Who Is to Blame?
The story "The Yellow Wallpaper" by Charlotte Perkins Gilman is a classic of American literature that explores themes of gender roles, mental illness, and the oppression of women in the late 19th century. The narrator, who is unnamed, is a woman who has been confined to a room by her husband, a physician, due to what he believes is a nervous disorder. The room is covered in yellow wallpaper, which the narrator becomes increasingly obsessed with as she spends more time in isolation. As the story progresses, the narrator's grip on reality begins to slip, and she becomes convinced that there is a woman trapped inside the wallpaper. The story is a powerful critique of the societal norms and expectations placed on women during this time period, and it continues to be studied and debated by scholars today.
By Charlotte Perkins Gilman · First published 1892 · Genre: Feminist Literature, Social Critique, Historical Fiction · 488 words
First lines
Who was to blame in that old time Of the unnoticed groan, When prisoners without proof of crime Rotted in dungeons wet with slime, And died unknown?
When torture was a common thing, When fire could speak, When the flayed wretch hung quivering, And rack-strained tendons, string by string, Snapped with a shriek?
What this Textopian page supports
Who Is to Blame? is listed on Textopian as a short story by Charlotte Perkins Gilman, dated 1892 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Short story
- Author: Charlotte Perkins Gilman
- Date: 1892 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Feminist Literature, Social Critique, Historical Fiction
- Length: 488 words
- Structure: 1 section, 11 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Fairly Easy (7th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for Who Is to Blame? by Charlotte Perkins Gilman
- Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
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Discussion starters
- What should a reader notice first when entering Who Is to Blame??
- How does this short story by Charlotte Perkins Gilman fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Feminist Literature first become important in the reading?
Similar titles
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Genres
- Feminist Literature — The book is written by a notable feminist author, Charlotte Perkins Gilman, and features themes of gender roles and societal expectations.
- Social Critique — The book critiques societal norms and conventions, reflecting Gilman's ideas on male dominance and women's rights.
- Historical Fiction — Taking place in a specific historical period, the book uses this setting and the social conditions of this time to explore its themes.
Tags
feminism · gender roles · society · blame · responsibility · psychological drama · social critique · women's rights · identity · mental health · marriage · patriarchy