This was the inspiration for Marios Schwab's collection 2 seasons ago, and they gave out the book at the end in the goodie bag, which I thought was wonderful.
Aw, I'm so sad I missed out on this, since I did last semester's American Philosophy paper on CPG. I did a comparison of her Women and Economics and Friedan's The Feminine Mystique rather than rely on The Yellow Wallpaper though.
Weir Mitchell "perfected" the rest cure treatment, which also entailed fattening up depressed women, but to be fair to him he did stop prescribing it after CPG sent him a copy of The Yellow Wallpaper. So he was not a bad man, just seriously misguided.
I've read The "Yellow Wallpaper" numerous times since entering college (I am, after all, a Women's Studies major), most recently in [a most thoroughly enjoyable course!] my Women and Mental Illness class. Haunting. Beautiful. It gets me everytime. Madness!
However-a Lifetime movie? I'm torn. I am, in fact, a Lifetime addict. But this film should be approached with . . . caution (?). I felt the same way when Gwyneth Paltrow made "Sylvia," and when I discovered Julia Stiles was making a film version of "The Bell Jar." Excited. But apprehensive.
Then again-Brooke Shields is so very lovely, and can hardly do any wrong-
I've never seen a film version, but this story, more than any other I've read, is in my mind as images and film. I don't think I've read it in 10 years, but I remember it SO vividly.
Also, the quote from her doctor makes me want to start painting again, if only as rebellion. And because I can.
She wasn't just accused of racism- she was pretty vocal about it. But I suppose it's a bit like people from the past who spoke out against racism and slavery while oppressing women.
In a comparative lit class I took a few years ago we read this right before Jekyll and Hyde. The Yellow Wallpaper scared me more. All that creeping... ::shudder::
I included a quote from her on the syllabus for my class this semester - "The first duty of a human being is to assume the right functional relationship to society -- more briefly, to find your real job, and do it."
I thought it was "thought provoking" and was hoping the students might wikipedia her if they thought so too.
I just read this with my students yesterday! How timely! The kids were totally creeped out by the story, but we had a really good discussion about women and changing attitudes towards mental illness.
@Andalucian Chic...identity crisis possibly resolved: When I taught this, I was surprised at how many students were really interested in the husband's role. So we started looking at his actions/behaviors, and OMG creepypants.
Arrgh, that novel has totally scarred me for life. I hate wallpaper to this day, especially intricate and/or ornate wallpapers, no joke. If there is wallpaper in my future house I will have it torn out before I step foot inside.
There's something about that 80s movie, where at the end she's just crawling, round and round with the bits of wallpaper flaking all over her...*scream*
Charlotte Perkins Gilman!! I love this piece. I taught it several times at a local community college. Talk about blowing minds...any students actually picked up on the postpartum depression prior to my pointing it out.
I actually taught it in tandem with the short story,"Story of an Hour" by Kate Chopin, which is also has connections to the oppression of domesticity.
Later, I found an 80s film production of "Yellow Wallpaper" and showed that in conjunction with the reading. It is pretty literal adaptation, and therefore fairly spooky. Highly recommended.
@thevickinator: I loved "story of an hour" so much the first time I read it that I re-read it immediately. My freshman english professor had to tell me to (paraphrasing) simmer down when discussing it.
my dad taught a class on feminism and literature, so i grew up reading chopin and gilman. I've read this piece so many times, and every time, i find it to be slightly more perfect and wonderful. Seriously.
@o português é muito sexy: HATE The Awakening. I wrote a paper in college about how the main character's life was the opposite of feminist -- how she lived her life for men, and she ended her life because the man she wanted didn't want her. The prof told me that she hadn't seen it that way at first, but now she did, and she doesn't teach the novel anymore. I was rather proud of myself for that.
@formerlydictator4life1: I absolutely hated the Awakening as well. Mostly because she chooses suicide and, well, don't give that book to fucked up high school girls, okay? Its a BAD IDEA. I've argued, both in high school and college, that its incredibly anti-feminist, but few people ever agree with me. So well done convincing your professor!
@formerlydictator4life1: I think it goes both ways. maybe it's not feminist, but it is a sexually empowering novel for women. and i think in the end, she actually chooses to leave because she DOESN'T want to be tied to men. I mean, she rejects the guy because he demands that they marry, and she won't have any of it.
@katie.scarlett.o'hara: I only read the abreviated version of herland, so maybe that made it better . . . i don't know. i kind of enjoyed most of it, except for the weird fucked up couple-aggressive guys and aggressive girls can't ever get along? that was just odd.
but the sequel to it was interesting too, i think it was called "with her in ourland". i just remember it being fiercely critical of hats.
@katie.scarlett.o'hara: Haven't read Herland, but I just re-read "The Yellow Wallpaper" again yesterday with some students...the description of that room is so chilling. It makes me not want to have wallpaper in my house ever. Or locked down beds or bars on the windows either, for that matter.
@autonaimee: Of course, at the time it was received very well as a horror story- the idea being at any time even the sweetest most obedient wife might go crazy and start tearing up your attic...terrifying...who would clean and raise your kids?
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Weir Mitchell "perfected" the rest cure treatment, which also entailed fattening up depressed women, but to be fair to him he did stop prescribing it after CPG sent him a copy of The Yellow Wallpaper. So he was not a bad man, just seriously misguided.
She was awesome. And yes, very racist/nativist.
01/15/09
However-a Lifetime movie? I'm torn. I am, in fact, a Lifetime addict. But this film should be approached with . . . caution (?). I felt the same way when Gwyneth Paltrow made "Sylvia," and when I discovered Julia Stiles was making a film version of "The Bell Jar." Excited. But apprehensive.
Then again-Brooke Shields is so very lovely, and can hardly do any wrong-
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Also, the quote from her doctor makes me want to start painting again, if only as rebellion. And because I can.
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I thought it was "thought provoking" and was hoping the students might wikipedia her if they thought so too.
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There's something about that 80s movie, where at the end she's just crawling, round and round with the bits of wallpaper flaking all over her...*scream*
01/14/09
I actually taught it in tandem with the short story,"Story of an Hour" by Kate Chopin, which is also has connections to the oppression of domesticity.
Later, I found an 80s film production of "Yellow Wallpaper" and showed that in conjunction with the reading. It is pretty literal adaptation, and therefore fairly spooky. Highly recommended.
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Anybody read Herland, though? The "feminist utopia" one? I had to read it in high school and it was AWFUL.
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but the sequel to it was interesting too, i think it was called "with her in ourland". i just remember it being fiercely critical of hats.
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No piece of writing has ever scared me except the Yellow Wallpaper. That's the stuff of nightmares.
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