Feminism In The Yellow Wallpaper, By Charlotte Perkins Gilman

“It was not intended to drive people crazy, but to save people from being driven crazy, and it worked” (Gilman P). Charlotte Perkins Gilman said this as to why she wrote “The Yellow Wallpaper.” There has been debate among scholars whether Gilman should be considered a feminist or not. The definition of feminism is the advocacy of women’s rights on the basis of the equality of the sexes. Whether Charlotte Perkins Gilman intended to or not, “The Yellow Wallpaper” is a feminist piece of literature because of its message regarding women’s healthcare, the issue with women’s subjugation to men, and Gilman’s motivation for writing the story. The first point as to why “The Yellow Wallpaper” is a feminist piece of literature is the story’s message regarding
One aspect of healthcare that is closely looked at is mental illness and treatment options. In this story, a narrator suffers from postpartum depression and is prescribed rest cure by her husband, who is a physician. The rest cure was a treatment option for women suffering from mental breaks during Gilman’s time. Being prescribed the rest cure meant a woman would stop her life and start living in isolation. The narrator continues to suffer from depression even after being prescribed the rest cure. She becomes obsessed with the yellow wallpaper in her room. This yellow wallpaper symbolizes the narrator's lack of freedom. The wallpaper incases her and keeps her trapped from the outside world. Not only does “The Yellow Wallpaper” bring light to mental illness of women and treatment options, but also many other healthcare issues. Reproduction is another issue that Gilman highlights on. The birth of a child can either be a source of strength or weakness for a mother. This is not only demonstrated in the narrator of the story, but