Yellow Wallpaper Postpartum Depression

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The woman in The Yellow Wallpaper has an unknown illness. Her frantic behavior is proof that the woman is suffering from postpartum depression due to the birth of her child which is very common. Charlotte Perkin Gilman had a daughter in 2003 and suffered from the same illness that the woman is suffering in the story. I personally believe that the woman in the story relates highly to Gilman herself. Throughout the story the woman preforms many actions and says many things that show symptoms of postpartum depression. (PPD) Things that are noticed are hallucinations, mood swings, delusions and a few other actions that confirm PPD. To be able to be sure that the woman suffers from postpartum depression one must know what postpartum depression …show more content…

Throughout the story you can see the woman just becoming distant from John. In addition she slowly just gets weaker and more troublesome that her relationship deteriorates. The woman in the story suffers from what I believe to be post postpartum depression and is required to take a rest method. Her husband does not seem to understand she is sick. With John being a doctor he thinks what ever he say for her to do is the best. John is very egoistical and that with the mixture of the woman’s depression kills the relationship throughout the story. She even talks about how she hates Johns rules when she says "I don't like our room a bit. I wanted one downstairs that opened on the piazza and had roses all over the window, and such pretty old-fashioned chintz hangings! But John would not hear of it" (Gilman 470). By her saying that it could also be a sign of one of the symptoms for …show more content…

With PPD its important you pay attention to the relationship between the mother and the baby. In The Yellow Wallpaper you can see that the relationship between the woman and the baby is rough when she says ““It is fortunate Mary is so good with the baby. Such a dear baby! And yet I can not be with him, it makes me so nervous.” (Gilman 266) The woman is worried about her child way to much. On top of that it is known that she cant be with her child so the connection between the two will never grow and thats major. With this quote near the end of the story “‘I’ve got out at last,’ said I, ‘in spite of you and Jane. And I’ve pulled off most of the paper, so you can’t put me back!’ Now, why should that man have fainted? But he did, and right across my path by the wall, so that I had to creep over him every time!” (Gilaman 368) you can see a lot. Many people seem to believe that the woman compared herself to Jane. In addition you see that she finally is at ease after being stressed out the whole story. She feels some type of freedom that she has never felt before. After many comparisons I would personally say the woman suffers from postpartum depression. Her frantic behavior is proof throughout the story makes many connections with the symptoms. The author of the story suffered from PPD and is known for the connections she

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