Like a Splinter in Your Mind, Driving You Mad

Jan McCutcheon
English 48B
Journal for Gilman



Author Quote:

"Personally, I disagree with their ideas. Personally, I believe that congenial work, with excitement and change, would do me good. But what is one to do?" (808-809).

Internet Quote:

Charlotte Perkins Gilman (July 3, 1860 – August 17, 1935) was a prominent American sociologist, novelist, writer of short stories, poetry, and nonfiction, and a lecturer for social reform. She was a utopian feminist during a time when her accomplishments were exceptional for women, and she served as a role model for future generations of feminists because of her unorthodox concepts and lifestyle. Her best remembered work today is her semi-autobiographical short story The Yellow Wallpaper which she wrote after a severe bout of postpartum psychosis. (Wikipedia)

The short story, The Yellow Wallpaper” is told from the point of view of a woman who’s worsening mental state is in response to the way women in the late 1800’s were treated for “hysteria.” In the story the woman is confined to bed rest to treat her postpartum depression. This parallels Gilman's real life hospitalization and the treatment where she was prescribed: “Live as domestic a life as possible. Have your child with you all the time... Lie down an hour after each meal. Have but two hours’ intellectual life a day. And never touch pen, brush or pencil as long as you live.” The character in the story disagrees with her husband’s insistence that she is not sick, but only needs rest. She realizes that resting and isolation is making her condition worse.


Being confined to bed rest might sound attractive in the short term but I believe after a few days it could begin to drive you mad. In the 1800’s there was little understanding of mental illness. What would now be treated as a brain injury or hormonal imbalance was treated as a “nervous breakdown.” Women were treated for “hysteria” differently than men. The thinking seemed to be that women needed to be more feminine, passive, calm and domestic. Men, on the other hand, were prescribed more manly pursuits, such as hunting and exercise. Gilman said “There is no female mind. The brain is not an organ of sex. Might as well speak of a female liver.” She realized the treatment for her own depression was divorce, sending her child to live with the father and writing.

While having an orderly household and raising children can be rewarding, it is also a tedious life which I think is unsuited for certain personalities. Having raised two separate families myself, I can relate to the character in this story slowly going insane due to lack of mental stimulation or creative outlet. When raising young children, I saw myself and my friends being confined to a domestic world that requires a great deal of attention to detail but most of it boring. Mothers often feel isolated and starved for adult conversation but quickly realize even when they have other adults around, they have little to discuss outside of food, play dates and bowel movements. Obviously children do need to be cared for, but I think most caregivers need to balance it with work, classes, art or other pursuits to keep from going brain dead. When I think of an intelligent, creative woman being confined to bed rest and isolation I can imagine how torturous that would be.