Negative Effects Of The Rest Cure In The Yellow Wallpaper By Charlotte Perkins Gilman

In “The Yellow Wallpaper” by Charlotte Perkins Gilman, a woman in her mid to late twenties suffers from Postpartum Depression following the birth of her baby. Her husband, a doctor, then self-diagnoses her with hysteria and prescribes “the rest cure”. In the story, Charlotte Perkins Gilman wanted to show the negative effects the rest cure had. Silas Weir Mitchell was a physician who developed the rest cure in the late 1800s. It was a treatment for hysteria and other nervous illnesses. The rest cure involved isolation from friends and family and enforced bed rest and a fatty diet. After the birth of her child, Gilman experienced severe depression and sought treatment for nervous exhaustion by Silas Weir Mitchell. Her husband, who was also
a doctor, kept doubting Gilman and do the complete opposite of what she wanted. When she realized Mitchell’s treatment worsened her depression, she made the decision to leave both her husband and doctor. This story is mainly about what Gilman had to go through when she was prescribed the rest cure. “It is so hard to talk with John about my case, because he is so wise, and because he loves me so.” (1138) Charlotte Perkins Gilman highlights John’s behavior towards her during her treatment. John did not listen to the narrator when she told him that she felt the treatment was ineffective. In this passage, she also criticizes submissive women. The narrator’s statement appears very obedient and agreeable which makes the narrator look subservient. However, John was silencing the narrator because he had no respect for her. “It is a big, airy room, the whole floor nearly, with windows that look all ways, and air and sunshine galore. It was nursery first, and then playroom and gymnasium, I should judge, for the windows are barred for little children, and there are rings and things in the walls.” (1134) The narrator was treated like a child; however, John was never there for her when she needed help. He left her alone in a nursery with barred windows, which made her seem like she was in a prison or insane asylum. When he was around, John treated her as if she were a child, not a woman. In the Yellow Wallpaper, Gilman illustrates the disrespect both her husband and psychiatrist had for her through the characterization of John. “The repairs are not done at home, and I cannot possibly leave town just now. Of course if you were in any danger I could and would, but you really are better, dear, whether you can see it or not.” (1139) John does not listen to her and continues to ignore her pleas. Futhermore, he does not want to be proven wrong by a woman, therefore, enforces reverse psychology, in hopes that she will discover the fault is within her, not him.