Descent Into Madness

A detailed Summary of Descent Into Madness

Charlotte Perkins Gilman's, "The Yellow Wallpaper" is the story of a woman's

descent into madness as the result of being isolated as a form of "treatment"

when suffering from post-partum depression. On a larger scale, Gilman is also

telling the story of how women were kept prisoners by the confines of the

society of her time and the penalties these women incurred when they attempted

In the beginning of the story, the narrator, whose name is never divulged,

has been brought to an isolated country estate in order to recuperate from "a

slight hysterical tendency" by her husband, John, who is also a physician.

From the outset it becomes apparent that she is an unreliable narrator due to

her state of mind. The paragraphs of the story are short and choppy,

indicating an inability to concentrate and a mind that is racing from one

thing to another. The narrator talks about her imaginings that the house is

haunted," . . . There is something strange about the house-I can feel it"; she

also relates how everything she does exhausts her. These symptoms, as well as

the numerous referrals by the narrator to the baby, indicate post-partum

depression. When speaking of the bab

help the woman from the wallpaper escape. She waits until she is alone, then

In order to treat this "temporary nervous depression," John isolates her from society and orders her to do nothing but rest. He even becomes upset when she

secret, in what she believes to be a former nursery. There is, however,

narrator replies, "I've gout out at last . . . in spite of you and Jane. And

woman who attempted to break loose from that pattern was subject to social

with no legal rights and no authority to determine what was best for her.

As time goes on, the narrator's mind slips deeper into mental illness. She

Some common words found in the essay are:
Yellow Wallpaper, John Jennie, Jane I've, woman wallpaper, attempted break, narrator begins, yellow wallpaper, attempted break free, day narrator begins, deeper mental illness, break free confines, free confines, path society, confines society, day narrator, deeper mental, break free,

Approximate Word count = 1071
Approximate Pages = 4 (250 words per page double spaced)

Category: Novels

join now Save Paper

Saved Paper

Save your papers so you can locate them quickly!

Newest Essays

Testimonials

"Thank You So Much!!! You have saved me once again!!!"
Jack M.
"With so many papers to chose from, I was able to get ideas to help me with all of my classes. Thank You!"
Brian P.
"I've used this site for the last 3 years to help me come up with ideas for my papers."
Sara J.
"I use this site every week to help me write my own papers!"
Rachel W.
"I love this site!!!"
Marie N.

Descent Into Madness

Related Essays

Professional Essays

Saved Paper

Newest Essays

Testimonials