"The Yellow Wallpaper" by Charlotte Perkins Gilman is a short story that explores the themes of mental illness, isolation, and the oppression of women in the late 19th century. The narrator, who is unnamed, is confined to a room by her husband, who is a physician, due to what he believes is a nervous disorder. As the story progresses, the narrator becomes increasingly isolated and obsessed with the yellow wallpaper in her room, which she believes is alive and watching her. The story is a powerful critique of the patriarchal society of the time and the ways in which women were marginalized and silenced.
By Charlotte Perkins Gilman · First published 1892 · Genre: Fiction, Holiday, Family