The power of words is no surprise to anyone. Children are taught the old adage sticks and stones may break my bones but words can never hurt me. In truth as teens and adults one learns words can hurt. They can harm, manipulate and influence. In Charlotte Perkins Gilman’s “The Yellow Wallpaper,” one is lead to a world of just how powerful words written and read can be. Gilman pulls her reader into the twisted world in which she created for her character and ultimately dealt with on some level herself. Gilman’s main goal of her story was to influence S. Weir Mitchell to halt use of his “rest cure” treatment. (Gilman, 172) Her work has been referred to as an allegory, female gothic, and feminist literature when her one true intent was to influence …show more content…
She set a goal and ultimately she was met with agreement as to how dangerous the “rest cure” diagnosis could be. “When she published the story in 1892, doctors praised the accuracy of its psychological depiction, and apparently, Mitchell subsequently abandoned the rest cure.” (Gilman, 172) This was a victory for Gilman and a victory for other women of her time in hopes they would not suffer from the same prognosis and treatment. S. Weir Mitchell’s “rest cure” could be compared to that of what prisoners subjected to solitary confinement suffer. When left alone with one’s own mind it creates a delirium and a heightened awareness to inanimate objects. Critics of “The Yellow Wallpaper,” defined the story differently. For instance Paula A. Treichler interprets Gilman’s story as a complexity of the unhealthy relationship between women and the medical field. Conrad Schumaker on the other hand argues, “what happens to the imagination when it is defined as feminine (and thus weak).” (Suess, 80) It is clearly seen in Gilman’s story what happens to someone put into this very situation. The main character and narrator writes throughout her experience first, as sort of relief then she continues to record her changes and the comments her husband makes to her about her current …show more content…
He often treats her like a child and the words he uses solidifies that he does not see her as an equal. It is not only because she is ill but because she is a woman that she is weak and therefore he must take care of her. He refers to her as a little girl and a blessed little goose (Gilman, 176-181). The narrator herself while in her mind and on paper defies him it becomes clear she thinks less of herself and self-worth. Most people at one time in their life go through these feelings. Whether it be bullies at school or constant criticism by family and friends. There words can affect decisions made and influence the way one feels about themselves. For example, social media bullying has led young people to commit suicide. In Gilman’s story the protagonist considers it for a moment but ultimately she is still searching for something. Ultimately her push to go on comes from a fascination with the wallpaper and her pure desire to understand