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Charlotte Perkins Gilman, "The Yellow Wallpaper"

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The author and her story

Although there are parallels between Gilman's own postpartum depression and treatment and that of the narrator in "The Yellow Wallpaper," there are many indications in the story that this is a carefully crafted work of fiction with some key differences (Gilman, for example, was not in a room with yellow wallpaper). You should also consult Mary Beekman's paper on Gilman's life and work as a social scientist and feminist. Consider the relationship between an author and her fiction, in particular how one's reading of the story could be limited if one considered the text to be primarily autobiographical.

Comparison with other Gilman works

It's often very useful to read stories in the context of the writer's other works. The style of "The Yellow Wallpaper," for example, is not typical of Gilman's work, although it does share the feminist themes that she consistently addressed throughout her long writing career. Go to the University of Virginia Electronic Text Center and read Herland (a 1915 utopian novella).

What ties do you see between her works? How does the different genre or style in which she writes these works affect your response to her message? Respond to the Brooks essay about her style in the context of other writing of her time.

Gilman and Chopin

Another woman writer working at the same time as Gilman and addressing the restraints of middle-class marriage was Kate Chopin. Choose one of her online works from "The Awakening" and Selected Short Stories ("A Pair of Silk Stockings" is particularly appropriate) or "The Story of an Hour." How do these stories represent power, rebellion, desire, and/or women's identity?

Interpretations and Issues

Clearly, readers are puzzled, provoked, and stimulated by this story. Some take a distinctively feminist approach, others a psychological approach, and some a more historical/biographical one. There are distinct disagreements and questions which remain unanswered. Such debates are also conducted by the many academic critics who have written on this story in journals and books. In addition, there are several video/film interpretations of the story; a script for one is online, and there is a notable 60-minute PBS production available on video.

Consider several works of criticism and interpretation. Define what seem to be the major issues, and place your own interpretation in that context. You might focus on one issue in particular and write about its presence in the different interpretations that you find.

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