The Yellow Wallpaper

by Charlotte Perkins Stetson

"The Yellow Wallpaper" is a classic novella written by American author Charlotte Perkins Gilman. Published in 1892, this compelling and thought-provoking work of feminist literature has garnered significant attention over the years, leading to steady sales and enduring popularity. Set in the late 19th century, the story revolves around a nameless female narrator who is struggling with what is then diagnosed as "nervous depression" or "hysteria." Her husband, John, who is also her physician, prescribes the "rest cure," a common treatment at the time. As part of this treatment, the narrator is confined to a room in their summer house, isolated from the outside world, and forbidden from any intellectual or creative activity. The only stimulus she has is the room's yellow wallpaper, which she becomes increasingly fixated upon. The novella is a powerful exploration of the protagonist's descent into madness as she grapples with her confinement, the stifling expectations of society, and her own deteriorating mental state. The yellow wallpaper itself becomes a symbol of her inner turmoil and the oppressive nature of the patriarchal society she inhabits. Charlotte Perkins Gilman wrote "The Yellow Wallpaper" as a form of social commentary, critiquing the prevailing medical and societal attitudes towards women's mental health and autonomy. The book's feminist themes, vividly depicted psychological horror, and its critique of the medical establishment struck a chord with readers then and continues to resonate with modern audiences. Over the years, "The Yellow Wallpaper" has been studied in literature courses, feminist discussions, and mental health contexts. Its enduring relevance and powerful message have contributed to consistent sales and a lasting legacy in the world of literature. This classic novella continues to captivate and challenge readers, making it a must-read for those interested in exploring the intersection of gender, mental health, and societal norms.

Genres: Classics, Short Stories, Fiction, Horror, Feminism, School, Gothic

33 pages, Paperback

Published September 18, 2023

Reviews

[Rachel Sandler]

Girl, kill him, you deserve a treat.

[Stephanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Yellow Wallpaper is a short but powerful story about a woman slowly losing her mind while being kept isolated in a room for “rest.” Her husband seems to mean well, but he does not listen to her, and that makes things worse. Charlotte Perkins Gilman quickly shows how damaging it can be when people are not heard or taken seriously.

The story feels tense and a little creepy. The wallpaper in the room becomes a strange and scary symbol of her growing fear and frustration. It’s not full of action, but it pulls you in and makes you think.

I recommend it if you like stories that are emotional, unsettling, and still feel important today. I listened for free on Spotify during my evening walk.

[Maddison Micetick · Rating 5 out of 5]

this is why you should always believe women!!!

[ari · Rating 4 out of 5]

okay queen

[Elaina McClendon 📚🌸 · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’ve been meaning to read this since I read it in school. I actually enjoyed this. I liked how the writing was direct but not direct. It’s like the author was telling you what was really happening, but you couldn’t really tell because of the main character’s “vivid imagination” and her being “anxious.” And the writing itself feels like it haunts you try to piece together what’s happening.

[૮꒰ ˶• ༝ •˶꒱ა ♡ · Rating 5 out of 5]

*** forgot to write my review, here’s my thoughts after a while:

I think the ending is so ambiguous but I’ve come to the conclusion that she must have actually killed herself and that’s why the husband fainted. It’s very possible that this house is some sort of private asylum, and thats why the bed is all bolted down and gnawed on. girl when she started gnawing on the post too I knew she was a goner. it’s interesting, I see how this is feminist literature as her husband is ye old classic psych misogynist that is hyping up her mental health issues (cough cough ACTIVE PSYCHOSIS) to just girlie things hysteria and the solution is to lock her away. But the way she makes loose associations and ideas of reference have me super intrigued. Also, interesting that all her hallucinations are visual but this is also from ye olden times. Liked it a lot and I enjoyed trying to guess on what happened versus didn’t

[Sasha · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had no idea this book was written 130 years ago. It’s incredible how modern the writing and topics are

[koko kingston · Rating 3 out of 5]

I don’t even know how to rate this! 😭

It’s a really short story (like 40 something pages) and it definitely kept me intrigued the whole time! It was really interesting being in the MC’s head and seeing how her situation was affecting her.

Definitely recommend if you just want something short and mind-boggling to read.

[Elyse · Rating 5 out of 5]

I found myself looking up more about this story as soon as I finished it. It’s wild how the “cure” for women’s depression used to be doing absolutely nothing—no writing, no thinking, just isolation and staring at wallpaper. Honestly, I’d start seeing things too.

[Azra · Rating 4 out of 5]

valid crashout queen

[Jordan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wait... omg... what???

[Ania · Rating 4 out of 5]

Goosebumps are erupting and dancing all over my head!!!!!

"This paper looks to me as if it knew what a vicious influence it had!
There is a recurrent spot where the pattern lolls like a broken neck and two bulbous eyes stare at you upside-down."





Azar 2nd, 1404

[Cortney B · Rating 5 out of 5]

Scary in a too real way for women of this time, with a dose of environmental creepy sprinkled on top to bring it all home.

[Nicole Roccas · Rating 3 out of 5]

I did not understand the ending but okay...

[kaelakae · Rating 3 out of 5]

i understand this is standard feminist literature but it’s giving more white privileged feminist side of the spectrum

[Tina · Rating 1 out of 5]

⭐☆☆☆☆ — 1 star / 5

(“Respect the intention, but… absolutely not for me.”)

“It is so hard to talk with people about the thing that haunts you.”
This line sums up my entire experience with this audiobook — haunting, claustrophobic, and absolutely dripping in chaotic energy… but also confusing enough that I finished it asking, “What did I just listen to?”

✦ My Feelings Going In

I knew it was a modern reimagining of the classic short story — I expected unsettling, psychological, suffocating.
What I didn’t expect was the level of pure disorientation. Not the good kind that pulls you deeper… the kind where you’re trying to piece things together but the book keeps slipping through your fingers.

✦ Premise (Short & Clear)

A woman is sent away to recover from emotional and physical exhaustion. Isolation becomes oppression, which becomes obsession. The wallpaper in her room starts feeling alive, her mind unravels, and the line between metaphor and madness dissolves.

✦ Characters & World-Building

There’s atmosphere for days — that creeping, trapped feeling is on point.
But the actual world? Blurry.
The characters? Even blurrier.
I kept wishing the emotional anchors were sharper so I could settle into something instead of drifting in confusion.

✦ Audiobook Experience

Cynthia Erivo’s performance is stunning. Like… she commits.
Her voice carries tension, fear, fragility — all the things the story wants you to feel.
But even her talent couldn’t save the narrative chaos.
It’s like she was performing a masterpiece inside a maze.

✦ Pacing & Writing

Messy. Intentionally messy, but still messy.
It ramps up fast, spirals even faster, and ends before you’ve fully grasped the descent. The writing nails the psychological collapse but sacrifices clarity to do it.

✦ What Worked
• The oppressive, tense atmosphere
• Strong thematic roots in women’s autonomy and mental health
• A raw, unsettling descent into madness
• Gorgeous, haunting narration

✦ What Didn’t
• Confusing to the point of distraction
• Emotionally heavy but not emotionally connecting
• Plot threads that lead nowhere
• Unclear symbolism that lands as noise instead of impact
• More chaos than payoff

✦ Why I’m Giving It 1 Star

I respect what it wanted to do.
I see the artistic intention.
But I didn’t enjoy a single moment, and I walked away feeling unsettled in a “I need to cleanse my brain” kind of way — not the satisfying horror way.

This is a classic case of:
Memorable? Yes.
Effective? Sure.
Would I ever listen again or recommend it? Absolutely not.

[Natalie · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a powerful, short story! Reading it will enrage you and sadden you. The book is packed with symbolism used to explore postpartum mental illness, confinement, and the oppression of women. The narrator’s vivid descriptions of the wallpaper mirror what’s happening in her mind as the societal structures continue to trap her. The author brilliantly critiques societal oppression and women’s mental health, leaving the reader to question what freedom really means.

[Nolan Beyer · Rating 3 out of 5]

Pretty good. Cool symbolism and clever but was expecting a little more craziness.

[Siena · Rating 4 out of 5]

A short but sweet read. It was a bit creepy as she lost her mind but hey it was entertaining 😭

[blain · Rating 5 out of 5]

reread because I remembered how much I enjoyed the symbolism the first time around.

[akiya · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5

claustrophobic as hell

[Echo · Rating 3 out of 5]

WHAT THE ACTUAKLLL

[Susie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I like to read books like this because they make you think!!!

[Grim Rainbow (Leslye) · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very short story and absolutely worth the read. I hesitate to give too much away because part of its impact comes from experiencing it firsthand, but I will say this: The Yellow Wallpaper is a haunting and powerful look at the ways women were silenced and confined by society’s expectations at the time. Through its unsettling atmosphere and psychological depth, it becomes a quiet but undeniable feminist call-out against those imprisoning roles. I highly recommend everyone take the time to read this. It’s brief, but it lingers with you long after.

[Jordan Lovell · Rating 5 out of 5]

I first read this when I was a baby feminist and I knew I enjoyed it but I don’t think I fully grasped how impactful and revolutionary it was for the time in which it was published. Charlotte Perkins Gilman was a fellow chronic illness girly with a point to prove and I love her for that. The way she portrays her oppressive prison is impeccable and iconic.

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

For such a short read, this story really hits hard. It's vague and keeps you guessing about whether the narrator is actually reliable or slowly losing her mind. You get pulled into her journey with postpartum depression and how women back then were so often brushed off as just being “hysterical.” It’s a quick read, but a powerful one that sticks with you.

[ベッカ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good thing male medical professionals are so much better at taking women seriously and don’t immediately chalk everything up to “anxiety”….EYE ROLL

Anyway I loved this and it creeped me out

[Toni Thornton · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read The Yellow Wallpaper partly because it’s short and available as an audiobook (one 40-minute dog walk), and partly because I was recently teased by my 20-year-old son and a few of his peers for not having read this cornerstone of the feminist canon. I’m very glad I finally did.

I loved it, especially for its richly descriptive prose and its unsettling portrait of a woman’s descent into madness, though the feminist themes are also powerful and enduring. Were it not for the old English, it would be hard to believe this was written in the late 1800s, given how starkly and unapologetically it exposes the traditional power dynamics of hetero marriage: patronizing, dismissive, neglectful, and quietly abusive. The story also incisively critiques the medicalization of women’s suffering and how physicians were (and too often still are) quick to label women hysterical and strip them of autonomy under the guise of care.

Learning more about Charlotte Perkins Gilman only deepened my appreciation. Knowing that the story was written as a direct critique of the medical treatment she received for postpartum depression gives the narrative an added layer of urgency and rage.

And then there is the wallpaper itself: its grotesque, obsessive descriptions mirroring the narrator’s unraveling mind, becoming an ironic and tragic symbol of freedom - the only escape available to her through identification with the woman trapped inside it. Disturbing, brilliant, and unforgettable. I will absolutely be rereading this.

[Evie Davies · Rating 4 out of 5]

A short but prominent story detailing the grief of being a people pleaser in my opinion. How long would you take the advice of a man that goes against your own feelings. How long would you sit in a room that you find disturbing. Clearly for this protagonist it is until you go mad. I believe it is referencing the authors life but I’d have to research. I enjoy the sentiment of the story being relevant through the ages about the issues surrounding postpartum depression and gender roles. I think it was a creepy story, written beautifully and with a fantastic metaphoric reality and I recommend if you want a short classic book. Took me less than 30 mins to read.

[Emily (emsalwaysreading) · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars rounded up.

Such a hard one to rate and review given that this is just around 40 pages long. This is a short story but one that still feels so relevant today. This story tackles topics of mental health such as isolation, depression, "hysteria," and gaslighting. Written over 130 years ago, so many of these topics still shed light on the plight of women and lack of appropriate education and care for women and ultimately the negative impact of the patriarchy. While the narrator in this book was HORRIBLE on audio, I enjoyed this quick and somewhat horrific and spooky story. If you need a quick read and did not read this in English class in high school, I recommend doing so now.