The Yellow Wallpaper is, at just over twenty pages, a short story (or novella) which was written by Gilman and was published for the first time in 1982. It recounts the story of a woman enduring the 'rest cure', a treatment prescribed to many women at this time by the renowned physician Dr Mitchell.
This story is in fact semi-autobiographical, Perkins' own post natal depression and 'rest cure' treatment influencing the work heavily. Similarly to her own situation, the protagonist of the story struggles against the patriarchal society women were living in.
From the very beginning of the novel the reader is drawn in by the almost diary-like nature of the writing. Written in the first person, Perkins excellently explores and dissects the workings of the woman's mind as she falls into the realm of insanity.
In her isolation, the woman begins to conjure up a figure trapped within the confines of the yellow wallpaper that covers her room, a definite metaphor for her own feelings of entrapment. It is through this cleverly executed analogy that Perkins evokes this sense of incarceration and the woman's slow decline into madness so powerfully (I won't give away too much of the plot).
The Yellow Wallpaper is a truly compelling and perceptive story that highlights just how oppressive it was living in a male dominated society as a woman. Perkins' depiction of mental health from start to finish is exceptionally acute and provocative, no doubt her personal experience aided her greatly in recounting this character's 'nervous depression' and 'slight hysterical tendency.'
A beautifully heart-breaking story of a woman in confinement unable to fight back against a world dominated by men. A definite must read for all, it is very accessible and I guarantee it will leave you with a lot to think about, a second read is sure to be inevitable as it is nigh on impossible to fully appreciate the depth and detail of the story in one reading.
Similar literature you might also like: The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde, The Tales and Poems of Edgar Allan Poe
BG
No comments:
Post a Comment