The novel, ‘The Yellow Wallpaper’ is an illustration of the various challenges that women faced prior to the emergence of the feminists and gender advocates (Gilman, 2013). The story by Gilman elaborates fully on the challenges the character (unnamed female) undergoes after her post partum. This condition was merely a nervous condition that needed to be examined by a physician but due to the female insubordination in those decades; the woman was enclosed in a yellow walled room (Gilman, 2013). Yellow in her society was known to be a color of sickness.
She could address the worsening of her condition to the fact that her husband, John, was a physician (Gilman, 2013). Males dominated in all circles of human life and it was the case with her husband hence she could not contributed in outlining the treatment she deserved. Secondly, women were however to stay indoors undertaking house chores and this denied women an opportunity to interact. Failure to have treatment, the women becomes insane, an aspect that is all accounted to male domination (Gilman, 2013). Treatment to recommend
From the knowledge of psychopathology, the study of mental disorders that employs a scientific approach, the woman was suffering from a nervous disorder and postpartum depression to be specific (Rosenberg, 2003). The best treatment to recommend to such a victim could purely be the antidepressants. This can work to bring about an increased energy levels, increased sleep as well as appetite (Rosenberg, 2003). However, the antidepressants do not work fully in getting rid of the depressing situations. This then calls for a cognitive behavioral therapy.
This can be the first in case of depression especially in the case of moderate or mild symptoms but for the case of the “ woman” in the fictional writing, it was recommendable to start with the anti-depressants (Rosenberg, 2003). Diagnosis In the diagnosis criteria for the postpartum depression the physicians gathers information of the victim in relation to their medical backgrounds, family and socialization process in general and close examination of the of the victim’s mental health history (Jeremiah, 2003).
The woman in the novel exhibits the various symptoms including restlessness, feelings of anxiety and general irritation She also has obsessive fantasies about the yellow wallpaper and an uncontrollable power to her mind. She also have the feeling of worthlessness as observed in the novel while she remarks ‘I meant to be such a help to John and here am a comparative burden already’ (Jeremiah, 2003). This represents the protagonist who shows low esteem on herself. She shows her nervousness while remarking that she cannot be with her baby.
The heroine was assisted while in her sick conditions since her friends brought up the baby. This is also a great part in the diagnosis process since the patient lacks value of the surrounding and even she may cause injury to the baby (Rosenberg, 2003). Relevance of the story for today The story is very relevant for today in that it educates not only women, who according to majority of the critics of the feminist studies find to render women a rebel creature, but also to entire human population whereby they can employ the art of treating every creature with dignity.
The heroine was subjected to malpractices only because the society had a place for men. The women territory ‘house’ shows how woman’s power is limited and roles tied only to household chores (Gilman, 1980). Gilman is then seen to be inquisitive on glorification of a woman and the motherhood roles that can be of great significance to the today’s woman. This also made a platform for the contemporary feminists. Furthermore it has been to be a cry that since the place that they were in her century is not the place of women today.
Women are nearly occupying the place of men with the shared responsibilities (Gilman, 1980). Style and purpose of writing The author, Gilman assumes a fictional style. In close examination of this text, it is only best to deduce that the story is her autobiography. The struggles she faced are all portrayed in the heroine’s experiences depicts what she really faced in the marriage life, profession and even her health state.
The heroine character that remains anonymous till the end of the story finds her conditions of health going worst, an expression of how Gilman really struggled in her health life. The heroine’s view of men is a direct representation of the Gilman’s built opinion as far as male dominance was concerned. Her purpose of writing being singly to call for feminist awakening, are vividly outlined throughout the text that majorly focuses on the heroines wishes. Gender roles
According to the narrator, the gender division of labor constraints women to the domestic chores in the Victorian society in the eighteenth century America (Gilman, 1980). Women are perceived as wives and mothers. The art of writing that the heroine finds engaged in is also challenged by her husband and she really struggles to make the women understand that the role of being a mother and a wife should go hand in hand with a profession. The narrator also shows that she should have time to relate to other women (Gilman, 1980).
However in her artistic expression of the relationship, the contemporary feminists’ scholars may challenge her in that they will be finding a new reformed state of a woman. Conclusion The fictional writing by Gilman is a multidimensional story that cuts across the position of a woman in the American Society of the eighteenth and mid nineteenth century. The psychopathologists play a great role in the contemporary society and also learn broadly from the story in the addressing of human mental disorders and its relation to the socio-cultural behavior (Rosenberg, 2003).
