Controversy and debate has always stirred when it comes to the fair treatment of all human beings. In previous years, there has been many issues which have surfaced regarding the unfair treatment towards certain groups of people. Because of this historically less progressive era in American history, issues such as gender equality and treatment of the mentally ill came under fire. Evidence of gender discrimination and mistreatment towards the mentally ill can be seen in both “The Yellow Wallpaper” and Ten Days in a Mad-House. After reading “The Yellow Wallpaper” and Ten Days in a Mad-House, one should compare the authors’ similar experiences as women and the purpose behind their text in order to further connect and observe social issues of this time. The texts exposed mistreatment of the mentally ill and gender prejudices which existed during this time.

The two authors; Charlotte Perkins Gilman, author of “The Yellow Wallpaper” and Nellie Bly, author of Ten Days in a Mad-House, share a lot in common with another outside from these similar texts. Both authors were feminist women that lived in the late 19th century and were heavily molded by this time. In their early years, both authors experienced incredible hardship from a lack of a father head in the house. Gilman’s father abandoned her mother during pregnancy which left them poor and struggling to make ends meet (Harrison, 2011). Bly also lost her father when died while she was only six (“Nellie Bly” 2000). This was a devastating blow for her family because her father left no will, which forced them to auction their home (“Nellie Bly” 2000).  Few jobs were available for women during this time which meant certain financial hardship. Fearing this caused Bly’s mother to hastily enter an abusive marriage with a drunk that resulted in divorce (“Nellie Bly” 2000).The similar hardships both women experienced early crafted them into the activist they became and influenced them in their writings. Nellie Bly became a columnist for the Pittsburgh Dispatch's "Quiet Observer” and wrote many feministic works (“Nellie Bly” 2000). Charlotte Perkins Gilman spent her time organizing various social reform movements and was even a political representative for the suffrage movement (Harrison, 2011). Both authors’ financial struggles display societal views of this time how men were viewed as the provider of the family while women were viewed as housewives. This is important to our understanding of the texts because it exposes gender inequalities which existed during this time and how it influenced each author. 

The texts these women wrote are arguably the most relevant pieces of literature regarding the mistreatment of women and their mental illnesses. Yet these two stories concerning treatment of mentally insane women arguably have two different purposes for being written. Although exhibiting feministic influences, each piece aims at exposing two different issues of this time. This becomes evident later on as we investigate each text. Both women took a unique approach to writing their texts which ultimately aimed at highlighting different issues of this time. 

It was Bly’s determination to work for “The New York Journal” which sparked her creation of Ten Days in a Mad-House. Bly was sarcastically told if she wanted the job she was to write a piece about the care mentally insane received at the New York’s mysterious Blackwell Island (“Nellie Bly” 2000). Bly’s determination can be seen when she went undercover as an insane patient for ten days. She was appalled at the harsh living conditions and mistreatment she was subjected to. The harsh conditions she endured firsthand as a crazy patient fueled her as she went on to craft a record of her experiences there. She aimed at bringing increased social awareness about the lack of care the mentally ill received at institutions such as Blackwell Island. Abuse and neglect of institutionalized patients is evident in the text when Bly describes the rancid food, the unqualified workers, and the forceful handling of patients (295). She records various physical and mental abuse patients experienced. Bly is even quoted as saying, “They [Nurses] pounced upon her [old woman] and slapped her in the face and knocked her in the head in a lively fashion, and actually choked her” (297). Mental abuse to insane patients can be seen when Bly writes, “They seemed to find a great deal of amusement in teasing a harmless old woman” (297). Bly’s story also reveals how the castoffs in society were forced in mental institutions and how they were a haven to some extent to keep undesirables away from the mainstream population.  Her purpose for writing Ten Days in a Mad-House was to expose the conditions of Blackwell Island to the people in order to spotlight the harsh treatment towards the mentally ill.   

Ten Days in a Mad-House is an investigative record of the harsh treatments Bly experienced in a mental institution, whereas “The Yellow Wallpaper” is a story which cunningly displays gender prejudice and inequality. “The Yellow Wallpaper”, is a story involving an insane woman, which aimed towards exposing social flaws in the way women were viewed and treated. During this time women were viewed as child rearing housewives. Because of this, marriages during this time were often one sided and controlled by the husband. This was one of the many gender prejudices covered by Gilman. Textual evidence of the subservient manner women were viewed can be seen when Gilman writes “John Laughs at me, of course, but one expects that in marriage” (299). Further degrading views of women can be seen when the main characters husband often belittles her illness while controlling her everyday life regardless of her input (Gilman 300). Readers can detect degrading views of women as they were viewed as fragile and required different treatment from men. She touches on this societal viewpoint when the main character complains how her husband prescribes too much rest with no activity and how this worsens her condition (Gilman, 300). Charlotte Perkins Gilman uses this story to convey issues regarding gender inequalities in order to spread feminism and advocate social change. She craftily accomplished this through concealed feministic themes which highlighted many gender prejudices of this time.   

Analysis of both authors, their influences, and textual evidence allows readers to draw deeper connections between Ten Days in a Mad-House and “The Yellow Wallpaper”. Observing historical and literal components enables readers to further grasp cultural issues plaguing this time. This is important for readers because social issues influenced the authors and are evident in each text. Ten Days in a Mad-House and “The Yellow Wallpaper” reflect many aspects of late 19th century culture. These pieces represent a less progressive era in American history and advocated social change which the effect of can be seen to this day. It was works such as these which raised social awareness of the treatment mentally ill received and the underlying issues women dealt with that were lesser known in the mainstream consciousness of America. 
