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james1star's review against another edition
challenging
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I wanted to read this as many reviewers of ‘Her’ (finished earlier this month) said they read this after having a good experience with ‘The Yellow Wallpaper’ and it’s messages but we’re disappointed at ‘Her’ which I would say is true. This is by far a better story and had more of an impact despite being a fraction of the length.
I don’t fully get it the first time round so reread it straight after alongside an audiobook and I was definitely able to get more out of it. So maybe try this if you feel slightly lost at a first glance.
We follow an unnamed protagonist who is essentially confined to a room in a house in the country after her husband and brother (physicians) thought such a stay would do her good. She has a baby with a nanny taking responsibilities so it’s possible the MC is suffering from a bout of postpartum depression but her real mental health issues are pushed aside as mere hysteria, something many women at the time were institutionalised for. Her husband John seems to belittle the protagonist at times, not really taking her concerns and feelings into account - again something common then (and still now), in how men believed women would just submit and go along with what they wanted/said.
The MC spends hours upon hours of each day stuck in a room plastered with an ugly, deteriorating yellow wallpaper. Here, she becomes infatuated and hooked searching for a pattern and meaning so instead of helping her to get better, this stay actually leads her to a sort of mental breakdown and decent into insanity. She believes a woman is leaving during the day, sneaking around and is out to get her. It is quite a frightening read in parts.
The writing is definitely not the most lyrical or beautifully penned piece of literature and so from this perspective, it lacks weight. But I believe Gilman didn’t really set out for it do so. Instead, it’s portrayal of a woman’s marriage and deteriorating mental state are more important, with clear messages on the harm that such attitudes towards women and mental illness can have. Would recommend this short little story, it’s very accessible and can throw up many discussions that we should be having.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Confinement, Mental illness, Misogyny, and Sexism
paolamor's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Es una lectura concisa e impactante que permite adentrarnos en la triste realidad femenina; interpretándose en nuestra actualidad. Sin duda, es un referencial pertinente en la salud mental y su papel en la construcción social de la mujer.
Content Warnings
Minor: Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Misogyny, Medical trauma, and Gaslighting
solliereads's review against another edition
dark
informative
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Charlotte Perkins Gilman has been called a "trailblazer" within the women's movement, and I consider "The Yellow Wallpaper" an essential text for any budding feminist. The tale is inspired by her own, very real, experiences with the old "rest-cure" - the function of which was to reduce all forms of intellectual and mental stimulation - that are interwoven into a style typical of gothic literature. Gilman herself reported feeling driven near to insanity by this "cure", and began to vocally protest against it and became a key advocate for feminism and women's movements at the time. It's a remarkably short read, and minces no words - every single one is meaningful and important, and it's absolutely worth a read.
Her husband represents the oppressive patriarchy and the blaming on female hysterics that any negative symptom of mental or physical health received. I also believe the trapped woman in the wallpaper really represents the narrator's own feelings of being trapped, and slowly driven to madness and her slow descent into mental unwellness is tragic entirely because of how preventable it is, if only men would take the time to listen to women and their needs and wants.
Although this book can be considered representative of women's experiences at the time, I still believe it's a crucial read and it is vital to continue to examine how women's health, physical and psychological, is often dismissed and reduced even now.
I'm currently reading "Unwell Women" by Elinor Cleghorn, and her work has done wonders in terms of providing well-needed context to this short story, and I would definitely recommend it - it really helped with my own study and analysis of the work.
Although this book can be considered representative of women's experiences at the time, I still believe it's a crucial read and it is vital to continue to examine how women's health, physical and psychological, is often dismissed and reduced even now.
I'm currently reading "Unwell Women" by Elinor Cleghorn, and her work has done wonders in terms of providing well-needed context to this short story, and I would definitely recommend it - it really helped with my own study and analysis of the work.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement, Mental illness, and Misogyny
Moderate: Emotional abuse
bookiemadi's review against another edition
dark
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement, Mental illness, and Misogyny
Moderate: Suicidal thoughts and Gaslighting
studydniowka's review against another edition
dark
emotional
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Nie zrobiła na mnie szczególnego wrażenia, będę musiała ją kiedyś przeczytać ponownie.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Mental illness, Misogyny, Sexism, Forced institutionalization, Grief, and Abandonment
chaoticnostalgia's review against another edition
dark
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Misogyny, Sexism, Toxic relationship, and Gaslighting
authormelissameyer's review against another edition
dark
emotional
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Chronic illness, Confinement, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Misogyny, Sexism, Toxic relationship, Forced institutionalization, and Gaslighting
segeary602's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Misogyny, and Pregnancy
cambrand's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Soul-wrenching, nauseating, visceral. The Yellow Wallpaper is terrifying and women understand why too well, specially if they’ve suffered a chronic condition. “It is so hard to talk to John about my case, because he is so wise, and because he loves me so.” Felt like a punch in the throat. Read it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism, Body horror, Chronic illness, Confinement, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Misogyny, Sexism, Toxic relationship, Forced institutionalization, Grief, Medical trauma, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Pregnancy, and Gaslighting
ggcd1981's review against another edition
challenging
dark
informative
reflective
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
O papel de parede amarelo, escrito por Charlotte Perkins Gilman, é um dos precursores da literatura feminista Americana. Esse conto retrata atitudes e tratamentos do século XIX para saúde mental e física da mulher. Na obra uma mulher diagnosticada com depressão nervosa temporária e leve tendência histérica narra sua experiência do tratamento que seu médico e seu esposo, também médico, a sujeitam. Parte desse tratamento é ficar confinada a um cômodo da casa. A personagem, apesar de sem nome, é muito interessante pois de início tive a impressão de que ela estava acostumada a atividade física e mental e devido a seu estado nervoso foi forçada a interromper essas atividades. A atmosfera do livro é de loucura o que gera o terror da obra pois é através do progressivamente alterado estado mental da protagonista que vemos o mundo e pessoas ao redor dela. Quanto a escrita, eu li a tradução para o português, logo minha opinião sobre esta pode estar enviesada, mas no geral gostei. Em alguns poucos momentos acredito que a tradução teve algumas fraquezas, mas o clima de terror da história e da personagem foi suficientemente transmitido. O enredo é simples, uma mulher que após dar luz a um filho passa por uma depressão e é levada a uma casa alugada pelo marido e colocada em um quarto, lá é proibida pelo seu médico e seu marido de receber qualquer “demasiado estimulo” mental e físico. Assim o livro mostra o processo de enlouquecimento da personagem que por falta de outras atividades passa a ficar fixada no “feio” papel de parede amarelo do quarto. O conto foi extremamente intrigante. Ler a erosão da razão da protagonista foi angustiante e fascinante ao mesmo tempo. Não podia deixar de pensar em como aquela história seria concluída e, na minha opinião, o final foi excelente e arrepiante. Aquela cena final ficou na minha mente. O papel de parede amarelo não tem realmente uma lógica interna pois o leitor está o tempo todo na cabeça de alguém mentalmente instável e piorando progressivamente. Apesar disso a história contada, mesmo de forma desconexa, prende o leitor. Esse conto me intrigou, me entreteve, me deu uma melhor visão de como eram tratadas doenças mentais nas mulheres do século XIX e fez tudo isso enquanto sendo um conto de terror sinistro com um fim arrepiante. Diante disso tenho que dar 5 estrelas.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness and Misogyny
Moderate: Confinement