The Yellow Wallpaper A Study of Insanity

A detailed Summary of The Yellow Wallpaper A Study of Insanity

For the women in the twentieth century today, who have more freedom than before and have not experienced the depressive life that Gilman lived from1860 to 1935, it is difficult to understand Gilman's situation and understand the significance of "The Yellow Wallpaper". Gilman's original purpose of writing the story was to have gained personal satisfaction if Dr. S. Weir Mitchell might change his treatment after reading the story. However, as Ann L. Jane suggests, "The Yellow Wallpaper" is "the best crafted of her fiction: a genuine literary piece...the most directly, obviously, self-consciously autobiographical of all her stories" (Introduction xvi). More importantly, Gilman says in her article in The Forerunner, "It was not intended to drive people crazy, but to save people from being driven crazy, and it worked" (20). Therefore, "The Yellow Wallpaper" is a revelation of Charlotte Perkins Gilman's own emotions.

When the story first came out in 1892 the critics considered "The Yellow Wallpaper" as a portrayal of female insanity rather than a story that reveals an aspect of society. In The Transcript, a physician from Boston wrote, "Such a story ought not to be written...it was enough to drive anyone mad to read it" (Gilman

After being treated for a month Gilman was sent home and was told to "live as domestic a life as possible...and never touch pen, brush or pencil as long as you live"(Lane, To Herland 121). Having a strong love for her work and being a free thinker and writer, Gilman would naturally consider this way of treatment a cruel punishment. In her diary she wrote, "I went home, followed those directions rigidly for a month and came perilously near to losing my mind" (Lane, To Herland 121).

Ceplair, Larry. "The Early Years." Charlotte Perkins Gilman: A Non-fiction Reader. New York: Columbia UP, 1991. 5-19.

Berkin, Ruth Carol. "Self-Images: Childhood and Adolescence." Critical Essays on Charlotte Perkins Gilman. Ed. Joanne Karpinski. New York: G.K. Hall, 1992.

Karpinski, Joanne B. Introduction. Critical Essays on Charlotte Perkins Gilman. New York: G.K. Hall, 1992.

Some common words found in the essay are:
Yellow Wallpaper, Lane Herland, Lane Introduction, Weir Mitchell's, Weir Mitchell, Forerunner Gilman, Joanne Karpinski, , Wallpaper Gilman's, Despite Gilman, yellow wallpaper, charlotte perkins, lane herland, charlotte perkins gilman, perkins gilman, dr weir, yellow wallpaper', 'the yellow wallpaper', 'the yellow, dr weir mitchell, emotional psychological, weir mitchell, lane introduction, weir mitchell's rest, dr weir mitchell's,

Approximate Word count = 1513
Approximate Pages = 6 (250 words per page double spaced)

Category: English

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.

The Yellow Wallpaper A Study of Insanity

Related Essays

Professional Essays

Saved Paper

Newest Essays

Testimonials