The Yellow Wallpaper: An Escape Into Insanity In The Yellow Wallpaper by Charlotte Perkins Gilman, the unnamed protagonist is suffering from postpartum depression, which is caused by the rapid changes in levels of hormones such as estrogen, progesterone and thyroid due to the birth of a child. This depression can be brought on bystress and isolation right after birth. In this short story the protagonist wasbrushed of by her husband John, who is a medical doctor as having atemporary nervous condition. In this situation, if the protagonist waseffectively treated instead of being isolated, which allowed the depression toescalate to a severe form, she would have steadily gotten better. Insteadthe protagonist began to develop postpartum psychosis, which is the mostsevere postpartum reaction. During this time woman will experience a breakwith reality which may include the experience of hallucinations and/ordelusions. Other symptoms may include severe insomnia, agitation, andbizarre feelings and behavior (Depression After Delivery, Inc. 3). The Yellow Wallpaper takes place in the late eighteen hundreds whenpsychological disorders were dismissed as temporary nervous conditions, andunless there was something physically wrong with the person, the individualhad to be isolated from any stimulating activities. Isolation seemed to bethe best antidote for psychological disorders in the late eighteen hundreds,although, it only made the disorder worse. John only worsens his wifesdisorder by taking her away for the summer and placing her in an old housethat is quite alone, standing well back from the road, quite three miles fromthe village (Barrett 193). John once again isolates his wife from anystimulating activities and forbids her to work...and am absolutely forbiddento work until I am well again (Barrett 192). The protagonist personallydisagrees with their ideas when she states, that congenial work, withexcitement and change would do me...
