The Yellow Wallpaper

The Yellow Wallpaper is a powerful and unsettling short story that explores themes of mental health, gender roles, and societal expectations in the late 19th century. Written in the form of a journal, it chronicles the experiences of a woman suffering from postpartum depression, who is subjected to the "rest cure" treatment—a common practice of the time that enforced isolation and forbade intellectual stimulation. Confined to a single room by her husband, John, a physician who dismisses her concerns, the unnamed narrator becomes obsessed with the room's yellow wallpaper. As days pass, she perceives patterns in the wallpaper as a reflection of her own mental entrapment and begins to imagine a woman trapped behind it, struggling to break free. Her isolation and lack of agency lead to a profound psychological breakdown, culminating in a harrowing and ambiguous climax. Through its haunting narrative, The Yellow Wallpaper critiques the oppressive treatment of women and the ignorance surrounding mental health in the 19th century. Gilman’s story remains a landmark work of feminist literature, resonating with readers for its timeless relevance and unflinching exploration of psychological distress. (This is an automatically generated summary.)