practices that often did more harm than good to women. The story's
narrator, who remains unnamed throughout the narrative, is subject to the "rest cure" prescribed by her physician-husband,
John. This treatment advocated absolute bed rest, isolation, and limited mental stimulation as a remedy for women's
supposed "nervous disorders." Such disorders were often the result of societal pressures and constraints placed upon
women, but the medical establishment seldom acknowledged this. One cannot ignore the oppressive environment in
which the protagonist finds herself—a colonial mansion with a room adorned in ghastly, yellow wallpaper. In the 19th
century, the domestic sphere was considered the rightful place for women, and any desire for intellectual or creative
pursuits was frowned upon. The woman's inability to express herself and her artistic inclinations are evident in her
fascination with the wallpaper, which she describes as "one of those sprawling, flamboyant patterns committing every
artistic sin,"(Gilman, 1).
As we journey deeper into 'The Yellow Wallpaper,' we witness the protagonist's harrowing descent into madness. Trapped
within her prescribed isolation, she becomes increasingly fixated on the yellow wallpaper. Her initial antipathy towards it
transforms into an obsession, and she starts seeing a woman trapped behind the pattern—a reflection of her own captivity.
The room itself becomes a symbol of her own confinement and the restrictive gender roles imposed upon her by society.
The protagonist's obsession with the wallpaper mirrors the larger societal obsession with controlling women's minds and
bodies. The rest cure, which was believed to cure women of their nervous disorders, only served to exacerbate their
mental distress. Gilman herself had experienced the horrors of this treatment and wrote 'The Yellow Wallpaper' as a
response to the damaging effects it had on her mental health.
Gilman's work delves deep into the gender roles and societal expectations of the 19th century. Women were expected to
be the embodiment of purity, motherhood, and domesticity. The protagonist, as a wife and mother, is expected to conform
to these ideals. However, her own desires and inclinations clash violently with these expectations, pushing her towards a
state of madness. The male characters in the story, particularly her husband John, represent the embodiment of patriarchy.
He dismisses her concerns, prescribes her treatment without consulting her, and constantly infantilizes her by calling her
"little girl,"(Gilman, 4). In this way, John becomes the personification of the oppressive medical and societal norms that
women of that era faced. His actions, though well-intentioned in his mind, serve to imprison and disempower his wife.
In the oppressive atmosphere of the time, the protagonist's descent into madness can be seen as a desperate attempt to
reclaim her voice and agency. As her obsession with the wallpaper intensifies, she starts to strip it away, piece by piece, in
an act of rebellion. This symbolic act represents her struggle to break free from the confines of her prescribed role as a
wife and mother. Her narrative is a poignant commentary on the importance of self-expression and agency. Women of the
19th century were often denied a voice in matters of their own health and well-being, leaving them vulnerable to the
whims and decisions of male physicians and family members.
