The Expression Hub

Author: Charlotte Perkins Gilman

Genre:Short story fiction

“I know what its like to be afraid of your own mind.”

Spencer Reid

Continuing with the series revolving around women as part of the International Women’s Month, this week’s pick might not be for the faint-hearted. The reason why I say this is because this one deals with an issue which was supposed to be a stigma until recently and revolves around a woman dealing with it. The issue I am talking about is mental health. Mental health is an issue which apart from women empowerment is close to my heart. The reason being simple I know what it feels like when you are not in proper shape mentally and people not taking it seriously. Lord Krishna in Bhagwad Gita underlines the same in the 6th shloka of 6th chapter. Those who are not familiar with what the Bhagwad Gita is,the answer is it is a part of the Mahabharata where Lord Krishna delivers a spiritual discourse to his friend Arjuna during the war.To put it in the words of him, he says, “Your mind is your great friend if you control it, but your mind is your greatest enemy if it controls you.” Such is the power of our minds which has the ability to create whatever we desire the good as well as the bad depending upon how we let our minds work.

Generally, I would have picked up a long read and read it and reviewed it.But this time, I genuinely fell short of time due to me juggling various roles. So, this time it was a very short read which was pretty thought- provoking . The reason for this is the book which I am about to talk about talks about a time period in which mental health was not considered serious and was equated to being mad. This was because in olden days mental health was considered as a taboo. Its a shame that people suffered a lot in the olden days. But thank God we live in the times where it is okay to be not okay.We still have a long way to go when it comes to addressing mental health issues but its heartening to know that we have at least started addressing and taking steps for the same. So, presenting to you all the pick of the week- a short story named the Yellow wall paper. The name might sound strange but you will find it why it is appropriate as you read on.

About the book : The Yellow Wallpaper is a collection of journal entries narrated in the first person. It is a journal written by a woman whose doctor husband has rented an old mansion for the summer. The doctor husband forbids his wife to work or write and encourages her to eat well and have plenty of rest as she is suffering from a slight hysterical tendency- a thing which was common during that times. But as the story progresses, we witness what can be called a descent into madness as she has nothing to do but witness the yellow wall paper in her room.

What causes her to fall in such state and why does her doctor husband to faint one day as she refuses to unlock her door one day is a matter to be discovered as you unfold the pages of the book. No spoiler alerts I promise.

Analysis: The book is considered as a revolutionary in many cases . This is because the author has expanded upon many issues such as the lack of life outside the home and the oppressive forces of a highly patriarchal society. This can be highlighted in the scene where the narrator or the main protagonist despite knowing her best interests is shut down as well as ignored by her doctor husband . Women were depicted mentally fragile despite the fact that they were the ones who endured the most. This story is also revolutionary as it was written as a form of defiance. Women were not allowed to write as it would lead to forming an identity and become a form of defiance.But this writer defied the norms and paved way for writers such as Alice Walker and Sylvia Plath who were revolutionary writers in their times.

This story is also revolutionary in the way that it led to change in the treatment which was earlier prescribed by doctors. Earlier doctors used to prescribe a strict rest cure regimen which involved only bed rest and a blanket ban on activities like painting, writing and reading. But Charlotte Gilman after being close to a nervous breakdown challenged the doctor’s diagnosis and started writing again. This work was a piece of protest against the existing medical practices to cure depression . I really can imagine what guts the author must have had to defy an existing medical practice and be a trend setter. Hats off to her undying conviction in herself which proved her right. This is the reason why one should read this revolutionary piece of work.

This book might appear to be scary for some as the way the author has portrayed her figments of imagination through the protagonist. If you are the one who is easily scared by the vivid descriptions which might play with your mind then it is highly recommended to not read this piece. Another thing which you might encounter is that maybe you might not understand the piece of literary work and might have to re-read the story again to interpret it. These are the only negative things which I could find.

Verdict: This one is a must read for all the feminists out there like me :p Do give it a read to witness how women were in the 19th century. Do give it a read as this is symbol of defiance as this story paved a way for other female authors who were groundbreaking in their own ways. Do give it a read if you are a person who loves to delve into the understanding of the human mind. Do not read if you are the one who is scared of vivid portrayals. Do not read if you are not comfortable with reading stories which have a feel of horror but are not.

Rating: *** and a 1/2 stars

Cite Bite:”I’m sure I never used to be so sensitive. I think it is due to this nervous condition.”