Philipps University Marburg
WiSe 2018/19
PS The Short Story in North America
Instructor: Diana Wagner
A Feminist Reading of the “The Yellow
Wallpaper”
Laura Kostial
Table of Contents
1. Introduction ......................................................................................................... 1
2. Character Analyses ............................................................................................ 2
2.1 The Narrator .................................................................................................. 2
2.2 John .............................................................................................................. 4
3. Relationship Analysis – The Narrator and John.................................................. 5
4. The Concept of Mental Issues Represented in the Story ................................... 7
4.1 Postpartum Depression................................................................................. 7
4.2 Hysteria ......................................................................................................... 7
4.3 Insanity.......................................................................................................... 8
5. Conclusion ........................................................................................................ 10
6. Bibliography ...................................................................................................... 12
I
1. Introduction
The short story “The Yellow Wall-Paper” by Charlotte Perkins Gilman is
about a married woman in the 19th century who suffers from postpartum
depression after the birth of her baby. Her husband, a physician, does not know
what is wrong with her and prescribes her rest. She is not allowed to see anyone
or to do anything. Because of that, she becomes worse and her condition
deteriorates into insanity.
In my feminist reading of the short story, I want to examine the concept of
mental issues and how the story represents it. Based on the analyses of the
characters, I argue that the female protagonist’s condition deteriorates from a
depression into insanity over the course of the story due to the restrictions given to
her by her husband in order to cure her.
At first, I am going to characterize the two main characters, John and his
wife, and how each of them deals with the narrator’s condition. On one side, John
as a physician believes he knows how to treat his wife’s condition. But with his
treatment he worsens the situation. On the other side, the narrator feels as if she
knows what would do her good, but her husband will not listen to her.
In the next part, I will look at the relationship between the narrator and her
husband. John is overpowering his wife. He behaves either like a father or a
doctor toward her instead of a husband. The inequality in the relationship has
negative effects on their marriage and the narrator’s condition.
The main part describes how the narrator’s mental issues are presented in
the story and how they are influenced by John and his treatment. The narrator, at
first, only shows signs of postpartum depression which then turns into hysteria and
finally ends in insanity.
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2. Character Analyses
2.1 The Narrator
The narrator in “The Yellow Wallpaper” by Charlotte Perkins Gilman is a
young, middle- to upper-class woman as she describes herself and John as “mere
ordinary people” that “secure ancestral halls for the summer” (Gilman 9). John is
her husband and her doctor, “John laughs at me, of course, but one expects that
in marriage. […] John is a physician.” (Gilman 9). Furthermore, she recently gave
birth to a baby son, she cannot take care of, which means she might be suffering
from postpartum depression.
The narrator is a very creative person as she is a writer. The fact that she is
creative and imaginative becomes clear within the second paragraph of the story
when she describes the house they are staying in as a “haunted house” (Gilman
9). She also refers to her childhood and describes what she was like as a child, “I
used to lie awake as a child and get more entertainment and terror out of blank
walls and plain furniture than most children could find in a toy-store.” (Gilman 17).
Her creativeness and imaginativeness have a great impact on her condition as
they help to influence her hallucinations.
As she has “a slight hysterical tendency” her husband set up many
restrictions for her that affect her psychological condition. “So I am absolutely
forbidden to “work” until I am well again” (Gilman 10) is what the narrator tells us.
This means she is not allowed to write or be creative in any other way and it forces
her to write in secret. This in turn as negative affects on her as she notices herself:
“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 10).
In general, the continuous conflict with her husband about her condition and
being at opposite ends with him about it worsens her state. She thinks: “You see
he does not believe I am sick!” (Gilman 10) and she believes: “John is a physician
and […] perhaps that is one reason I do not get well faster”. (Gilman 10). The fact
that she does not believe John and rather as her own opinion shows, though, that
she is somehow rebellious, and it makes her seem quite independent which would
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not be expected from a woman in the 19th century. This also shows in the way of
treatment because she does not seem to believe in the medicine she must take on
her husband’s prescription as she does not know what the medicine is called, “so I
take phosphate or phosphites – which ever it is […].” (Gilman 10). Shortly after,
she directly says: “Personally, I disagree with their ideas.” (Gilman 10).
She, nevertheless, tries to follow what her husband recommends her most
of the time but, in the end, it always makes her feel exhausted. For example, when
she must think too much about what is happening to her, John tells her what to do,
“John says the very worst thing I can do is to think about my condition, and I
confess it always makes me feel bad.” (Gilman 10) and she follows his
instructions, “So I will let it alone and talk about the house.” (Gilman 11).
Due to her condition, she is not able to pursue her role as a wife and a
mother and this makes her feel bad.
“Of course it is only nervousness. It does way on me so not
to do my duty in any way!
I meant to be such a help to John, such a real rest and
comfort, and here I am a comparative burden already!
Nobody would believe what an effort it is to do what little I
am able, - to dress and entertain and other things.
It is fortunate Mary is so good with the baby. Such a dear
baby!
And yet I cannot be with him, it makes me so nervous.”
(Gilman 14)
Not being able to meet the expectations that society and her family have on
her as a wife and mother in the 19th century puts her into psychological stress, and
she refers to her nervous condition. The fact that she is not allowed to do anything
leaves her without an occupation which she believes she needs to become better.
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2.2 John
John is the narrator’s husband and her doctor. As he is a “physician of high
standing” (Gilman 10) his plans of treatment are highly esteemed and people
agree with him on his diagnoses, which makes it impossible for his wife to
contradict him. Being a doctor also means he is very functional and the narrator
tells us: “ John is practical in the extreme.” (Gilman 9). His reputation and his
character traits have a great effect on the way he treats his wife and especially her
condition over the course of the story.
He is quite convinced of himself as a doctor as he says: “I am a doctor,
dear, and I know.” (Gilman 23). Therefore, he believes he knows what will do best
for his wife in order to cure her condition. He set up a treatment plan for her, which
says to “take phosphates or phosphites […] , and tonics, and journeys, and air,
and exercise, and [she is] absolutely forbidden to “work” until [she is] well again.”
(Gilman 10). But instead of having positive effects on his wife, it worsens her
condition.
Furthermore, he is extremely overpowering over his wife as he does not
listen to what she has to say and what she believes can help improve her
condition, for example when she asks him to leave the house their staying in
because she thinks it is not helping her to become better, he responds: “Why
darling!” […] I can’t see how to leave before.” (Gilman 23).
In contrast, he can be a devoted and caretaking husband, at least that is
what the narrator tells us when she describes him as “very careful and loving”
(Gilman 12) and she says that he “takes all the care from [her].” (Gilman 12). He
even goes as far as that he patronizes her at times, which gives the impression of
him acting more like a father to the narrator than a husband. The narrator tells us:
“Dear John gathered me up in his arms, and just carried me upstairs and laid me
on the bed, and sat by me and read to me till it tired my head.” (Gilman 21). This
scene reminds more of a father carrying his little daughter to bed and waiting for
her to fall asleep than of a husband tucking his wife into bed. With his actions, he
supports the idea of her not being able to do anything because of her condition.
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3. Relationship Analysis – The Narrator and John
The two characters of the narrator and her husband John are quite
opposite. He is a doctor and therefore more of a clinical, “practical” (Gilman 9) and
rational man. In contrast, she is a writer who is very creative and imaginative. This
dissimilarity often results in an unintelligibility towards each other, which is
especially dangerous regarding her condition. “[…] he does not believe [she] is
sick” (Gilman 10) and “Personally, [she] disagree[s] with their ideas.” (Gilman 10).
They are a married couple of the 19th century and they are expected to
pursue the roles given by society. John is quite dominant and organizes most
parts of her life. He decides who she can see and when, “John says we will ask
Cousin Henry and Julia down for a long visit; but he says he would as soon put
fireworks in my pillow-case as to have these stimulating people about now.”
(Gilman 16). He, as well, takes care of her daily treatment, “I have a scheduled
prescription for each hour in the day; he takes all care from me […].” (Gilman 12).
And he even decides how she is feeling and what helps her improve, “You know
this place is doing you good […].” (Gilman 15). The narrator, in turn, is supposed
to be the ideal wife and mother but in spite of her condition she is not able to meet
these expectations, “ I meant to be such a help to John, such a real rest and
comfort […].” (Gilman 14). Furthermore, their marriage is built on secrets: “There
comes John, and I must put this away, - he hates to have me write a word.”
(Gilman 13). She is not able to be the creative person she is in front of her
husband and therefore must hide all sources of creativity from him. He forbids her
to write as part of her treatment, which has negative effects on her condition.
Having to write in secret also means she is breaking John’s trust, another factor
that affects their marriage. He, as well, does not trust her ability to judge her own
condition and therefore does it for her, “[…] you really are better […].” (Gilman 23).
Fear is also something that accompanies their marriage, especially from the
narrator’s side. She has great respect for her husband and finds it “hard to talk to
John about [her] case, because he is so wise, and because he loves [her] so.”
(Gilman 23). Hiding her writing from him and not being able to cry in front of him
gives the impression of her fearing her husband at times. She even admits: “I am
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getting a little afraid of John.” (Gilman 26). In general, their marriage seems to be
dysfunctional. It is built on secrets and not on trust.
Throughout the story, they take on other roles in their relationship. Next to
being husband and wife, some scenes depict a relationship that reminds of a
relationship between father and daughter. John portrays the image of a caretaking
father who sets up restrictions when it comes to her condition and positions
himself above her when he “laughs at [her].” (Gilman 9). That he calls her “a
blessed little goose” (Gilman 15) and “little girl” (Gilman 23) reinforces the idea of
him behaving like a father toward her. The narrator, on the other side, becomes
through John’s action a helpless child that is dependent on help from others. She
notices this herself when she says: “And what is one to do?” (Gilman 10). She
cannot take care of herself, her husband, her household or her baby and needs
other people to do these things for her.
The last image that is portrayed within their relationship is that of a doctorpatient relationship. John, being a doctor, has the power over his patient who in
this case is the narrator, his wife. He sets up her treatment plan and tells her to
“take phosphates or phosphites […], and tonics, and journeys, and air, and
exercise, and [that she is] absolutely forbidden to “work” until [she is] well again.”
(Gilman 10) and also that “the very worst thing [she] can do is to think about [her]
condition.” (Gilman 10). In order to be a good patient, the narrator tries to follow
the instructions given to her by her doctor and replies: “So I will let it alone and talk
about the house. “ (Gilman 11). She constantly has to force herself to suppress
how she really feels and to agree with what her husband says, “but he is right”
(Gilman 15). In consequence, her condition is rather getting worse than better. The
treatment her husband suggests is not helpful and as she is not allowed to follow
her own feelings, she becomes worse over the course of the story.
The narrator is dominated by her husband in every way. He acts as a
husband, a father, and a doctor all at the same time. As the narrator is therefore
not able to be the wife she is expected to be and cannot follow her own feelings,
her psyche is attacked and a bad influence on her condition is the result.
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4. The Concept of Mental Issues Represented in the Story
4.1 Postpartum Depression
The narrator in the short story is diagnosed with hysteria. A condition that
,during the 19th century and before, was seen as a female disease (Chodoff 545).
Its symptoms develop from psychological trauma like a depression (Woods 2). The
narrator talks about being depressed. Within the beginning of the story, she says:
“[…] there is really nothing wrong with one but temporary nervous depression”
(Gilman 10). In her case, the depression is a result of the recent birth of her son.
Due to her postpartum depression, she is not allowed to take care of her baby and
therefore has a nurse that takes care of the baby, “It is fortunate Mary is so good
with the baby.” (Gilman 14). In a theory of Freud, he says that when a personality
is developed, the process of it happens in stages and if a stage is not completed it
can cause psychological problems (Woods 2). As the narrator cannot be a good
mother to her baby, the stage of her motherhood is not fully achieved and
therefore causes her to become more depressed.
This postpartum depression is the starting point of her condition, which then
deteriorates into hysteria.
4.2 Hysteria
Hysteria is influenced by cultural forces and can arise from such (Chodoff
545). These cultural forces can, for example, appear as male oppression, male
dominance, and male expectations, which is the case in the story (Chodoff 547)
(PaulChodoffÆ . The narrator is dominated by her husband John whenever he
behaves like a father or doctor toward her and, as her husband, has high
expectations on her being a traditional wife and mother. Because her life is
organized by her husband and she cannot meet the expectations of “do[ing her]
duty” (Gilman 14) as a housewife or “be with [her baby]” (ibid) in order to be a
good mother, her condition worsens and the symptoms of her hysteria increase.
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Hysteria is defined as a “behavior exhibiting excessive or uncontrollable
emotion “ (The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language). It brings
many different symptoms with it which are portrayed in the short story.
People suffering from hysteria therefore behave exaggerated within their
emotions and can experience, for example, fear, anger, or sadness in an extreme
way. The narrator experiences all three of these emotions and notices that these
are symptoms of her condition. She feels anger toward her husband but does not
understand why, “I get unreasonably angry with John sometimes.” (Gilman 11).
She also begins to cry for no reason, „ I cry at nothing, and cry most of the time.”
(Gilman 19). And she fears her husband even though one’s own husband should
not be someone one should be afraid of, “The fact is I am getting a little afraid of
John.” (Gilman 26). It is clear that her feelings arise from the restrictions given to
her by her husband as she describes the way she feels toward him.
Furthermore, physical deficits are a symptom of hysteria; they can even go
as far as to result in paralysis (Tasca et al. 115). The narrator experiences
weakness, when she describes herself as “lazy” (Gilman 21) and says she “lies[s]
down ever so much” (Gilman 21). One time she even has to be “carried […]
upstairs” by her husband (ibid). These are all indications of a loss of strength and
therefore confirm the diagnosis. The reason she is so weak is because her
husband tells her “[…] it is good for [her] to sleep all [she] can.” (Gilman 26).
Another symptom experienced by people suffering from hysteria is the
inability to distinguish fantasy from reality (Chodoff 545). In the short story, the
narrator has many “fancies” (Gilman 15) and believes they are real. Her greatest
fancy is one of a “women […] creeping about behind that pattern” (Gilman 22).
She becomes obsessed with it and finds occupation in deciphering the pattern,
“You see I have something to look forward to, to watch.” (Gilman 27).
The fancy of the woman within the pattern of the wallpaper is carried away by her
and drives her into insanity.
4.3 Insanity
Insanity can develop from several reasons. The narrator develops this
illness as her symptoms of hysteria increase. The emotions of fright, anger and
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grief become more extreme and cause her condition to deteriorate into insanity
(Jones 580). Especially the wallpaper intensifies the feeling of anger in her and
she goes as far as to hurt herself by “bit[ing] off a piece at one corner – [and]
hurt[ing her] teeth” (Gilman 34). She even indicates to commit suicide by jump[ing]
out the window” (ibid.) out of anger but then discards this idea right afterward. The
wallpaper also arouses fright in her. She does not want anyone else to find out
about the pattern of the wallpaper and therefore she constantly must fear that
someone might find out what she is doing. She says: “It does not do to trust
people too much.“ (Gilman 31). All this hiding makes her more obsessed with the
pattern and she becomes more insane. The reason she is so obsessed with the
wallpaper is because she is told by her husband that she is “absolutely forbidden
to “work” […].” (Gilman 10). She therefore has nothing to do and that makes her
go mad. She finds a task in dealing with the wallpaper as there are nothing else for
her to do.
Insanity is defined as having a “severe mental illness” (The American
Heritage Dictionary of the English Language). The narrator deals with many
symptoms that are typical of patients suffering from mental illnesses. Delusions
and hallucinations are one of them (NIHR 8). They can occur in different kinds, for
example, people suffering from hallucinations can see imaginative things and
believe they are real or even imagine a smell (ibid.).
Both types are represented in the short story. As the narrator becomes
more obsessed with the wallpaper, she begins to picture figures and smells things
she did not before. The smell she “find[s] hovering in the dining room, skulking in
the parlor, hiding in the hall, lying in wait for me on the stairs.” (Gilman 29). She
becomes so frustrated with it because she meets in everywhere that she wants to
annihilate it so desperately that she thinks of “burning the house” (Gilman 29).
The main hallucination, however, the narrator has, is of a woman or several
women behind the front pattern of the wallpaper. She says: “Sometimes I think
there are great many women behind, and sometimes only one […]” (Gilman 30).
She sees the woman not only within the wallpaper but also thinks she “gets out”
(ibid.) because she has “seen her” (ibid.). The obsession of the pattern and the
woman within it increases over the course of the story and the narrator begins to
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interact with the woman when she “help[s] her” (Gilman 32) free her from the front
pattern. The picture of her becomes progressively more real for the narrator and
goes as far as that she identifies herself with the women coming out of the
wallpaper, “I wonder if they all come out of that wall-paper as I did?” (Gilman 35).
She identifies with the situation of the women being trapped and enclosed within
the pattern because she herself feels constrained by her husband and the
restrictions he gave her. By ripping off the wallpaper in the room, she has the
feeling of freeing herself form her situation and tells her husband: “I’ve got out at
last […] in spite of you […]” (Gilman 36).
5. Conclusion
In the short story “The Yellow Wall-Paper” by Charlotte Perkins Gilman, the
concepts of mental issues in females are presented as a consequence of male
suppression. The narrator is dominated by her husband and develops a mental
illness because of his treatment.
As a 19th century woman, the narrator has not the same standing as her
husband. She must listen to what he has to say and follow his instructions, even if
she does not believe it is the right thing to do. The constant conflict between her
and her husband about her condition exhaust her. Furthermore, she is expected to
be a good wife and mother but due to the treatment given to her by her husband
she cannot meet these expectations.
John, as a doctor of high renown, uses his position to treat his wife in the
way he thinks is right without listening to what she has to say. With his treatment,
he worsens his wife’s condition but does not notice.
Within their relationship, both of them take on different roles. Especially
John often behaves more like a father or a doctor toward his wife instead of like a
husband, which puts the narrator into the position of a child or a patient. This
affects their marriage and has negative effects on the narrator’s condition because
she is not able to meet John’s expectations.
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Over the course of the story, the symptoms of the narrator’s mental issues
increase. Because of the restriction she is given, she does not have anything to
do, which makes her go mad and become obsessed with the wallpaper, with which
she can identify.
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6. Bibliography
Chodoff, Paul. "Hysteria and women." The American Journal of Psychiatry 1982:
545–551.Print.
Gilman, Charlotte P. The Yellow Wall-Paper. New York: The Feminist Press, 1997.
Print.
Jones, Robert. "The Development of Insanity in Regard to Civilization." The
American Journal of Psychiatry 1904: 577–595. Print.
NIHR. Forward Thinking - NIHR research on support for people with severe mental
illness. NIHR Dissemination Centre, 2018. Print.
The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language. Boston: Houghton
Mifflin Harcourt. 2019. Web. 10.04.2019
Tasca, Cecilia, Mariangela Rapetti, Mauro Giovanni Carta, and Bianca Fadda.
Women and hysteria in the history of mental health. Clinical practice and
epidemiology in mental health 2012: 110–119. Print.
Tania Woods. “From Female Sexuality and Hysteria to Feminine Psychology: The
Gender of Isanity.” (2012). Print.
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