The Yellow Wallpaper Theme Essay
MacKenzie Land
Ms. Herndon
LNG 332
1 February 2016
Themes of “The Yellow Wallpaper”
Throughout the short story “The Yellow Wallpaper”, Charlotte Perkins Gilman demonstrates how little society knew about mental illness in the Victorian era, the madness boredom can cause, and the subordination of women. The narrator’s husband, John, has the desire to help his wife’s “nervous condition” and "slight hysterical tendencies" in any way he knows how. In a research paper done by Michigan State University "Many medical analyses point to postpartum depression, or even postpartum psychosis, as the illness from which both women suffered" (Her Phycology of Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow). Him, as well as her brother are both physicians. Although they …show more content…
have a background and a well rounded knowledge in the medical field, because of the scarce information surrounding mental illness, they feel as though living a stress free life would benefit her in the utmost way possible. John firsts acts on these inklings by moving the family to a temporary summer home where the narrator is put into a room that drives her into her madness. The narrator describes the room as "dull enough to confuse the eye in following, pronounced enough to constantly irritate, provoke study, and when you follow the lame, uncertain curves for a little distance they suddenly commit suicide" (769). Furthermore, she describes the wallpaper in the room in an even more harshly manner as "repellant, almost revolting; a smoldering, unclean yellow, strangely faded by the slow turning sunlight, a dull yet lurid orange in some places, and a sickly sulphur tint in others" (768). John's treatment for her included a strict regimen of taking phosphates or phosphites, tonics, journeys, air, exercise, and she is excluded from any work or play. Through the story she documents her deteriorating mental state due to the treatment she was given.
The narrator admits to her poor mental health in the beginning when she tells her readers "he does believe I am sick!" (768). She says this when referring to the way John is handling her. He diagnosis her as having "slight hysterical tendencies," but uses the word slight as a way to belittle her condition and take away its severity. The narrator is quickly put on the rest cure by her husband. This form of treatment includes "isolation from friends and family, enforced bed rest, and nearly constant feeding on a fatty, milk-based diet" (Wellcome Library, London). John doesn't allow her to escape her mind by expressing her thoughts through writing or creating any creative content. When the narrator would mention doing such a thing he would threaten her with thoughts of being sent away to Weir Mitchell. Wier Mitchell was the physician who theorized the successfulness of the rest cure. Although the narrator disagrees with these ideas of treatment and believes that "congenial work, with excitement and change, would do me good" (768). Jane Thrailkill chose to say that not enough was known about diagnosis these mental problems "often misdiagnosing a whole host of disorders as female hysteria" (Controlling the Female Psyche: Assigned Gender Roles in "The Yellow Wallpaper"). John often used his patriarchy and position as a physician to give reason as to why she was under such a strict regimen.
The story quickly shows the inequality of care and treatment between men and women in this era.
John inserted his power over the narrator and made it known it to her. He "takes all care from me (the narrator), and so I feel basely ungrateful not to value it more" (769). The narrator is only allowed to rest in her room and occasionally take walks through the summer home's courtyard and garden. John forbids her from taking care of her own child and instead "Mary is so good with the baby... and yet I cannot be with him" (770). Because of the limitations she faces due to her treatment she "must put this (her journal) away, he hates to have me write a word" (769). The role of John is to be the rational, experienced thinker while the narrators is to do as she's told and obey her husband, so she can kick the disorder. She believes if a "physician of high standing, and ones own husband, assures friends and relatives that there is really nothing the matter with one but temporary nervous depression, a slight hysterical tendency, what is one to do?" (768). This is due to the fact that John has led her to feel that his knowledge as a doctor overrides her feelings as another human being. Therefore he is right, so she must not question his authority. John does want to see his wife cured, but he treats his disorder more as a joke which in turn makes her question herself and her decision. This eventually drives her even more mad than she was to begin with and was what John was trying to prevent the whole
time.
Ms. Herndon
LNG 332
1 February 2016
Themes of “The Yellow Wallpaper”
Throughout the short story “The Yellow Wallpaper”, Charlotte Perkins Gilman demonstrates how little society knew about mental illness in the Victorian era, the madness boredom can cause, and the subordination of women. The narrator’s husband, John, has the desire to help his wife’s “nervous condition” and "slight hysterical tendencies" in any way he knows how. In a research paper done by Michigan State University "Many medical analyses point to postpartum depression, or even postpartum psychosis, as the illness from which both women suffered" (Her Phycology of Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow). Him, as well as her brother are both physicians. Although they …show more content…
have a background and a well rounded knowledge in the medical field, because of the scarce information surrounding mental illness, they feel as though living a stress free life would benefit her in the utmost way possible. John firsts acts on these inklings by moving the family to a temporary summer home where the narrator is put into a room that drives her into her madness. The narrator describes the room as "dull enough to confuse the eye in following, pronounced enough to constantly irritate, provoke study, and when you follow the lame, uncertain curves for a little distance they suddenly commit suicide" (769). Furthermore, she describes the wallpaper in the room in an even more harshly manner as "repellant, almost revolting; a smoldering, unclean yellow, strangely faded by the slow turning sunlight, a dull yet lurid orange in some places, and a sickly sulphur tint in others" (768). John's treatment for her included a strict regimen of taking phosphates or phosphites, tonics, journeys, air, exercise, and she is excluded from any work or play. Through the story she documents her deteriorating mental state due to the treatment she was given.
The narrator admits to her poor mental health in the beginning when she tells her readers "he does believe I am sick!" (768). She says this when referring to the way John is handling her. He diagnosis her as having "slight hysterical tendencies," but uses the word slight as a way to belittle her condition and take away its severity. The narrator is quickly put on the rest cure by her husband. This form of treatment includes "isolation from friends and family, enforced bed rest, and nearly constant feeding on a fatty, milk-based diet" (Wellcome Library, London). John doesn't allow her to escape her mind by expressing her thoughts through writing or creating any creative content. When the narrator would mention doing such a thing he would threaten her with thoughts of being sent away to Weir Mitchell. Wier Mitchell was the physician who theorized the successfulness of the rest cure. Although the narrator disagrees with these ideas of treatment and believes that "congenial work, with excitement and change, would do me good" (768). Jane Thrailkill chose to say that not enough was known about diagnosis these mental problems "often misdiagnosing a whole host of disorders as female hysteria" (Controlling the Female Psyche: Assigned Gender Roles in "The Yellow Wallpaper"). John often used his patriarchy and position as a physician to give reason as to why she was under such a strict regimen.
The story quickly shows the inequality of care and treatment between men and women in this era.
John inserted his power over the narrator and made it known it to her. He "takes all care from me (the narrator), and so I feel basely ungrateful not to value it more" (769). The narrator is only allowed to rest in her room and occasionally take walks through the summer home's courtyard and garden. John forbids her from taking care of her own child and instead "Mary is so good with the baby... and yet I cannot be with him" (770). Because of the limitations she faces due to her treatment she "must put this (her journal) away, he hates to have me write a word" (769). The role of John is to be the rational, experienced thinker while the narrators is to do as she's told and obey her husband, so she can kick the disorder. She believes if a "physician of high standing, and ones own husband, assures friends and relatives that there is really nothing the matter with one but temporary nervous depression, a slight hysterical tendency, what is one to do?" (768). This is due to the fact that John has led her to feel that his knowledge as a doctor overrides her feelings as another human being. Therefore he is right, so she must not question his authority. John does want to see his wife cured, but he treats his disorder more as a joke which in turn makes her question herself and her decision. This eventually drives her even more mad than she was to begin with and was what John was trying to prevent the whole
time.