History Literature / TheYellowWallpaper

** The condition the narrator is being "treated" for, [[HystericalWoman hysteria]] ''was'' an actual diagnosis for literally anything from postpartum depression, to endometriosis, to PMS or PMDD, to polycystic ovarian syndrome, to migraines, to bipolar disorder, to various types of cancer, to post-traumatic stress disorder, and even things like being a lesbian, or not wanting to have children, or wanting to pursue higher education and/or work outside the home, wanting a divorce, or actually enjoying sex. This bullshit diagnosis persisted ''all the way into TheSeventies'', leading to many women needlessly suffering from both the disease they ''actually'' had [[note]] If, you know, they were ''actually'' sick, and not just deviating from AcceptableFeminineGoals of that time... [[/note]], plus the "treatment" for the "disease" they were diagnosed with. This included the aforementioned "rest cure," [[GroinAttack cutting or burning the clitoris and/or labia]], being sent to a BedlamHouse, electroshock "therapy," {{Lobotomy}}, and even [[RapePortrayedAsRedemption rape]].

** The condition the narrator is being "treated" for, [[HystericalWoman hysteria]] ''was'' an actual diagnosis for literally anything from postpartum depression, to endometriosis, to PMS or PMDD, to polycystic ovarian syndrome, to migraines, to bipolar disorder, to various types of cancer, to post-traumatic stress disorder, and even things like being a lesbian, or not wanting to have children, or wanting to pursue higher education and/or work outside the home, wanting a divorce, or actually enjoying sex. This bullshit diagnosis persisted ''all the way into TheSeventies'', leading to many women needlessly suffering from both the disease they ''actually'' had, plus the "treatment" for the "disease" they were diagnosed with. This included the aforementioned "rest cure," [[GroinAttack cutting or burning the clitoris and/or labia]], being sent to a BedlamHouse, electroshock "therapy," {{Lobotomy}}, and even [[RapePortrayedAsRedemption rape]].

** Yes, isolation (aka the "rest cure") was a treatment used in the late 19th century. Yes, it was quackery.

** The condition the narrator is being "treated" for, [[HystericalWoman hysteria]] ''was'' an actual diagnosis for literally anything from postpartum depression, to endometriosis, to PMS or PMDD, to polycystic ovarian syndrome, to migraines, to bipolar disorder, to various types of cancer, to post-traumatic stress disorder, and even things like being a lesbian, or not wanting to have children, or wanting to pursue higher education and/or work outside the home, wanting a divorce, or actually enjoying sex. This bullshit diagnosis persisted ''all the way into TheSeventies'', leading to many women needlessly suffering from both the disease they ''actually'' had, plus the "treatment" for the "disease" they were diagnosed with. This included the aforementioned "rest cure," [[GroinAttack cutting or burning the clitoris and/or labia]], being sent to a BedlamHouse, and even [[RapePortrayedAsRedemption rape]].

* TheOphelia: [[spoiler:The narrator, by the end]].

* AdaptationExpansion: The film adaptation gives the narrator a name, expands a bit on her (meager, tiny) social life, and expands on the character of her husband, John.

* {{Hypocrite}}: In the film, John. He gives a lecture on the importance of mental stimulation, exercise, and fresh air--[[spoiler:while his isolated, cloistered wife is having her psychotic break in the attic]].

* NamedByTheAdaptation: The narrator is named "[[AuthorAvatar Charlotte]]" in the film adaptation.

A landmark feminist work, its depiction of postpartum psychosis was also an inspiration for early [[CosmicHorrorStory cosmic horror]], in particular ''Literature/TheKingInYellow''. [[http://grimreviews.blogspot.com/2011/03/hp-lovecraft-on-yellow-wallpaper-by.html Note]] that Creator/HPLovecraft may have named the Gilman family after her when writing ''Literature/TheShadowOverInnsmouth'' (and as a pun on "gill"). In 2011, a film version of the story was released.

* AuthorAvatar

* BerthaInTheAttic

* GoMadFromTheIsolation

* MindScrew

* CreatorBreakdown: The story becomes even more disturbing when you find out that it was based on Gilman's own experiences with depression and Victorian-era doctors.

* PurpleProse: It's deliberately written this way to show her boredom. All she has ''time'' to do is overly describe the room she's in.

A landmark feminist work, its depiction of postpartum psychosis was also an inspiration for early [[CosmicHorrorStory cosmic horror]], in particular ''TheKingInYellow''. [[http://grimreviews.blogspot.com/2011/03/hp-lovecraft-on-yellow-wallpaper-by.html Note]] that Creator/HPLovecraft may have named the Gilman family after her when writing ''Literature/TheShadowOverInnsmouth'' (and as a pun on "gill"). In 2011, a film version of the story was released.

"[[http://www.library.csi.cuny.edu/dept/history/lavender/wallpaper.html The Yellow Wallpaper]]" is a semi-autobiographical short story written in 1891 by Charlotte Perkins Gilman. It takes the perspective of a young woman who has been ordered to continuous bedrest as a treatment for hysteria. Trapped in a small room in her husband's country house, with nothing to do all day but sleep and write in her journal, she starts to dwell upon the dingy yellow wallpaper that decorates the place. In her boredom, she begins to see women crouching, cowering, trapped in the walls...

* HystericalWoman: The narrator.

A landmark feminist work, its depiction of postpartum psychosis was also an inspiration for early [[CosmicHorrorStory cosmic horror]], in particular ''TheKingInYellow''. [[http://grimreviews.blogspot.com/2011/03/hp-lovecraft-on-yellow-wallpaper-by.html Note]] that Creator/HPLovecraft named the Gilman family after her in ''The Shadow Over Innsmouth'' (and as a pun on "gill"). In 2011, a film version of the story was released.

* PurpleProse

* NoNameGiven: The narrator. The film adaptation gave her the name "[[AuthorAvatar Charlotte]]." Some conclude from a line near the end that the narrator is named Jane, as there was no mention of a character named Jane previously in the story.

* AdaptationExpansion: The film adaptation gives the narrator a name, expands a bit on her (meager, tiny) social life, and expands on the character of her husband, John--who is here both her husband ''and'' her doctor.
** He was her husband and doctor in the original short story as well.

A landmark feminist work, its depiction of postpartum psychosis was also an inspiration for early [[CosmicHorrorStory cosmic horror]], in particular ''TheKingInYellow''. [[http://grimreviews.blogspot.com/2011/03/hp-lovecraft-on-yellow-wallpaper-by.html Note]] that HPLovecraft named the Gilman family after her in ''The Shadow Over Innsmouth'' (and as a pun on "gill"). In 2011, a film version of the story was released.

* AluminumChristmasTrees:

''[[http://www.library.csi.cuny.edu/dept/history/lavender/wallpaper.html The Yellow Wallpaper]]'' is a semi-autobiographical short story written in 1891 by Charlotte Perkins Gilman. It takes the perspective of a young woman who has been ordered to continuous bedrest as a treatment for hysteria. Trapped in a small room in her husband's country house, with nothing to do all day but sleep and write in her journal, she starts to dwell upon the dingy yellow wallpaper that decorates the place. In her boredom, she begins to see women crouching, cowering, trapped in the walls...

* AdaptationExpansion: The film adaptation gives the narrator a name, expands a bit on her (meager, tiny) social life, and expands on the character of her husband, John - who is here both her husband ''and'' her doctor.

** Yes, isolation (aka the "rest cure") was a treatment used around the turn-of-the-century. Yes, it was quackery.
** Also the so-called 'nerve tonic' she was required to ingest regularly. The active ingredient of such medications were usually [[DrugsAreBad alcohol and/or cocaine]].

* BabiesMakeEverythingBetter: Subverted. It's implied that the narrator's hysteria is at least partially due to post-partum depression. Her baby hardly enters into the story.

* {{Hypocrite}}: In the film, John. He gives a lecture on the importance of mental stimulation, exercise, and fresh air -- [[spoiler: while his isolated, cloistered wife is having her psychotic break in the attic]].