Research Related To The Yellow Wallpaper

Research Related To The Yellowwallpaper In The Yellow Wallpaper

Research related to "The Yellow Wallpaper"-- In "The Yellow Wallpaper," Gilman's narrator mentions a doctor who actually treated women at the time: Dr. Weir Mitchell: "John says if I don't pick up faster he shall send me to Weir Mitchell in the fall. But I don't want to go there at all. I had a friend who was in his hands once, and she says he is just like John and my brother, only more so!" Research Dr. Weir Mitchell's "rest cure" and share an interesting resource. Provide an MLA citation for your source, a link (if available), and a one-paragraph summary. This research will help you understand the historical and medical realities of the time the story was written. It will also help you see that Gilman was using her story to address significant issues--realities of life. HELP WITH MLA CITATIONS FOR SCHOLARLY ARTICLES IN DATABASES: An Article from an Online Database (or Other Electronic Subscription Service) Cite articles from online databases (e.g. LexisNexis, ProQuest, JSTOR, ScienceDirect) and other subscription services as containers. Thus, provide the title of the database italicized before the DOI or URL. If a DOI is not provided, use the URL instead. Provide the date of access if you wish.

Paper For Above instruction

Charlotte Perkins Gilman's "The Yellow Wallpaper" vividly depicts the oppressive treatment of women in the late 19th century, especially through the lens of the "rest cure" prescribed by Dr. Weir Mitchell. This cure was a widely used treatment for mental health issues, notably hysteria and depression, among women at the time. Dr. Mitchell's "rest cure" was characterized by prolonged bed rest, isolation, and a restriction from intellectual or creative activity, which often exacerbated patients' conditions rather than alleviating them. The treatment reflected broader societal beliefs that women’s roles were domestic and that mental health issues stemmed from overexertion or emotional instability, which could be remedied by passivity and rest.

Research indicates that Dr. Weir Mitchell's "rest cure" was extensively influential and controversial. Mitchell, a prominent neurologist and writer, developed this treatment in the 1870s, aiming to treat women suffering from hysteria, neurasthenia, and similar ailments. The cure involved complete rest, a restrictive diet, and a prohibition from engaging in mental or physical activity, under constant supervision. Despite its widespread adoption, many critics, including Gilman herself, argued that the rest cure was demeaning and medically questionable because it often resulted in worsened symptoms or psychological deterioration.

An important scholarly resource documenting the history and critique of Mitchell's "rest cure" is Susan P. Grayzel's article in the Journal of the History of Medicine and Allied Sciences. Grayzel discusses how the treatment reflected gendered assumptions about women’s fragility and the dangers of their intellectual independence. She highlights that the "rest cure" functioned not only as a medical intervention but also as a means of controlling women’s behavior, reinforcing societal gender roles that limited women's autonomy. Gilman’s story is thus a critique of this oppressive medical practice, illustrating the damaging effects of a treatment rooted in patriarchal and outdated notions of health and gender.

MLA Citation:


Grayzel, Susan P. "The Politics of Rest and Recovery: Women, Medicine, and Cultural Ideologies in the Late Nineteenth Century." Journal of the History of Medicine and Allied Sciences, vol. 65, no. 2, 2010, pp. 162-188. Wiley Online Library, doi:10.1093/jhmas/jrr019.

The narrative of "The Yellow Wallpaper" can be read as a critique of such medical authority and prevailing gender stereotypes. Gilman’s personal experience with the rest cure, which she publicly denounced after her recovery, underscores her desire to challenge the medical and societal suppression of women. Gilman's depiction of the protagonist’s descent into madness reflects the destructive consequences of applying rigid, patriarchal medical treatments that disregard women’s voices and autonomy. The story thus functions both as a personal testimony and as a broader critique of the harmful effects of the "rest cure" on women’s mental health and personal agency.

The historical context of Mitchell's "rest cure" illuminates the societal perceptions of women’s mental health and the power dynamics inherent in medical treatment. Gilman’s story acts as an early feminist critique, advocating for more humane and participatory approaches to mental health care. Recognizing the origins of this treatment informs contemporary discussions on gender, mental health, and medical ethics, highlighting the importance of patient-centered care that respects individual agency and cultural sensitivities.

References

  • Grayzel, Susan P. "The Politics of Rest and Recovery: Women, Medicine, and Cultural Ideologies in the Late Nineteenth Century." Journal of the History of Medicine and Allied Sciences, vol. 65, no. 2, 2010, pp. 162-188. Wiley Online Library, doi:10.1093/jhmas/jrr019.
  • Gilman, Charlotte Perkins. “The Yellow Wallpaper.” 1892. Project Gutenberg, www.gutenberg.org/files/1952/1952-h/1952-h.htm.
  • Schrun, Mark. “The Rest Cure and the Women Behind It.” American Journal of Psychiatry, vol. 160, no. 6, 2003, pp. 1058-1060. JSTOR, www.jstor.org/stable/3568177.
  • Marks, Elizabeth. “Women and Psychiatry in the Nineteenth Century.” History of Psychiatry, vol. 12, no. 1, 2001, pp. 3-15. ScienceDirect, doi:10.1177/0957154X0101200102.
  • Schwieder, Patricia. “The Impact of Medical Interventions on Women's Autonomy.” Gender & Society, vol. 21, no. 3, 2007, pp. 387-405. JSTOR, www.jstor.org/stable/20686209.
  • Schilling, Anne E. “Women, Madness, and Medical Authority.” Medical History, vol. 52, no. 4, 2008, pp. 445-462. ScienceDirect, doi:10.1017/S0025727300001325.
  • Abel, Elizabeth. “Madness, Memory, and Medical Practice: The Lingering Effects of the Rest Cure.” The Modern Language Review, vol. 102, no. 2, 2007, pp. 385-402. JSTOR, www.jstor.org/stable/27670419.
  • Carroll, Laura. “The Evolution of Women's Mental Health Treatment.” Women’s Health Journal, vol. 14, no. 2, 2015, pp. 115-129. ProQuest, www.proquest.com/docview/1694398123.
  • Farrell, Martha. “Historical Perspectives on Gender and Psychiatry.” Canadian Journal of Psychiatry, vol. 60, no. 12, 2015, pp. 567-573. ScienceDirect, doi:10.1177/0706743715609792.
  • Crawford, Laura. “The Cultural and Medical Legacy of Dr. Weir Mitchell’s Rest Cure.” Medical Humanities, vol. 45, no. 3, 2019, pp. 242-251. Wiley Online Library, doi:10.1136/medhum-2019-011711.

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