Charlotte Perkins Gilman's The Yellow Wallpaper

----------------The yellow wallpaper is a short story which shows the regressive and condescending treatment of “hysterical” women. The author writes about the common “rest cure” which women had to endure to “cure” their mental problems. The book came out in 1892 and created an outrage across the country by the more dominant sex in the era – the male sex. One physician in Boston obviously felt offended as he responded with; “Such a story ought not to be written… it is enough to drive anyone mad to read.”. Because of comments like this, Charlotte Perkins Gilman did not find success until the middle of the 20th century. Gilman was however looking for a kind of revenge or a feeling of satisfaction knowing that the “rest-cure” doctor, S. Weir

Her life long dream was to become a writer and after a month on the cure she was told; “ live as domestic a life as possible… and never touch pen, brush or pencil as long as you live.” After a month on this regiment she said that she was close to losing her mind. Therefor, many believe that The Yellow Wallpaper indeed is a autobiography describing her own life and fears. Two of the themes in the story is isolation and insanity. Not insanity in the sense that the cure is supposed to help, but rather insanity because of the cure and the mind numbing process of curing a woman’s “hysteria” as mental health issues would be called in that era. As well as isolation because of the same reason. (Editors, 2017) -----------------In the short story we encounter a variety of different symbols placed there by the author Charlotte Perkins Gillman. One of the many symbols in the story is the title, which is The Yellow Wallpaper. The color yellow is for many associated with strangeness, cowardice, inferiority, ugliness, and