An Inquiry into the Psychoanalytic Dimensions of Women Through the Lens of Charlotte Perkins Gilman
Abstract
This study uniquely explores Charlotte Perkins Gilman's chilling short story, 'The Yellow Wallpaper,' through psychoanalysis's enlightening and intriguing lens, particularly the Freudian concepts of the Id, Ego, and Superego. It contends that the story vividly portrays the destructive effects of societal norms and imposed limitations on a woman's mental health. The analysis delves into the narrator's internal struggle, where the Id's yearning for freedom and self-expression, the Ego's battle for control, and the Superego's internalized societal pressures converge, leading to her descent into madness. The Yellow Wallpaper emerges as a potent symbol in this conflict, evolving from an initial source of aversion to a canvas for the Id's projections and a representation of the Superego's stifling constraints. Moreover, the thesis scrutinizes Gilman's use of the story to critique the 'rest cure,' a prevalent yet perilous medical practice of the Victorian era. By examining the narrator's deteriorating mental state under enforced confinement and isolation, the thesis underscores the perils of suppressing a woman's autonomy and the necessity of recognizing her emotional needs, making the audience feel the importance of this understanding.
Keywords: Emotions, Psychoanalysis, Mental Struggle, The Yellow Wallpaper, Victorian Era.