In “The Yellow Wallpaper,” by Charlotte Perkins Gilman, the narrator is suffering from some of type of mental illness which is immediately noticeable at the beginning of the story. The severity and the definite cause of this illness are unknown at first. This illness is clearly taking over the narrator’s life in a negative way. Mental illness was looked at much differently during this time period. It was looked at as a weakness and many people particularly women did not receive treatment. Often times it was a secret and was hidden from the rest of society. As a result, this increased the effect of the mental illness made it more difficult for people to recover. The narrator was able to receive some treatment however it was kept a secret, and she was trapped in a room inside her house. Based on context clues, the reader can understand that the narrator most likely struggles with some type of depression and anxiety. The narrator appears to be trapped in a nursery which suggests she had or was supposed to have a child, which may be the stem of her mental illness. Ironically, this story is supposed to be fiction, yet it ends up being a direct representation of Charlotte Perkins Gilman’s life.  Perkins Gilman suffered from anxiety and depression, much like the narrator in “The Yellow Wallpaper” and ironically this piece was her writing therapy. The author is a prime example of a person whom was helped and benefited from this new unheard of therapy. The narrator’s life is a representation of the author’s real life and how writing therapy can cure mental illness while isolation can do the opposite and cause the patient more harm, such as in Perkins Gilman’s case and she was in a fragile state. 

Society had a much different perspective on mental illness in the 1880’s than they do now in 2016. Research and evolution of society have changed the perspective from mental illness being a weakness and not receiving treatment to it being an accepted part of society and people having strength for going to get help. The narrator is suffering from mental illness; she is trapped in a room. While being in alone in a room and not being able to escape is enough to make anyone go crazy, she sits there peeling the wallpaper trying to find an escape. One of the primary, if not only, reason the narrator received treatment was because her husband was a physician. He supposedly knew what was best for his wife’s health. In his alleged attempts to help her mental stability, he caused her to become more depressed and could not find an escape from her life. As isolation from society is not a proper form of treatment, the narrator turns to writing. She is determined to find a way to escape her life trapped in a room. Looking for a cure, she turns to writing because she is desperate for help. This must be kept a secret because writing has been forbidden from her life. “There comes John, and I must put this away he hates to have me write a word” (Perkins Gilman, The Yellow Wallpaper, 301). Ironically her physician wants to keep her away from the only treatment that has the ability to cure her depression. She was forced to hide her writing which helped her talk through and eventually cure her illness. What is now known as one of the best ways to cure her illness was once forbidden. As the narrator remains trapped inside a room isolated from the rest of the world, she sits and thinks about all the tragedies in her life. 

In her life, Perkins Gilman reveals that she was instructed not to write at all by her doctor. It was forbidden by her to write as part of her treatment. The thoughts of being trapped never leave her mind. There is absolutely nothing to distract the narrator from the past, which caused her to become ill or the fact that she is mentally ill. This situation was very similar in Charlotte Perkins Gilman’s real life, showing the parallel between the two. “Being naturally moved to rejoicing by this narrow escape, I wrote “The Yellow Wallpaper,” with its embellishments and additions to carry out the ideal and sent a copy to the physician who so nearly drove me mad” (Perkins Gilman, Why I Wrote ‘The Yellow Wallpaper). Perkins Gilman believes that writing this paper has helped her personally cure her depression. Her hopes were to prove to her doctor she was cured, but as a result of Perkins Gilman disobeying the orders he refused to read the work that changed her life. The power of writing therapy which was not prescribed or thought of during the 1880’s, potentially saved her life. Charlotte Perkins Gilman knew that sitting around the house was not going to help her become less depressed and she took it upon herself to share her story in hopes empowering others. Charlotte Perkins Gilman was unaware that writing therapy would save her from mental illness. 

Moving forward, over the course of one hundred years, depression and anxiety which were illnesses Charlotte Perkins Gilman was dealing with are now extremely prevalent. It is not out of the ordinary for people have mental illness and need treatment, especially women. There has not only been an evolution is societal standards, but also is mental illness treatment. People are no longer suppressed and hidden from the outside world. As seen and described in “The Yellow Wallpaper” and the life of Charlotte Perkins Gilman, isolation is enough to completely drive a person further insane. People did not react well or heal form this seclusion in reality.  As research has continued, it has been discovered that writing therapy is actually a way for patients to connect with themselves and let go of and work through their depression. Narrative therapy offers the idea that a person’s realities are created through one’s experience of societal influences and relationships (Signs). Expressing issues and sharing one’s inner thoughts through writing has helped many patients work through the hidden issues and be able to share some thoughts they would not comfortable flat out saying. It creates a connection within the patient, making them more comfortable with themselves. This is a much different approach because traditionally there is a relationship between a patient and therapist where it can be difficult to really open up. This therapy was frowned upon and Charlotte Perkins Gilman was forbidden by her doctor to write. As times have changed, this is now a common way to deal with mental illness. 

Mental illness has become something which is very normal in 2016, but in the 1880’s when Charlotte Perkins Gilman was coping with illness, she was expected to deal with this on her own. Her story in “The Yellow Wallpaper”, illustrated her struggle and inability to deal with illness and receive proper treatment and support. Luckily for Charlotte Perkins Gilman, she was able to turn to writing therapy which cured her from illness. At the time this was not a possibility for treatment. Perkins Gilman, was alone and writing was the only thing that she could turn to. Her doctor did not offer any legitimate help or treatment. Isolation was killing her mental statement and intensifying the illness. Ironically in the 1880’s writing therapy was not accepted nor suggested cure. In fact, Charlotte Perkins Gilman was instructed not to write by her doctor. However, the silence was killing her and she had to find a way to make time pass. Her creativity was her cure. Mental illness, particularly depression and anxiety affect each individual differently. There is a cure, and it is no long something which a patient should be hidden form the world. As society has evolved, mental illness is no longer looked at in a negative way. It can now be seen as an empowerment and those who seek treatment are strong. From tragedy comes a work of art, as seen in “The Yellow Wallpaper”. Sharing a story and opening up about the truth has created a new cure through writing therapy.
