Yellow Wallpaper
Chelsey French
Stacy Phillips
ENGL 1010
November 28, 2012
The Yellow Wallpaper Approximately 10 to 15% of women suffer from postpartum mood disorders, including postpartum depression, postpartum anxiety, and postpartum psychosis ("How Many Women Get Postpartum Depression? The Statistics on PPD"). “The Yellow Wallpaper” is a story about a woman, whose husband takes her away to a home out in the country. She is to believe that she has a temporary nervous condition, by which her husband, a doctor, has her to believe. As the story unfolds the reader comes to find out that the narrator has more than a nervous condition. It is clear to see that the narrator has postpartum psychosis. Postpartum psychosis has a wide range of symptoms, all of which the narrator of “The Yellow Wallpaper” exhibits. The disorder, which sets on up to several weeks after giving birth. Postpartum psychosis is characterized by symptoms of extreme agitation, confusion, exhilaration, and an inability to sleep or eat. It may also be difficult to maintain a normal conversation with a woman who has postpartum psychosis. She may also experience delusions, hallucinations, altered or impaired concept of reality, rapid mood swings, insomnia, and abnormal or obsessive thoughts. The narrator of the story shows many of the signs and symptoms of postpartum psychosis which sets up just weeks after giving birth. The description of the disorder fits almost perfectly with what can be seen from the narrator. Her actions, along with what she sees in the wallpaper of her room can be interpreted as symptoms of postpartum psychosis. The reader also knows that the narrator has given birth recently when she writes “it is fortunate Mary is so good with the Baby. Such a dear baby! And yet I cannot be with him, it makes me so nervous” (Gilman). Knowing that the narrator just had a baby is only reason that she is suffering from postpartum psychosis, because if she didn’t just have a baby then she could not have
Stacy Phillips
ENGL 1010
November 28, 2012
The Yellow Wallpaper Approximately 10 to 15% of women suffer from postpartum mood disorders, including postpartum depression, postpartum anxiety, and postpartum psychosis ("How Many Women Get Postpartum Depression? The Statistics on PPD"). “The Yellow Wallpaper” is a story about a woman, whose husband takes her away to a home out in the country. She is to believe that she has a temporary nervous condition, by which her husband, a doctor, has her to believe. As the story unfolds the reader comes to find out that the narrator has more than a nervous condition. It is clear to see that the narrator has postpartum psychosis. Postpartum psychosis has a wide range of symptoms, all of which the narrator of “The Yellow Wallpaper” exhibits. The disorder, which sets on up to several weeks after giving birth. Postpartum psychosis is characterized by symptoms of extreme agitation, confusion, exhilaration, and an inability to sleep or eat. It may also be difficult to maintain a normal conversation with a woman who has postpartum psychosis. She may also experience delusions, hallucinations, altered or impaired concept of reality, rapid mood swings, insomnia, and abnormal or obsessive thoughts. The narrator of the story shows many of the signs and symptoms of postpartum psychosis which sets up just weeks after giving birth. The description of the disorder fits almost perfectly with what can be seen from the narrator. Her actions, along with what she sees in the wallpaper of her room can be interpreted as symptoms of postpartum psychosis. The reader also knows that the narrator has given birth recently when she writes “it is fortunate Mary is so good with the Baby. Such a dear baby! And yet I cannot be with him, it makes me so nervous” (Gilman). Knowing that the narrator just had a baby is only reason that she is suffering from postpartum psychosis, because if she didn’t just have a baby then she could not have
Cited: "How Many Women Get Postpartum Depression? The Statistics on PPD." Postpartum Depression, Postpartum Progress, The Best Help & Hope for Moms. Web. 19 Nov. 2012 " Signs of Postpartum Psychosis - RightDiagnosis.com." Right Diagnosis. Web. 19 Nov. 2012. Gilman, Charlotte Perkins. "The Yellow Wallpaper - Charlotte Perkins Gilman." Women 's History - Comprehensive Research and Information Guide. Web. 20 Nov. 2012 " PsychiatryOnline , American Journal of Psychiatry, Postpartum Psychosis: Detection of Risk and Management." PsychiatryOnline Home. Web. 20 Nov. 2012. Gilman, Charlotte Perkins. "The Yellow Wall-paper: And Other Stories - Charlotte Perkins Gilman - Google Books." Google Books. Web. 21 Nov. 2012.