Written For a Purpose

In Gilman's On the Reception of the Yellow Wallpaper, I wondered at the last line: " In my judgement it is a pretty poor thing to write, to talk, without a purpose." Is the "purpose" for Gilman necessarily political? Is she attempting to make a general statement about or even critique of other writers misusing their craft? We discussed in class other reasons writers have articulated for doing what they do, many quite romantically and movingly, but there's something smart and buried in Gilman's thought here that I can't put my finger on. In Yellow Wallpaper, as in Stowe's Uncle Tom, the text functions as rhetoric We know that The Yellow Wallpaper, like many other works by women authors we've read in this class ask us to sympathize with the minority in society, someone who is disaffected or misunderstood because of gender, race, class, or disability.

1st person intimacy in "The Yellow Wallpaper"

I think that the reason that "The Yellow Wallpaper" is so disturbing and upsetting is because it is written in diary format.  The reader instantly becomes intimate with Jane, and the reader can be confident that Jane is a reliable narrator, as diaries are where people divulge their secrets and true feelings (even if her thinking  and rationale is not logical to the normal person, it is logical to her, thus making her a reliable narrator).  I would venture a guess that so many people enjoy reading "The Yellow Wallpaper" because of this intimacy.

Because Jane is freely able to express her ideas in her diary, the reader is able to see that John, her husband, "does not believe [she is] sick" (1684).  This automatically turns the reader against doctors (and possibly men in general), as well as confirming that Jane really is suffering from a neurological disease.  However, Jane starts to feel guilty of her issues, saying that she "meant to be such a help to John, such a real rest and comfort, and here I am a comparative burden already!" (1686).  Again, the reader should automatically have sympathy toward Jane, and contempt toward doctors (or, again, to men in general). 

Since the reader is able to connect with Jane on such an intimate level, the short story becomes horrifying.  First, Jane seems so innocent and sweet, and it is very sad to realize that she is suffering, and no one is able (or willing) to do anything about it.  John may be somewhat naive, but he tries to force her to believe that bed rest will help her, saying "You know the place is doing you good" (1686).  Second, the "real" horror story is that this could potentially happen to anyone.  No one is safe from psychological disorders, and delving into the mind of a suffering individual brings about the terror that something like this could someday happen to the reader.  Personally, I feel that the story would have less of an impact if it was written in 3rd person (and it would be completely unreliable), and I think it would even have less of an impact if it was done in standard 1st person.  The diary format presents the story through an unfiltered lens, allowing the reader to fully trust Jane.

"The Yellow Wallpaper" is not the only form of literature to employ this tactic.  Dracula, in my opinion one of the greatest works of literature of all time, makes the reader feel like the vampires are real because of the 1st person diary form.  Obviously, the idea behind Dracula is ridiculous (sorry Twilight fans), but Stoker makes the situation feel so real, thus creating the terror that many felt when reading the novel.  In film, a genre that is becoming more and more popular with recent success is the camcorder style.  This presents the same kind of 1st person intimacy that diary form does, and movies such as The Blair Witch Project, Cloverfield, Diary of the Dead, and Troll Hunter have made absolutely ridiculous premises feel real.  While viewing these movies, you feel as though you are actually there, as the camcorder acts as your own two eyes.  If anyone loves horror movies, check out as many camcorder style movies as possible, you won't be disappointed!

Does anyone agree with me that the 1st person intimacy is what truly makes "The Yellow Wallpaper" frightening?

Discussion Questions Regarding Gilman

1. After learning the reason behind Gilman writing “The Yellow Wallpaper”, which was to bring to light the malpractice of Dr. S. Weir Mitchell, do you feel differently about your initial conclusions involving the story? Was this indeed a victory for feminism?
2. Gilman mentioned that the story was supposed to be dreadful, much like Edgar Allen Poe. However, do you feel that this piece is as timeless as his works?

Discussion Questions for 2/29. Leap Day!

I’m not feeling well this morning so I am unable to come to class, but I thought I would post my questions anyway.

1. There are a lot of examples of people coming out in support of “The Yellow Wallpaper” after its publication because of their own similar experiences. Do you think she wrote the story with others in mind or only her own case?

2. Did Gilman really write this story from a feminist perspective? Obvious connections are drawn to a feminist interpretation, but in “Why I Wrote The Yellow Wallpaper” it sounds like her motives were based more in her opposition to the practice of the “rest cure.”

Questions for 2/29/12

1) Gilman makes a point on saying that her correspondant asked her if she "had been there." How important is it if she had? Would it have changed our perspective on the story if she hadn't?

2) The Yellow Wallpaper is an excellent picture of depression and a psychotic break from reality. The parallels between Gilman, Poe, and Lovecraft are, to me at least, evident. While Gilman was not a writer of the macabre, do you see her influence in modern horror?

Questions 2/29

1. It seems as if Gilman wrote "The Yellow Wall-paper" simply to show her doctor what he had almost done to her. Is this spite or helping others?

2. How does Gilman's personal trauma make this story a perfect glimpse into insanity? Is this an effective device or is she too close to the situation?

Discussion Questions: "Why I Wrote 'The Yellow Wallpaper'"

February 29, 2012

1. After reading both "The Yellow WallPaper" and "Why I wrote 'The Yellow Wallpaper,'" what is your personal opinion as to why Gilman  may have written this eerie piece? Explain your answer.

2. With knowing what we, as students in English 360, know about Charlotte Gilman, do you think she was offended when someone said that reading her story was enough to drive anyone mad? Why or why not?

Discussion Questions for 2/29

1. Charlotte Perkins Gilman says that she suffered from a spiraling depression due to melancholia. What exactly is this disease? Do you think it could have anything to do with an oppressive male figure, as some believe "The Yellow Wallpaper" suggests?

2. Although she seems very humble in this article, she continually and indirectly praises her work. Do you  think this is a reaction to the diagnosis of the first specialist she saw?

Questions for 2/29

1. In "On the Reception of 'The Yellow Wallpaper,'" Gilman compares herself to Poe by saying one of his stories would have been rejected as well. Did she intend for this to be more of a ghost story than we give her credit for?

2. Was her main intention to save other women from her own fate?

Questions 2/29

1. The idea of being "crazy" to most of the world is not being able to function in normal society. This being said, the wife in "The Yellow Wall-paper" never hurt anyone or really even herself, should she have been institutionalized?

2.Why do you suppose her name is only suggested at, but never plainly stated?

3. Could she have potentially had a career at least as a successful interior designer?

Questions 2/29

1. If you were crazy would you rather rest or work? Do you think resting and not doing any work would make you crazier?

2. Do you think "The Yellow Wallpaper" really helped change the way doctors treated crazy people? Can you think of methods today that strive to help crazy people work and be productive?

The Yellow Wallpaper- A 19th Century Horror

I read this story once before but don't remember it having the same impact as it did this time. I enjoyed the discussion we had in class because we discussed feminism, supernatural, insanity, and horror. I believe there is definitely an element of horror within "The Yellow Wallpaper." I found (Jane's?) descent into insanity very similar to Jack's in "The Shining." Perhaps insanity itself is a horror element caused by the fear most people have of becoming insane. It is scary to watch someone as they slip further and further into madness, but it would be even more scary to think of that happening to you. Gilman took me by the hand and led me through the depths of insanity until it's frightening conclusion. I found the ending was the most frightening part of the story. As Dr. H. mentioned, I visualized the ending very similar to the movie "The Ring." I could see (Jane?) creeping along the side of the wall with a look of madness in her eyes that frightened her husband so much he fainted. The thought of her repeatedly circling around that room, creeping "over him every time," sends chills up my spine (Gilman 1695). I would believe that at the time it was written this would have definitely been a horror story comparable to Poe. I'm sure it also would have been a story people found difficult to believe could have been written by a woman in this time period.