The Yellow Wallpaper And Other Stories

by Charlotte Perkins Gilman

The Yellow Wallpaper and Other Stories is a collection of short stories written by popular American writer Charlotte Perkins Gilman. The featured short story in this collection the very personal story, The Yellow Wallpaper, which is based on Gilman's own bout with depression. Along with the featured short story, are an array of stories which have been popular for decades among fans of this talented writer. The Yellow Wallpaper and Other Stories is highly recommended for those who enjoy the writings of Charlotte Perkins Gilman and also for those discovering her writings for the first time.

The yellow wallpaper
The cottagette
A coincidence
Making a living
Three Thanksgivings
When I was a witch
My astonishing dodo.

Genres: Short Stories, Classics, Fiction, Horror, Feminism, Short Story Collection, Historical Fiction

133 pages, Paperback

Published January 9, 2008

About the author

Charlotte Perkins Gilman (1860-1935), also known as Charlotte Perkins Stetson, was a prominent American sociologist, novelist, writer of short stories, poetry, and nonfiction, and a lecturer for social reform. She was a utopian feminist during a time when her accomplishments were exceptional for women, and she served as a role model for future generations of feminists because of her unorthodox concepts and lifestyle. Her best remembered work today is her semi-autobiographical short story, "The Yellow Wallpaper", which she wrote after a severe bout of post-partum depression.

She was the daughter of Frederic B. Perkins.

Reviews

[Beverly · Rating 5 out of 5]

So, so good, the belittling and infantilizing treatment of this poor woman, and her entrapment in the room with the yellow wallpaper by her physician husband is a case history in how to drive someone completely insane.

[Ivana - Diary of Difference · Rating 4 out of 5]

I haven’t read much classic reads this year, and a few days before the end of 2018, I decided to go for a classic short story, and I chose The Yellow Wallpaper by Charlotte Perkins Gilman.

This classic has been written by a woman in the 19th century. A time when women weren’t treated the same way as today. A difficult time, where women couldn’t express their opinion as they wished, but they were suppressed by the male authority in the family.

When The Yellow Wallpaper came out, it was considered a Gothic Horror Tale. It is hard to believe for me, knowing the world we live in today, and how we, as women can express our opinions openly. But back in the days, this is how it was. It wasn’t easy for the woman, and I am glad we have a lot of brave women from that time, that gathered the courage to tell stories for the next generations.

This is a story about a woman, who seems to suffer of post-partum depression (a type of mood disorder associated with childbirth). She has been forced by her husband and doctor to stay in her room until she is ”mentally capable” again to take care of her baby. I am not a mother, but I can imagine the pain and suffering of not being allowed to see and hold your unborn child. And people thought this was okay?

The woman is constantly staring at the yellow wallpaper and the window, constantly reassuring herself that this is all happening for her own good, and that the husband and doctor know best, until a point where we are not actually sure if she is in her right mind anymore.

She starts to see a woman inside the wallpaper, and believes the woman is struggling to break free. I loved the metaphor used, as her subconscious knows she is trapped, and the end is so painful to read, but oh, so powerful.

Even though such a short read, The Yellow Wallpaper is an impressive view on cultural traditions, and the position of women in the family. A classic and a must-have for every woman!

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[Eliza · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reread in October 2018

As always, amazing writing and stories that make you think. Gotta love Gilman, not only for her talent of writing, but her courage to write such feminist pieces during the 18th century.
_____________________________________________


5 STARS

I only had to read The Yellow Wallpaper for class, however, as soon as I read that short-story, I knew I would have to read her other stories. Gilman's writing is flawless. I honestly think Charlotte Perkins Gilman is my new favorite short-story author, ever. Her unique ideas and effortless writing, is really something. I mean, she literally has me feeling sorry for the characters in under 10 pages -- that's talent.

Overall, this is brilliant! I'll come back to this later and write a proper review when I have more time. For now, I highly recommend YOU (whoever might be reading this) read The Yellow Wallpaper, because that's honestly the best short-story I've read all year!

[Celia · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Yellow Wallpaper and Other Stories

Charlotte Perkins Gilman was a prominent American feminist, sociologist, novelist, writer of short stories, poetry, and nonfiction, and a lecturer for social reform.

In her lifetime, she wrote over 200 short stories. 7 of them are included here.

The Yellow Wallpaper. I could have never imagined that a story describing wallpaper could be so engrossing. The descriptions, however, depict a woman going deeper and deeper into madness. And how the misdiagnosis of her husband aided in that descent.

Three Thanksgivings. How a woman triumphs and gets her own way.

The Cottagette. What IS the fastest way to a man’s heart?

Turned. A woman betrayed finds an answer.

Making a Change. Two women collaborate to bring happiness to their lives.

If I Were a Man. A woman morphed into a man, hears the men’s thoughts.

Mr. Peebles’ Heart. A strong, unselfish woman helps an unselfish man and changes her selfish sister, to boot!!

These stories are the workings of a strong, feminist author describing strong women who show their strength through charm and grace. Reminds me of a steel magnolia. The stories read so well and all ended so satisfactorily. Strongly recommend.

5 stars.

[Anne ✨ Finds Joy · Rating 4 out of 5]

A super quick read at only 70 pages or so, this is a collection of seven short stories written in 1892 by Charlotte Perkins Gilman, a utopian feminist ahead of her time. The themes are as relevant today as back then. The Yellow Wallpaper is the most popular, and has a mildly suspenseful feel. The others had quite a bit of humor, attitude, and an outspokenness on gender issues that would have been surprising for the times.

My favorites were:
The Yellow Wallpaper (mental illness & the 'resting cure', repression of a woman's creativity and self-expression)
Three Thanksgivings (female self-sufficiency, expectations of female role)
Making a Change (motherhood liberation - working out of the home)

A quick, insightful, and worthwhile read.

[Jen from Quebec :0) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I actually blasted through this in 30 minutes or so, the writing is very fast paced, despite the entire story taking place in one room! Also, the language was very modern and this didn't 'feel' as though it were written so long ago...I will definitely be re-reading this many more times in the future, to pick up on the subtleties. --Jen from Quebec :0)

[Dan · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an excellent collection of short stories written firmly in the realist fiction genre. They contain situations we all face as we get older, ended in one form or another with a narration of the life-changing decisions the protagonists make to resolve their dilemmas.

"The Yellow Wallpaper" is the most famous of the stories in this book, but was my least favorite. It was not like the other stories. In "The Yellow Wallpaper" the protagonist had decisions made for her, causing her to become a victim. The story is the most polemical and the most depressing. In the other stories, the protagonist, usually female, is capable of making decisions that uplift her life, which she does.

The second story is a good example of this. The female protagonist, as in the first story, has people trying to make decisions for her. Had they succeeded she would probably have been miserable. Instead of acquiescing, this protagonist finds a way out of her dilemma. My only problem with the story is the gaping hole created by the completely unbelievable economics. No one is going to become wealthy and provide all the club services this protagonist does for the price of a dime per week per attending customer. It's a ludicrous proposition.

After the failure of the first two stories it took me a while to pick the collection back up again to read the third story. I'm glad I did though. The third story, "The Cottagette," is a bit slow at the start, but has one of the best endings I've ever read.

The fourth story, "Turned," was my favorite of the collection. The premise is age-old. A wife of middle years discovers her husband has been unfaithful with the household help. Her solution to his infidelity and her treatment of the other woman is shocking and completely unexpected, yet very fitting. I have wondered if it is possible to say anything new about this situation. I loved this story for its fresh new statement on a theme in which the conclusion would never have occurred to me in a million years, and best of all made pie out of lemons.

The rest of the stories were almost as good as "Turned." Solid 4 and a few 5 star stories. There's even one that borders on the Weird genre as a female character finds herself suddenly thrust into a male body and thus seeing the world in a radically different way. The power of Gilman's stories relies on her method of placing characters in life-changing situations and having them arrive at unique and fitting resolutions that truly amaze.

Gilman has been called a feminist writer, but I don't consider her one. For example, the last story in this collection is about a man's liberation. By achieving this his wife could then also become so, I admit. Nevertheless, I think Gilman writes about human liberation. What makes feminists think she belongs in their camp is that few authors before her were so equal opportunity regarding the gender of the character becoming liberated.

Gilman's stories are powerful because her characters find unusual often convoluted ways to achieve their potential. The stories are all (except for the titular first) coming of age stories for the middle-aged. One would think middle-aged people had arrived, but in truth they just face different developmental challenges. Gilman has made the purpose of her career writing about these issues.

[Katherine · Rating 4 out of 5]

”There are things in that paper that nobody knows but me, or ever will.”

As my senior English teacher said so succinctly when we read this for my Women's Literature class in high school, "Charlotte Perkins Gilman was the original feminist honey badger."

And boy, was she ever.

She defied patriarchal standards and doctor's orders at a time when it was considered unthinkable by a woman to do such a thing. She used her "rest cure" as her creative outlet, and flourished in spite of it all to create one of the greatest feminist masterpieces of all time. We see a woman's descent into madness by the very system that's supposed to help her. And we're never really quite sure who's the mad one of the story; what we do know, however, is that the main character is worth rooting for.

Her and the woman in the yellow wallpaper.

[Carey · Rating 2 out of 5]

*Potentially 2.5 Stars

I was only a fan of about 1/3 of the stories, there were a couple that seemed a little drawn out and pointless and while I support the themes that she raised and the messages conveyed, I was not as impressed as I felt I should have been with all the praise "The Yellow Wallpaper" gets.

[Elizabeth A.G. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read the stories in this collection and enjoyed them all! The Gothic horror of the title story depicted a decline to insanity caused by the treatment of the day for what is now post-partum depression.
Rest and confinement were prescribed as treatments and the "cure" in this case became the "harm." My two favorite stories were "If I Were a Man" (and not because it is grammatically correct) and "Mr. Peebles' Heart" because each presents a perspective view of the female and male - ability to see the opposite viewpoint between the male and female mindset. The female outbursts of extreme emotion, sobbing, consideration of suicide were called fits of hysteria and the term has remained in the vernacular language. Toward the 1900's more and more women were able to speak and act with more freedom and confidence; some of the problems in these short stories were resolved by the women themselves.

[John Wiswell · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a difficult collection to review because “The Yellow Wall-Paper and Other Stories” seems to be the title of at least four different Gilman collections, some with no more in common than the one title story. Commenting on the contents of the volume becomes perilous because not only may your results vary, but so may your ingredients.

I can see why every editor agreed to include “The Yellow Wall-Paper” as the title story. It is an incredible tone piece, told by a narrator who suffered difficult childbirth and a “mild” nervous disorder. She suffers worse at the hand of a patronizing husband who confines her to a single room, with a gate at the stairs and bars on the windows, allegedly for her own good. Stuck in that room, the narrator’s derangement devolves, wondering how her baby is, and seeing people inside the ugly yellow wallpaper who can’t be there. It’s a prime example of Horror writing as we watch someone with no choice but to go mad, and we can ponder how much is her pre-existing psychology and how much is the result of her husband’s paternal cruelty. It’s got a heck of a voice, and as someone who often had little to do in his hospital bed other than trace the patterns in wallpaper, allow me to say it speaks damningly of being cooped up when you need others.

Then there are the other stories.

Many in my collection were obvious morality tales. “According to Solomon” is a painfully cute love story about an incredibly attractive widow who refuses to marry and is pursued by the perfect man, armed with a literal list of answers to her every fear. "The Boys and the Butter" is about two kids offered fifty dollars if they abstain from butter for a year, and focuses on the obvious morality of depriving children of their joys. “A Middle-Sized Artist” is about a woman who wants to illustrate books and a man who wants to write them, who would be married if their career ambitions didn’t separate them, and then she gets the job to illustrate his book, and surely you know how that ends.

After a few stories, I questioned if this was the same author who’d written the title story. But then there was "When I Was a Witch," which begins with no social injustice, but a woman wishing all the unloved and uncared-for cats in a city were dead. She goes on tirades against eating rotten eggs and traffic with a zeal that feels like self-parody of Gilman's other stories, and because of the title we know something insane is coming, but we don't know what.

That’s the story of this collection (the one I got, anyway): a banging title story, and then a mixed bag of the didactic and the downright weird. I want to say that the curve balls made me question if the more obvious stories would change shape, but they didn’t. It’s very easy to tell which track Gilman was on from the first page of any of these. For me, the fun was whenever I found myself on her weird track.

[فهد الفهد · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Yellow Wallpaper and Other Stories

باستثناء قصة (ورق الجدران الأصفر) الرائعة بحق، تسيطر على بقية الكتاب نسوية المؤلفة بشكل خانق، ولا اعتراض هنا على موقف مؤلف ما أو رؤيته للحياة، ما لم تكن قصصه مسخرة وموجهة لتدعيم هذه الرؤية بشكل يجعل القصص مفتعلة، مارجريت أتوود مثلاً تكتب روايات يمكن تصنيفها على أنها نسوية، تظهر هذه الروايات ما قد يقع على المرأة من ظلم وما تتعرض له من استهانة بقدراتها وكرامتها، ولكن أتوود تفعل ذلك من خلال قصص وشخصيات مقنعة وجميلة، شارلوت جيلمان في المقابل قدمت في هذه المجموعة قصة عظيمة عن امرأة مهووسة بورق جدران أصفر مقلم، بحيث تتخيل بأن هناك أخرى وراء هذه القضبان الخيالية تحاول الخروج، وفي ذات المجموعة قدمت قصص ضعيفة عن نساء يحاولن مواجهة المشاكل التي قد تتعرض لها النساء في عصرها مثل قصة امرأة تواجه مشكلة في التعامل مع بكاء طفلها، وكيف تجد الحل من خلال تسليمه لوالدة زوجها والتي تكون بدورها حضانة صغيرة لأطفال الحي فيما تنصرف الأم إلى تقديم دروس موسيقية، وكيف أن هذا الحل يقدم لهما سلاماً داخلياً ومالاً إضافياً ويوافق الزوج في النهاية على هذه الحلول التي لا تناسب برستيجه الاجتماعي، بقية قصص المجموعة لها ذات المذاق وأهميتها ليست فنية وإنما تاريخية تساعد في فهم ظروف وأفكار النساء في زمن كتابتها.

[Mia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Some of the messages were a little on the nose, but given the context, that's probably what was called for. For me, The Yellow Wallpaper was by far the standout from the collection, and I'm not surprised that it is the work she is best known for. It was beautiful yet haunting, and even though it was the first story I read, it is the one that is the most fresh in my mind after finishing the collection.

[Brooke · Rating 4 out of 5]

A wonderful collection of early feminist short stories. While “The Yellow Wallpaper” was horror-inducing (in a good way), the rest of the stories were triumphant and lauded female friendships — overall refreshing and hopeful.

[keyahla ♡ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Man I love poetry

[Owen Townend · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed the early feminism of this short story collection. On more than one occasion Gilman addresses antiquated gender roles, analysing them with a precision that wasn't as scathing towards male privilege as it could have been.

The women of her stories vary from the put-upon to the slowly unburdened with only the titular story ending unhappily. I have had The Yellow Wallpaper story itself recommended to me on multiple occasions and now I understand just how insightful it is about mental health.

The only serious difficulty I had with Gilman's storytelling here was her endings. More often than not it felt like the tale could have gone on longer and better explored the impact made on the female protagonists' life. However these stories are about the lives of female characters endeavouring to improve their prospects at a time when the patriarchy was at its most stalwart so I suppose focusing on the smaller victories was both realistic and optimistic.

I am very glad to have sampled some of Gilman's work and intend to pick up her more Gothic tales at some point. However, I do hope her more controversial views on race don't feature.

I recommend The Yellow Wallpaper and Other Stories to those curious about feminist insight from the late 19th Century, with a focus on mental health.

Notable Stories

• The Yellow Wallpaper – a slow-burning but harrowing account of how ‘rest cure’ can aggravate depression.

• Turned – a refreshingly logical and fast-moving response to a maid being forced into ‘the family way’.

• If I Were A Man – a thought-provoking use of gender reversal to change the way men think of women.

[I'mogén · Rating 4 out of 5]

My audibook/read-a-loud video: https://youtu.be/0kek_eGyQKM

This was quite a sad story. I haven't read any reviews but for me, I feel as though our main character is not being properly cared for during post natal depression.
What she sees in the yellow wallpaper (all she can see really, as she can't leave the room) slowly warps a narrative in her mind... perhaps beginning as some entertainment to break her boredom, yet quickly sinking into something ever sinister as her reality starts to fracture under the neglect of care.

She needed variety to her day, kindness and actual medical attention, as well as gentle and guided bonding with her baby (once safe to do so), not to be left alone with her thoughts for three months and practically gaslit when she tried to speak out that she wasn't doing well, mentally. This is all just my interpretation, and drawing from similar experiences I've seen with loved ones, after having a baby.

This was a moving novela, a very quick read, surprisingly, and a classic I'm glad to have finally got around to.

Pick it up, give it a go and enjoy! >(^_^)<
Gén

[Yoana · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Yellow Wallpaper is completely different from the rest of the stories, and vastly superior. The other 6 stories are suffused with bright-eyed optimism to the point of naivete and imagine a far better world with far better people than the earth has even known, I fear. Perhaps it was the times, and Gilman's own successes as an activist reflecting in her writing, but I'm 20 years younger than she was when some of those were written and am already a great deal more cynical and disillusioned about women's rights, men's willingness to even admit there's a problem, let alone be as cooperative and malleable when it comes to action, and saddest of all, women's ability to hold out in solidarity.

2015 Reading Challenge: A book more than 100 years old

[Daniella · Rating 3 out of 5]

Can definitely see how this would have been monumental for its time - discussions that are still (unfortunately) relevant today about the role of women and mothers.

I appreciate it as a ground breaking work but considering how much other girlboss fiction there is out there now this didn’t super do it for me. It was of interest because of its historical importance, but none of the stories really made a big impression.

[Ariail Heath · Rating 4 out of 5]

A woman's descent into madness, you follow the wife of John through their rented home wondering exactly what is wrong with her? Is she truly sick or is she simply hovered over by her persistent husband.

Such a well written classic story, great for a quick read!

[Alisa · Rating 3 out of 5]

A compendium of short stories each with a differing view of the ways in which women exert their influence outside the norm for the times, which in this case is the late 1800s. Not my usual jam, but this book would likely appeal to fans of the short story format and early feminist perspectives.

[Amanda B · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5⭐️ A short story, which looks at a woman’s decent into madness. It definitely pulls you in, and you wonder if her husband wasn’t helping, or maybe postnatal depression? Anyhow, an abrupt ending resulted in a lower score for me.

[Marilyn C. · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 Stars

[Liam · Rating 5 out of 5]

Can’t get the last scene out of my head. Very effective and downright creepy!

[Arantza Hernandez · Rating 5 out of 5]

It had such a beautiful underlying meaning. I inferred that the fascination she began gaining with the wallpaper was due to her finding comfort and familiarity with the prisoner women attempting to escape but being strangled by its pattern, a metaphor for her and her husband. Her husband was a physician, who appointed himself as her doctor, he attempted to cure her depression by controlling her every move from her eating, to her hobbies, he believed writing was what led her to become “crazy”, he completely undermined her feelings believing she was irrational, and due her illness, her cure was dependent on him. It’s a beautiful story on how women’s feelings are undermined due to the stigma that women are hysterical and over-emotional.

[happylittlebirdy · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars

[Cindy Ramos · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this collection of short stories depicting strong women with strong opinions. Written in the late 1800s, many stories remain relevant today.

[JC South · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not my first reading, but still just as interesting.

[Casey · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars cuz The Yellow Wallpaper was FANTASTIC and deserves 5/5, but all the other short stories were a little lame

[Schaschlikia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Die fand ich richtig gut