Read “The Yellow Wall-Paper,” a short story written by Charlotte Perkins Gilman
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Question
Read “The Yellow Wall-Paper,” a short story written by Charlotte Perkins Gilman in the (late 19th century). after reading the story answer the following question.
How would the story be written differently if “The Yellow Wall-Paper” were to
be written today (21st century) : setting, characters, and details about the causes, symptoms,
and treatments of depression or other mental health disorders?
Explanation / Answer
If the ‘Yellow wall paper’ were to be written today , in the 21st century. We could see the following changes in the story :
SETTING : Flat , urban
CHARACTERS:
WOMAN (Protagonist)
BABY
HUSBAND
FRIENDLY NEIGHBOURS
CARE TAKER
In the 21st century version of the story,
The woman would be independent of her husbands treatment preferences or perspectives.Even though her husband could be a physician, he wouldnt impose any ban on the womans mental freedom aspects and wouldnt restrain her to any form of constricted , room bound ‘rest healing’.
He wouldve been a man who through the learnings from the past medical records has learnt about the depression and wouldve given full support and freedom to his wife to recover.
And moreover, the woman would be independently earning, socializing and working in office. She would have no time for her to keep herself passively at rest. Even if she faces the pospartum Depression, she understands the various scientific reasonings for it and doesnt let her depression take over her sanity. She works with her doctors to come out of it and whole heartedly recovers to give her full love and affection to her child again.
In the classic version of the story, the author emphasis on the following concerns:
The story was interpreted by feminist critics as a condemnation of the male control of the 19th-century in the medical profession.The narrator gives suggestions about her recuperation :
That a woman should work instead of being in rest, a woman must engage with the society rather than remaining isolated and alone when in need of medical help or for cases in socializing. a woman must attempt to be an active mother instead of being separated entirely and being away from the child, etc.
These are dismissed out of hand using the language that stereotypes her as irrational and, which makes her unqualified to offer ideas about her own condition.
This interpretation from the author draws on the concept of the "domestic sphere control” that women were held in during that period.
Themes that are discussed in the story :
The kind of subordination of Women after Marriage:
Gilman critiques the position of women within the institution of marriage, especially as it was practiced by the “respectable”/ clergy classes of her time.
For Gilman, the author, the conventional nineteenth-century middle-class marriage with its rigid difference between the “domestic” activities of the female and the “active” work of the male, ensured in a way that women remained second-class citizens always.
The story narrated by the author reveals that the gender division had a very great effect of keeping women in a childish state with ignorance and preventing their full development.
John’s assumption of his own superior wisdom ‘‘know-it-all’ attitude and maturity leads him to misjudge, patronize, overrule and dominate his wife, all in the name of just merely “helping” her.
The narrator starts to act like a cross, petulant child, within her own world, unable to stand up for herself without seeming unreasonable or disloyal.
The narrator has absolutely no say in even the smallest details of her life and decisions. And she finally end up retreating into her imaginary world of obsessive fantasy, the only place where she can retain some control over her actions and exercise the power of her mind with peace.
The concept of Self-Expression:
The mental constraints which were placed upon the narrator, than the physical ones, are the reasons which lead to ultimately drive her insane.
She is forced preferably to hide her anxieties and fears . Because in order , she could preserve the façade of a happy marriage.It would also make it seem as though she is winning the fight against her post partum depression.
The very most intolerable aspect of her treatment is the compulsory silence her husband puts her into and idleness of the “resting cure.” which disturbs her peace.
She is forced to become completely silent, passive, forbidden from using or exercing her passive mind in any way.
Writing is especially off limits, and her husband John warns her several times that she must use her self-control to rein and hold in her imagination,
The narrator’s eventual insanity is because of the repression and supression of her imaginative power, not the expression of it.
As she is constantly longing for an emotional and intellectual outlet, even going so far as to keep a secret journal, which she describes more than once as a “relief” to her mind. For Gilman, a mind that is kept in a state of forced inactivity and passivity is as good as being doomed to self-destruction.
Through seeing the women in the wallpaper, the narrator realizes that she could not live her life locked up behind the rooms confinements.
At the end of the story, as her husband lies on the floor unconscious after fainting, she crawls over him, which may symbolically represent as her rising over him. This is interpreted as a victory over her husband, at the expense of her sanity which is well lost.
The birth of a baby can trigger a lot of powerful emotions, which can range from excitement and joy to fear or anxiety. But it can also result in something one might not expect ; yes, depression.
Many new mothers experience the "postpartum baby blue" after childbirth, which symptoms might commonly include mood swings, crying spells, difficulty sleeping and anxoety.
These blues can typically begin within the first two to three days after delivery, and may last for up to two weeks.
But some new mothers can experience a more severe, long-lasting form of depression known as postpartum depression.
Rarely,it is an extreme mood disorder called postpartum psychosis which may also develop after childbirth.
Postpartum depression is not really a character flaw or some kind of weakness.
Sometimes it's simply a complication of giving birth.
if somebody have postpartum depression, prompt treatment can help them manage their symptoms and enjoy their baby.
The Causes of post partum depression can be listed as below:
There's no single cause of postpartum depression which has been studied upon, but physical and emotional issues may play a role.
Emotional issues. When the mother is sleep deprived and overwhelmed, they may have trouble handling even minor problems.
they may feel less attractive, struggle with their sense of identity or feel that they’ve lost control over their life. They may become anxious about their ability to care for their own newborn.
Any of these issues can contribute to postpartum depression.
Physical changes. After childbirth, a dramatic drop in hormones (estrogen and progesterone) in their body may contribute to postpartum depression.
Other hormones which are produced by their thyroid gland also may drop sharply, which can leave them feeling tired, sluggish and depressed.
Symptoms:
Signs and symptoms of depression after childbirth vary, and they can range from mild to severe.
Postpartum baby blues symptoms:
Signs and symptoms of baby blues :
Duration : Which last only a few days to a week or two after your baby is born,
symptoms ,they may include:
Irritability
Feeling overwhelmed
Crying
Mood swings
Anxiety
Sadness
Reduced concentration
Appetite problems
Trouble sleeping
what are the Postpartum depression symptoms:
Postpartum depression may be easily mistaken for the baby blues at first, but the signs and symptoms are more intense and last longer in the case of postpartum depression, eventually interfering with the mothers ability to care for their baby and handle other daily tasks.
Symptoms usually develop within the first few weeks after giving birth but it may also begin later up to six months after birth.
Postpartum depression symptoms may include:
Fear of not being a good mother
Feelings of worthlessness, shame, guilt or inadequacy within the mother.
Diminished ability to think clearly, concentrate or make decisions properly.
Depressed mood or severe mood swings throught.
Excessive crying and mood outs
Difficulty in bonding with their baby
Withdrawing from family and friends slowly
Loss of appetite or eating much more than usually like they do
Severe anxiety and panic attacks frequently
Thoughts of harming themself or their baby
Recurrent thoughts of death or suicide at large
Inability to sleep (insomnia) or sleeping too much, changes in sleep cycle.
Overwhelming fatigue or loss of energy everyday
Reduced interest and pleasure in activities which they used to enjoy
Intense irritability and anger on the prowl.
Postpartum psychosis
With postpartum psychosis which is a rare condition that develops within the first week after delivery the signs and symptoms are even more severe of this disorder. Signs and symptoms may include:
Confusion and disorientation of place/time
Obsessive thoughts about their baby- like to kill it
Hallucinations and delusions of various types
Sleep cycle disturbances
Paranoia and fears
Attempts to harm oneself or their baby
Postpartum psychosis may lead to life-threatening thoughts or behaviors and this calls for and requires immediate treatment and followup.
TREATMENT :
Treatment depends on severity of the disorder.
If left Untreated, the condition may last months or longer. Treatment can include counselling, antidepressants or hormone therapy.
The various Therapies which can be given are as follows:
Support group
A forum for counseling and sharing experiences among people with a similar condition or goal, such as depression or weight loss. To help the patient socialize and share experiences
Psychoeducation
Education about the mental health that also serves to support, validate and empower patients.
Cognitive behavioral therapy
A talk therapy focused on modifying negative thoughts, behaviours and emotional responses associated with psychological distress.
Psychotherapy
it is the Treatment of mental or behavioural disorders through talk therapy.
The various Medications which are given are as follows :
Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitor (SSRI)
Eases symptoms of depressed mood and anxiety.
Self-care
Relaxation techniques
Deep breathing, meditation, yoga, rhythmic exercise and other activities that reduce symptoms of stress and anxiety in the patient.
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