The Yellow Wallpaper

   

 In The Yellow Wallpaper, by Charlotte Perkins Gilman, she describes a maddening tale of a man's power over a woman. Charlotte, a woman suffering from depression, becomes completely insane due to the restrictions place upon by her husband/doctor, John. 

Charlotte believes that there is something wrong, she doesn't feel like herself. How can she receive help?  If "You see he does not believe I am sick!" What gives John the right to decide whether or not Charlotte is well or not? Is it his manhood or that he is a doctor or both? John believes that Charlotte is simply "temporary nervous depression-a slight hysterical tendency." I do understand the John is a "high standing" doctor and so is her brother who is in agreement with John, but a doctor is suppose to listen to their patients. Well to make her better he prescribes the "rest cure" which makes things worst.

John is very controlling he tells Charlotte when to eat, sleep, dress, go outside and how to feel. A Charlotte talks about how she gets angry sometimes and John tells her, "I shall neglect proper self-control." He directs her every move, as she states "He is very careful and loving, and hardly let's me stir without special direction." He tells her, "I have a schedule prescription for each hour in the day," really each hour, that a lot of control.

When she tries to take some control for herself he is dismissive as if she could possibly know anything. She tells him that she is not making progress there and that she wants to leave. John states, "You are gaining flesh and color, and your appetite is better," and Charlotte replies, "I don't weigh at bit more....nor as much...my appetite may be better in the evening...but it is worse...when you are away." His response with, "bless her little heart!" She tries to tell he that her mind is not well and he tell that her imagination is of danger to her, that "it is a false and foolish fancy."

The rest of the story details how she goes insane, was it the house that may have been haunted that pushes her over the edge? Or was it the "rest cure" with its isolation from the rest of the world and her imagination taking over that pushed her? Whether it was the house or her mind it was a man that placed her in this position. A man that was supposed to be her protector, well he protected her right into madness. I am sure that for the 19th century, that he and she both believe that a man knew what was best, however, no one should dictate how a person should or does feel and believe that is what Gilman is saying.

The latest movie made regarding this story has depicted the woman as stronger individuals, it takes a nice twist, it was released in 2011 I think, check it out.