The Yellow Wallpaper Mental Illness

“The Yellow Wallpaper”

Charlotte Perkins Gilman was a 19th century, journalist from Connecticut. She was also a feminist. Gilman was not conservative when it came to expressing her views publically. Many of her published works openly expressed her thoughts on woman’s rights. She also broke through social norms when she chose to write her short story, “The Yellow Wallpaper” in 1892, which described her battle with mental illness. These literary breakthroughs, made by Charlotte Perkins Gilman, help us see that the 19th century was a time of change for women.

Change is often greeted with resistance. Historical changes in the 19th century were no different. Feminist critics were quick to respond to Gilman’s publications. During the 1800’s, it

was socially accepted that women were to be passive and obey their male counterpart. American women were repressed and controlled by a patriarchal system of social order. Anything outside that social order was ground for negative judgement. Women did not share the same responsibilities and rights as the men did at that time. Women were simply possessed naturally and kept close as “objects” rather than equal humans.
In “The Yellow Wallpaper”, we can see life through the eyes of a 19th century woman. Gilman uses her personal battle with depression to construct a fictional narrative describing what it’s like to be a 19th century female with a mental disorder. The short story shows us several examples to support the oppressing social expectations dictated to women and the desire this particular woman had to be freed of them. A few of these examples include: a dominant male prospective and role in the household (defined by obedience of the women to the male authority), and a female’s lack of freedom in regards to her own self-care.
The idea of male dominance has been embedded into society from the beginning of documented history. It wasn’t until the late 19th century when women began a path of resistance to this idea. According to Butterfield, historical feminist started making more impactful strides after the American Civil War. Prior, most women were denied or restricted education, legal status, voting rights, public opinion, and ownership to property or wages. (Pg. 4) Robinson states, the breakthrough in women’s rights can be attributed to intellectual development through education. (Pg. 2) As well as, it became a freedom point for women and allowed them to become less dependent on their marriage/husband. (Robinson, Pg. 2). Gilman had little formal education compared to some. She did spend a few years at Rhode Island School of Design while working to aid her financially. (Charlotte) Likely, Gilman’s the most influential education came informally by spending time with her Aunts Catharine Beecher, Harriet Beecher Stowe, and Isabella Beecher Hooker, all whom were active feminist of the 19th century. (Charlotte)
Gilman, while independent at heart, shared a few personal examples of the male dominance, which presented in her life in “The Yellow Wallpaper.” The main character loves writing but both her husband and brother do not support her writing while she is mentally sick. She states, “I did write for a while in spite of them; but it does exhaust me a good deal – having to be so sly about it, or else meet with heavy opposition.” (Gilman. 956) As a 19th century woman she obeys her husband and makes exhausting attempts to respect his authority but also values her need for intellectual stimulation. This obedience can be seen when she writes, “There comes John, and I must put this away, -- he hates to have me write a word.” (Gilman. 957) Gilman also shares that she wishes to visit with people but her husband denies her that ability because of her mental state. “When I get really well, John says we can ask Cousin Henry and Julia down for a long visit; but he says he would as soon put fireworks in my pillowcase as to let me have those stimulating people about now.” (Gilman. 958) It’s clear in both examples that her husband has complete control over her every action. While Gilman can think independently, she is forced to suppress her desires to appease her husband. This supports the idea that women had little freedom during the 19th century. Her thoughts however, support the idea that women of this time period were beginning to question their role as submissive humans and beginning, at least internally, to challenge male opinion.
Gilman’s psychological state was largely the main character, per se, of this short story. She was writing from a personal perspective, which offers us a unique look into her thoughts on her disease. Her person accounts also show us how little say she had in her care as a 19th century female. Gilman is under the care of her husband and brother who is both highly regarded doctors at the time. She makes it very clear throughout though that she disagrees with many of their remedies, which they insist she does to make her well. “Personally, I disagree with their ideas. Personally, I believe that congenial work, with excitement and change, would do me good. But what is one to do.” (Gilman. 956) We can sense her helplessness and lack of control as a woman. Gilman notes that while dominate an unwilling to entertain her ideas, her husband does do several things to care for her which enable her to be free of caring for herself. “He takes all care from me, and so I feel basely ungrateful not to value it more.” (Gilman. 957) In theory, this might relate to the struggle of a typical late 19th century woman as they began to rebel against their sole provider. Independence was exploratory at this point and may have caused some women a sense of guilt for not wanting the traditionally accepted standard.
Gilman openly expressed the thoughts of others (her husband and family members) about her mental illness throughout the story.

These thoughts always seem to be optimistic and minimizing of her symptoms. This reflects the standard view of mental illness in the 19th century, which assumed the condition, was just a temporary state of over expressed emotions within a woman. (Gilman. 956) Gilman herself however, used imagery and symbolism to express her ideas concerning her mental illness and the patriarchal ideals that surrounded them. The yellow wallpaper in the story symbolized Gilman’s state of mind. At first, like her depression, the wallpaper was simply an eye sore. It was not disabling to the room however, made it not as appealing as before. As the story progresses, Gilman forms an obsession with the wallpaper. This represents the declining of her mental state and the obsession she developed with her life conditions. We can see the mental illness is now fixated in her like she is fixated on the wallpaper. The wallpaper’s distracting features controlled her mind like her husband controlled her. She was mostly alone when staring vastly into the wallpaper. She begins to see humanly images in the paper. This becomes her sense of social stimulation that her husband forbids her to have. She becomes disgusted with the wallpaper as she is likely disgusted at her disease for disabling her and her husband for limiting her freedom. The humanly image soon develops into “a woman

stooping down and creeping about behind the patter.” (Gilman 797). The woman being trapped in the paper begins to take a symbolic meaning representing how Gilman feels trapped in her marriage. She feels the woman “is all the time trying to climb through” (Gilman. 801) this is similar to how Gilman feels about her marriage. She is constantly looking to escape the trapped feeling her husband places on her. Gilman eventually see’s that she is the woman trapped inside the wallpaper. I believe this is Gilman showing that women really have a limited way to free themselves from the grip of male dominance and patriarchal ideals during the 19th century.
Insanity ended up being her escape.

John comes home to discover his wife circling the room removing the wallpaper. John faints at the sight of his, clearly, insane wife. It is notably; interesting that Gilman has John faint. Other literally works of that time often describe females fainting. It was a stereotypical “female” behavior. As John’s unconscious body lay on the floor, the narrator is forced “to creep over him every time” (Gilman. 803) She is quite, literally stepping over John and all his patriarchal ideals; as a woman she has finally freed herself. She explains at the end that she came out of the paper (Gilman. 803).

“The Yellow Wallpaper” was a groundbreaking piece for its time. It not only expressed feministic views through the defiance of a male but also discussed mental illness and the inefficacy of medical treatment at the time. This fictional piece questioned and challenged the submissive role forced upon women of the 19th century and disclosed some of the mental struggles one might go through during this time of questing. Gilman shows however that even in the most horrific struggle to overcome male dominance, it is possible. She herself escapes which again shows a feminist empowerment to end the

story.