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The Yellow Wallpaper and Selected Writings
Known primarily for her classic and haunting story "The Yellow Wallpaper," Charlotte Perkins Gilman was an enormously influential American feminist and sociologist. Her early-twentieth-century writings continue to inspire writers and activists today. This collection includes selections from both her fiction and nonfiction work.
In addition to the title story, there are seven short stories collected here that combine humor, anger, and startling vision to suggest how women's "place" in society should be changed to benefit all. The nonfiction selections are from Gilman's The Man-Made World: Our Androcentric Culture and her masterpiece, Women And Economics, which was translated into seven languages and established her international reputation as a theorist.
Also included in a delightful excerpt from Gilman's utopian novel, Herland, an acidly funny tale about three American male explorers who stumble into an all-female society and begin their odyssey by insisting, "This is a civilized country . . . there must be men." Gilman's analyses of economic and women's issues are as incisive and relevant today as they were upon their original publication. This volume is an unprecedented opportunity to rediscover a powerful American writer.
Content:
Introduction
Stories.
The yellow wallpaper
The unexpected
The giant wistaria
An extinct angel
The rocking-chair
Deserted
An unnatural mother
Three Thanksgivings
The Cottagette
When I was a witch
An honest woman
Turned
Making a Change
Mrs. Elder's Idea
Their house
Bee Wise
Fulfilment
If I were a man
Mr. Peeble's heart
Mrs. Merrill's duties.
Selections from the author's autobiography. The Living of Charlotte Perkins Gilman.
In addition to the title story, there are seven short stories collected here that combine humor, anger, and startling vision to suggest how women's "place" in society should be changed to benefit all. The nonfiction selections are from Gilman's The Man-Made World: Our Androcentric Culture and her masterpiece, Women And Economics, which was translated into seven languages and established her international reputation as a theorist.
Also included in a delightful excerpt from Gilman's utopian novel, Herland, an acidly funny tale about three American male explorers who stumble into an all-female society and begin their odyssey by insisting, "This is a civilized country . . . there must be men." Gilman's analyses of economic and women's issues are as incisive and relevant today as they were upon their original publication. This volume is an unprecedented opportunity to rediscover a powerful American writer.
Content:
Introduction
Stories.
The yellow wallpaper
The unexpected
The giant wistaria
An extinct angel
The rocking-chair
Deserted
An unnatural mother
Three Thanksgivings
The Cottagette
When I was a witch
An honest woman
Turned
Making a Change
Mrs. Elder's Idea
Their house
Bee Wise
Fulfilment
If I were a man
Mr. Peeble's heart
Mrs. Merrill's duties.
Selections from the author's autobiography. The Living of Charlotte Perkins Gilman.
366 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1935
170 people are currently reading
1796 people want to read
About the author
Charlotte Perkins Gilman
1,069 books2,260 followersCharlotte Perkins Gilman (1860-1935), also known as Charlotte Perkins Stetson, was a prominent American sociologist, novelist, writer of short stories, poetry, and nonfiction, and a lecturer for social reform. She was a utopian feminist during a time when her accomplishments were exceptional for women, and she served as a role model for future generations of feminists because of her unorthodox concepts and lifestyle. Her best remembered work today is her semi-autobiographical short story, "The Yellow Wallpaper", which she wrote after a severe bout of post-partum depression.
She was the daughter of Frederic B. Perkins.
She was the daughter of Frederic B. Perkins.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 165 reviews
April 27, 2022
I'd give the overall collection 3.5 stars and "The Yellow Wallpaper" 4 stars
An interesting window into gender roles/feminism of the late 19th and early 20th century!
An interesting window into gender roles/feminism of the late 19th and early 20th century!
June 29, 2021
The title short story is Gilman’s classic story of a woman driven mad by her husband’s controlling “remedy” for her post-partum depression. Told in first person, the woman relates how her physician husband, John, has secured a colonial estate for their summer getaway. He is a very practical man and sure of his scientific facts. His prescription for his wife’s malaise is completely rest, and so she is locked in her attic bedroom, with its hideous yellow wallpaper and ordered to do NOTHING. No, not even a walk in the garden. And slowly she goes mad. Frankly, I was not a great fan of this story and dreaded reading the rest of the collection as a result, but I’m glad I persisted.
First published in 1892, Gilman’s story ignited some controversy, and she has been hailed as a feminist. She certainly is that. Among the stories in the collection is one involving a woman-developed pair of communities, where men take second place, and women run the show, and which prosper in a determined obscurity. Other stories show women stretching their wings and engaging in additional education or business pursuits despite their husband’s (or father’s or brother’s) objections, and succeeding, not just in their businesses but in life.
While the focus of virtually all these stories is the lives of women –how they are repressed, how they overcome, how they succeed – there is one notable story, Mr Peebles’s Heart, that shows the advantages to the man in the relationship from also spreading his wings and giving over some of the duties traditionally assigned to men to a woman in his life (wife, employee, sister, etc).
First published in 1892, Gilman’s story ignited some controversy, and she has been hailed as a feminist. She certainly is that. Among the stories in the collection is one involving a woman-developed pair of communities, where men take second place, and women run the show, and which prosper in a determined obscurity. Other stories show women stretching their wings and engaging in additional education or business pursuits despite their husband’s (or father’s or brother’s) objections, and succeeding, not just in their businesses but in life.
While the focus of virtually all these stories is the lives of women –how they are repressed, how they overcome, how they succeed – there is one notable story, Mr Peebles’s Heart, that shows the advantages to the man in the relationship from also spreading his wings and giving over some of the duties traditionally assigned to men to a woman in his life (wife, employee, sister, etc).
August 14, 2020
Edit: Just finished this August, 2020. I loved every page. Thoughts below from 3 years ago. For me, there’s definitely a ‘right time’ for every book. Luckily I picked this one up during it! 💖
//
I haven't finished this, so I'm not counting it towards my reading challenge. Got up to page 138 and the story 'Turned'. Adored the titular story and it's not that I wasn't enjoying the others, I just wasn't loving them as much as I hoped. I think it's down to the time I picked them up rather than the stories themselves though. Will definitely keep this collection and revisit in the future!
//
I haven't finished this, so I'm not counting it towards my reading challenge. Got up to page 138 and the story 'Turned'. Adored the titular story and it's not that I wasn't enjoying the others, I just wasn't loving them as much as I hoped. I think it's down to the time I picked them up rather than the stories themselves though. Will definitely keep this collection and revisit in the future!
June 4, 2016
4 stars for The Yellow Wallpaper, had to return to the library so the collected writting unread. At the time this story was written it seems as if they couldn't have got the treatment of post natal depression more wrong.
February 9, 2017
A couple of stories were worth 5 stars by themselves. Unfortunately, the rest of the collection wasn't quite so amazing.
The Yellow Wallpaper was an absolute classic, as I expected. It gave me Shirley Jackson vibes (LOVE). This is actually the kind of thing I was hoping for when I read Wide Sargasso Sea recently.
The Unexpected was short but very well done. It showed the power in what is NOT said. Another good portrayal of the inability of women to be themselves in the male dominated world of the time.
The Giant Wistaria: in this instance, the omissions DIDN'T work. It was very confusing and far too cheerful for a ghost story. It could have been very creepy but it felt poorly executed. Not enough tension created.
An Extinct Angel: an interesting concept and funny.
The Rocking Chair: utterly fabulous. A great story with a strong narrative voice.
Deserted: short but satisfying.
An Unnatural Mother: kind of awful! But then I guess that's what the author was going for, so she was successful in that respect.
Three Thanksgivings: sweet and funny. You go, Mrs Morrison!
The Cottagette: nice to see a male who wasn't completely abhorrent in his treatment of women!
When I was a witch: not what I expected but I liked the final message of female empowerment. And who am I kidding? The narrator was totally me. I hate public transport.
An Honest Woman: not much to say other than 'go Mary!'
Turned: the stories are beginning to get a bit samey... though there were some interesting implications in this one.
And after that, I stopped reviewing each individual story because they just became too repetitive. I get that there are probably a finite number of ways you can write about the same thematic material, but it just became dull. I also wasn't particularly interested in the autobiographical chapters. So overall, a couple of gems but nothing to shout about.
The Yellow Wallpaper was an absolute classic, as I expected. It gave me Shirley Jackson vibes (LOVE). This is actually the kind of thing I was hoping for when I read Wide Sargasso Sea recently.
The Unexpected was short but very well done. It showed the power in what is NOT said. Another good portrayal of the inability of women to be themselves in the male dominated world of the time.
The Giant Wistaria: in this instance, the omissions DIDN'T work. It was very confusing and far too cheerful for a ghost story. It could have been very creepy but it felt poorly executed. Not enough tension created.
An Extinct Angel: an interesting concept and funny.
The Rocking Chair: utterly fabulous. A great story with a strong narrative voice.
Deserted: short but satisfying.
An Unnatural Mother: kind of awful! But then I guess that's what the author was going for, so she was successful in that respect.
Three Thanksgivings: sweet and funny. You go, Mrs Morrison!
The Cottagette: nice to see a male who wasn't completely abhorrent in his treatment of women!
When I was a witch: not what I expected but I liked the final message of female empowerment. And who am I kidding? The narrator was totally me. I hate public transport.
An Honest Woman: not much to say other than 'go Mary!'
Turned: the stories are beginning to get a bit samey... though there were some interesting implications in this one.
And after that, I stopped reviewing each individual story because they just became too repetitive. I get that there are probably a finite number of ways you can write about the same thematic material, but it just became dull. I also wasn't particularly interested in the autobiographical chapters. So overall, a couple of gems but nothing to shout about.
April 3, 2023
“It used to disturb me at first. I thought seriously of burning the house—to reach the smell. But now I am used to it. The only thing I can think of that it is like is the colour of the paper! A yellow smell."
April 10, 2022
Mansplain. Manipulate
Gaslight. Gatekeep
Gaslight. Gatekeep
Read
March 13, 2025Just read yellow wallpaper for class and it read like my diary from last year hahah
February 24, 2017
Hunting for short stories to finish the month of February. Only read The Yellow Wallpaper. I can't count how many times I've seen patterns where none should exist. My brain just functions that way. But I've never been haunted and possessed by what I see. I've also never seen people. Perhaps that's the difference? I'll look harder.
November 17, 2023
I wrote almost every college paper I could on the yellow wallpaper, it's one of the most I don't even know
July 28, 2022
Charlotte Perkins Gilman's beliefs are not subtle in the slightest with the majority of short stories in this collection being very strongly feminist. This is of course not a bad thing, and reading one of the stories on its own would be great, but as a collection it quickly became tiring how every story had the same theme. I wouldn't say this is the author's fault obviously as she didn't publish them in this format, but never the less it does start to get boring quickly.
'The Yellow Wallpaper" is her most famous story and is definitely interesting, however I found reading analysis online about the story afterwards more captivating than the story itself. One that I did really genuinely enjoy was "When I Was a Witch" which is about a woman with the power to make her wishes come true. She uses this power in some strange, slightly morbid ways, but it was my favourite out of the whole collection. "The Rocking-Chair" was fascinating also and created a great mystery that kept you reading. One of the more feminist-centric stories that stood out to me was "Bee Wise" which told of a utopia built by women.
Many of the other stories though are just simple, contemporary (for the time) tales about women realising their worth and that they can do anything they want. Great messages of course, and for the time definitely important, but reading them one after another today was just not the most exciting reading experience in my opinion. Still, I think the collection is worth a read and I would especially recommend checking out the singular stories that I mentioned.
'The Yellow Wallpaper" is her most famous story and is definitely interesting, however I found reading analysis online about the story afterwards more captivating than the story itself. One that I did really genuinely enjoy was "When I Was a Witch" which is about a woman with the power to make her wishes come true. She uses this power in some strange, slightly morbid ways, but it was my favourite out of the whole collection. "The Rocking-Chair" was fascinating also and created a great mystery that kept you reading. One of the more feminist-centric stories that stood out to me was "Bee Wise" which told of a utopia built by women.
Many of the other stories though are just simple, contemporary (for the time) tales about women realising their worth and that they can do anything they want. Great messages of course, and for the time definitely important, but reading them one after another today was just not the most exciting reading experience in my opinion. Still, I think the collection is worth a read and I would especially recommend checking out the singular stories that I mentioned.
February 17, 2025
The Yellow Wallpaper short story feels like a voice that needs to be heard, locked up and ignored for too long. The imagery of the women behind the bars of the wallpaper mimic the narrators own life stuck inside her room. Towards the end of the story, the narrator imagines her own release through the release of the creeping women from the wallpaper. This isn’t necessarily a cry for help but a cry to be listened to.
The reader witnesses the effect that constant isolation is having on the narrator, causing psychosis in free fall. The writing is crisp and simply descriptive and I found myself feeling more melancholy as the pages turned, encapsulating the narrators own experience perfectly. The Yellow Wallpaper is the (partly) autobiographical tale of one woman’s struggle with not just her own mental health, but with the patriarchy which suffocates her voice from being echoed beyond her own room, pulling her into the depths of madness.
The reader witnesses the effect that constant isolation is having on the narrator, causing psychosis in free fall. The writing is crisp and simply descriptive and I found myself feeling more melancholy as the pages turned, encapsulating the narrators own experience perfectly. The Yellow Wallpaper is the (partly) autobiographical tale of one woman’s struggle with not just her own mental health, but with the patriarchy which suffocates her voice from being echoed beyond her own room, pulling her into the depths of madness.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 16, 2023
Uma pequena novela num tom gótico sobre a depressão e paranóia, sob o ponto de vista da personagem principal. Existe aqui uma espécie de terror evocativo ao estilo de Edgar Allen Poe (A Queda da Casa de Usher), contudo nesta história semi-autobiográfica a autora pretende explorar não só os meandros da perturbações psicológicas femininas, assim como denunciar um certa intolerância das pessoas perante este problema. Não fosse esse intuito tão expressamente notório e talvez esta obra se destacasse na sua originalidade. Contudo não deixa de ter um ambiente de suspense e de perturbação.
September 13, 2025
The Yellow Wallpaper itself is a fantastic piece of writing and the other stories included range from the sublime (Three Thanksgivings, Turned) to somewhat slight but fun (When I Was a Witch). But each seems so far ahead of its time in attitude and style, that they all impress in different ways. What really makes the difference in this edition is the inclusion of substantial excerpts from the author’s autobiography which present a fiercely intelligent treatise on living and further enrich the stories by providing contextual insight. Contains about the most moving description of depression and burnout I’ve ever read.
June 22, 2024
definitely enjoyed the novel world-building! unfortunately the fact that feminism is novel speaks volumes
August 20, 2023
So this review is going to be divided into parts, get ready for a long one. An overall review of the book and short stories in general, and then some smaller, individual reviews for the short stories that don't have their own individual Goodreads listing. The other stories I've reviewed on their respective listings.
THE AUTOBIOGRAPHY
Like my review, the book is also divided into two parts, one being the short stories and the other being snippets of Gilman's autobiography (of which I only read a few sections). I'll start with the latter.
There isn't a lot to say here, the autobiographical chapters are written very simplistically and factually, but still engaging enough to enjoy. Gilman is an interesting author personality so reading bits of her background, how and why she formed the opinions she did along with the fuel for her creativity was a nice way to wrap up the book.
THE SHORT STORIES
Gilman has an incredibly powerful voice. Feminist, independent and headstrong, her opinions strong and polarising. I absolutely love that aspect of her work, but some of her opinions I do have issues with, but there are more details there in the individual reviews.
In terms of writing and characters, Gilman's grasps on both are good. Neither really struck me as extremely memorable, but I enjoyed them respectively. Her stories and formulae are much the same, however the formula did end up getting a little repetitive by the end, and I wish the stories were more stand-out, they all blur together at a certain point.
What makes Gilman's work memorable and unique are the themes and messages embedded within. For the time these were published, her ideas were incredibly forward, bold and ahead of her time. Some of the topics discussed around women, marriage and motherhood were just excellent and some continue to be relevant in modern society.
I would sum up the collection as having amazing themes presented in a rather mediocre, simple fashion, which is a shame but as they are short stories I'm not too upset. Overall I had a good time reading through this collection!
Favorites: The Cottagette, The Yellow Wallpaper, The Unnatural Mother
Least Favourites: Fulfilment, The Great Wistaria, Bee Wise
THE INDIVIDUAL REVIEWS
The Cottagette: 3.75
Aw, this one is incredibly wholesome.
It follows two women Lois and Malda (our narrator) who go to stay in what they dub as a 'cottagette' in the woods; here Malda meets and falls in love with a man.
It was nice to see Gilman write such a sweet romance whilst also having her usual feminist flair. For the time, I imagine it broke a lot of boundaries on what is expected of a woman, and even better, it was the man himself who cast those expectations aside.
Overall, it was a really cute, fluffy story and I liked it quite a bit.
An Honest Woman: 3.5
Ahh the ones with no listings are hitting different!
I found this one to be relevant still in modern times and I think a lot of women could relate to it thanks to it's simplicity.
It follows the tale of a woman and her life after her (sort of) husband leaves her and their child for another woman.
It's an uplifting, simple but inspiring story about a woman who becomes independent, proud and strong after being hurt by the person she loved and dedicated her life to. Again, nothing too deep here but that worked perfectly for this story.
It's a bit like of an 1800s breakup story. Overall I really enjoyed this one.
Making A Change: 3
Making A Change is a story about a young mother and wife, her husband and his mother after the birth of a baby. She struggles with the pressure and criticism of her family, almost to breaking point.
I don't have much to say on this one. It was another nice narrative on motherhood, and similar to (but less sweet than) The Cottagette, not giving up your identity in order to fit societal standards. Other than that, there wasn't really anything stand-out about this one. I do enjoy how Gilman's women characters often band together, even after a bit of tension.
Mrs Elder's Idea: 3.25
Mrs Elder's Idea is the story of the titular character's plan to take autonomy of her own future after her husband makes a life-changing decision without her consent.
Another story following the familiar Gilman formula. I like the unconventional take on relationships, promoting mature and probably unusual for the time dynamics of living apart and independence. Deconstructing societal standards around women and marriage and motherhood is definitely Gilman's speciality, each story seems to tackle another topic with a simple, fable-like method.
Their House: 3.5
Similar to Mrs Elder's Idea, Their House focuses on a couple who decide to strike out as independents for a while in order to further their interests and careers.
I enjoyed this one a little more than the previous as the story and characters felt more developed and interesting. Honestly I'm starting to run out of things to say because all of them follow a similar formula and are generally fine stories, enjoyable but not outstanding with forward-thinking mature messages, especially for the time, some of which still hold up today.
Fulfilment: 1.5
Super simple synopsis for this one! Two sisters reunite and tell the stories of their lives.
I wasn't a big fan of this one, unfortunately. The two sisters, Irma and Elsie, chose very different paths, and both are said to be very happy (which should be all that matters). Irma is a classic Gilman woman, independent, career focused but still with a motherly fondness. Elsie is the type of woman that Gilman has very subtly looked down upon throughout her stories; a housewife depicted as a little ignorant because she doesn't care to plan too far into the future and because enjoys her role.
In this story, there is a clear attitude that Irma should be looked up to and her sister should be shamed or rethink her choices, but not blatantly. Gilman does it softly, which is almost worse. I have a major issue with this as I'm firm in the belief that as long as a woman is 'fulfilled' and content in her way of life, there are no lifestyle choices that are less feminist than others.
Mrs Merrill's Duties: 3
The last one in my collection! And we're leaving it on a very comfortable note.
Mrs Merrill's Duties is the telling of the life of Mrs Merrill, a scientist. It's a very simple one but it's well paced and written fluidly.
The general theme is that of not having the time to do the things you're passionate about due to various things- family duties being heavily emphasised upon in particular. Like many others, it's nothing outstanding and the message isn't anything big or groundbreaking, but it was enjoyable overall.
THE AUTOBIOGRAPHY
Like my review, the book is also divided into two parts, one being the short stories and the other being snippets of Gilman's autobiography (of which I only read a few sections). I'll start with the latter.
There isn't a lot to say here, the autobiographical chapters are written very simplistically and factually, but still engaging enough to enjoy. Gilman is an interesting author personality so reading bits of her background, how and why she formed the opinions she did along with the fuel for her creativity was a nice way to wrap up the book.
THE SHORT STORIES
Gilman has an incredibly powerful voice. Feminist, independent and headstrong, her opinions strong and polarising. I absolutely love that aspect of her work, but some of her opinions I do have issues with, but there are more details there in the individual reviews.
In terms of writing and characters, Gilman's grasps on both are good. Neither really struck me as extremely memorable, but I enjoyed them respectively. Her stories and formulae are much the same, however the formula did end up getting a little repetitive by the end, and I wish the stories were more stand-out, they all blur together at a certain point.
What makes Gilman's work memorable and unique are the themes and messages embedded within. For the time these were published, her ideas were incredibly forward, bold and ahead of her time. Some of the topics discussed around women, marriage and motherhood were just excellent and some continue to be relevant in modern society.
I would sum up the collection as having amazing themes presented in a rather mediocre, simple fashion, which is a shame but as they are short stories I'm not too upset. Overall I had a good time reading through this collection!
Favorites: The Cottagette, The Yellow Wallpaper, The Unnatural Mother
Least Favourites: Fulfilment, The Great Wistaria, Bee Wise
THE INDIVIDUAL REVIEWS
The Cottagette: 3.75
Aw, this one is incredibly wholesome.
It follows two women Lois and Malda (our narrator) who go to stay in what they dub as a 'cottagette' in the woods; here Malda meets and falls in love with a man.
It was nice to see Gilman write such a sweet romance whilst also having her usual feminist flair. For the time, I imagine it broke a lot of boundaries on what is expected of a woman, and even better, it was the man himself who cast those expectations aside.
Overall, it was a really cute, fluffy story and I liked it quite a bit.
An Honest Woman: 3.5
Ahh the ones with no listings are hitting different!
I found this one to be relevant still in modern times and I think a lot of women could relate to it thanks to it's simplicity.
It follows the tale of a woman and her life after her (sort of) husband leaves her and their child for another woman.
It's an uplifting, simple but inspiring story about a woman who becomes independent, proud and strong after being hurt by the person she loved and dedicated her life to. Again, nothing too deep here but that worked perfectly for this story.
It's a bit like of an 1800s breakup story. Overall I really enjoyed this one.
Making A Change: 3
Making A Change is a story about a young mother and wife, her husband and his mother after the birth of a baby. She struggles with the pressure and criticism of her family, almost to breaking point.
I don't have much to say on this one. It was another nice narrative on motherhood, and similar to (but less sweet than) The Cottagette, not giving up your identity in order to fit societal standards. Other than that, there wasn't really anything stand-out about this one. I do enjoy how Gilman's women characters often band together, even after a bit of tension.
Mrs Elder's Idea: 3.25
Mrs Elder's Idea is the story of the titular character's plan to take autonomy of her own future after her husband makes a life-changing decision without her consent.
Another story following the familiar Gilman formula. I like the unconventional take on relationships, promoting mature and probably unusual for the time dynamics of living apart and independence. Deconstructing societal standards around women and marriage and motherhood is definitely Gilman's speciality, each story seems to tackle another topic with a simple, fable-like method.
Their House: 3.5
Similar to Mrs Elder's Idea, Their House focuses on a couple who decide to strike out as independents for a while in order to further their interests and careers.
I enjoyed this one a little more than the previous as the story and characters felt more developed and interesting. Honestly I'm starting to run out of things to say because all of them follow a similar formula and are generally fine stories, enjoyable but not outstanding with forward-thinking mature messages, especially for the time, some of which still hold up today.
Fulfilment: 1.5
Super simple synopsis for this one! Two sisters reunite and tell the stories of their lives.
I wasn't a big fan of this one, unfortunately. The two sisters, Irma and Elsie, chose very different paths, and both are said to be very happy (which should be all that matters). Irma is a classic Gilman woman, independent, career focused but still with a motherly fondness. Elsie is the type of woman that Gilman has very subtly looked down upon throughout her stories; a housewife depicted as a little ignorant because she doesn't care to plan too far into the future and because enjoys her role.
In this story, there is a clear attitude that Irma should be looked up to and her sister should be shamed or rethink her choices, but not blatantly. Gilman does it softly, which is almost worse. I have a major issue with this as I'm firm in the belief that as long as a woman is 'fulfilled' and content in her way of life, there are no lifestyle choices that are less feminist than others.
Mrs Merrill's Duties: 3
The last one in my collection! And we're leaving it on a very comfortable note.
Mrs Merrill's Duties is the telling of the life of Mrs Merrill, a scientist. It's a very simple one but it's well paced and written fluidly.
The general theme is that of not having the time to do the things you're passionate about due to various things- family duties being heavily emphasised upon in particular. Like many others, it's nothing outstanding and the message isn't anything big or groundbreaking, but it was enjoyable overall.
October 21, 2018
This is a collection of short stories as well as autobiographic excerpts by the American feminist and free-thinker Charlotte Perkins Gilman (1860-1935).
'The Yellow Wallpaper' is perhaps her most well-known; a dive into the slow mental breakdown of a woman forced to forgo any mental stimulation as a treatment for her depression. It is an insightful view into practices of the time but also the confined life of a woman during Gilman's lifetime.
I get the sense from lots of her short stories, that Gilman was using them as a vehicle to explore her thoughts about her life, women's position, the culture she lived in. And so a lot of this work has a sort of unformed quality to it, less polished perhaps than I would have expected. 'The Giant Wisteria' (a ghost story of sorts) I liked but felt could have been better executed.
'An Unnatural Mother' was brilliantly insightful - a commentary on other people's (women's) commentaries on other people's (women's) lives! 'When I was a Witch' was really fun (about a woman whose horrid wishes come true). And the stories of women triumphing in the face of their bad treatment by men - 'Turned', 'An Honest Woman' - as well as those of women improving their lot - 'Making a Change', 'Their House' - were tales to warm your soul as a female! :)
The autobiographical elements were interesting for perspectives on how she formulated her ideas and views, although I wouldn't say she always came across as the most likable of people, though what do I know! Anyway, nice read - interesting for anyone keen on history of feminism and women's literature.
'The Yellow Wallpaper' is perhaps her most well-known; a dive into the slow mental breakdown of a woman forced to forgo any mental stimulation as a treatment for her depression. It is an insightful view into practices of the time but also the confined life of a woman during Gilman's lifetime.
I get the sense from lots of her short stories, that Gilman was using them as a vehicle to explore her thoughts about her life, women's position, the culture she lived in. And so a lot of this work has a sort of unformed quality to it, less polished perhaps than I would have expected. 'The Giant Wisteria' (a ghost story of sorts) I liked but felt could have been better executed.
'An Unnatural Mother' was brilliantly insightful - a commentary on other people's (women's) commentaries on other people's (women's) lives! 'When I was a Witch' was really fun (about a woman whose horrid wishes come true). And the stories of women triumphing in the face of their bad treatment by men - 'Turned', 'An Honest Woman' - as well as those of women improving their lot - 'Making a Change', 'Their House' - were tales to warm your soul as a female! :)
The autobiographical elements were interesting for perspectives on how she formulated her ideas and views, although I wouldn't say she always came across as the most likable of people, though what do I know! Anyway, nice read - interesting for anyone keen on history of feminism and women's literature.
October 26, 2012
I am basing my five stars on the opening story - The Yellow Wallpaper. Never have I read something that chilled my spine before. I was terrified for the story to end (what would happen to me after I put it down?), I was terrified to read on. The tone of the narrator is so mad, so violent, and I instantly got the feeling that she had been overtaken by something in that room.
On reading the introduction to this edition and finding out that The Yellow Wallpaper is a somewhat autobiographical piece makes it all the more thrilling - not only are we fearful of the narrator but now we fear how Gilman was feeling. Shocking stuff. Best short story I've ever read.
On reading the introduction to this edition and finding out that The Yellow Wallpaper is a somewhat autobiographical piece makes it all the more thrilling - not only are we fearful of the narrator but now we fear how Gilman was feeling. Shocking stuff. Best short story I've ever read.
August 16, 2014
Loved this. The Yellow Wallpaper is a chilling story and 'When I was a witch' is another favourite. The extracts from her autobiography at the end are really interesting and display a deeply intelligent and thoughtful person. One of my fave authors of all time.
April 30, 2015
Everyone kept telling me how much I'd like this and they were right! Thanks Everyone.
October 31, 2018
The Yellow Wallpaper would have to be one of my favourite short stories I have ever read. Some of the other stories were also excellent but nothing compares to the titular tale.
March 31, 2023
There are a lot of good works in here outside of The Yellow Wall-Paper, but it’s obvious why this one has stood out. Its tone differs from her other writings and it’s eerie. It’s a slow crawl into depression and loneliness-induced insanity. I wanted more stories like this, but a majority of the short fiction featured here took on a tone more similar to a childhood fable with a far more pessimistic moral. Some non-Yellow Wall-Paper standouts include: The Rocking-Chair, Mrs. Beazley’s Deeds, Turned, The Chair of English, and Bee Wise. Also an honorable mention to Dr. Clair’s Place for being about mental healthcare in the early 1900s.
Much of Charlotte Perkins-Gilman’s work featured here focuses on life happening to the women characters as they watch it flee from them. Perkins-Gilman seems to imagine and argue for a world in which these women are given, or many times take/achieve, the freedom to live the lives of their choosing. As characters gain their autonomy they become academic and industrious. Those that do not gain their freedom end up prisoners in their own homes as the “repellent, almost revolting” wall-paper swallows them up.
I’ve avoiding touching on “Herland,” but it’s the only novel-length work featured here, so some of my initial thoughts…Charlotte Perkins-Gilman is rightfully a celebrated historical figure in feminist literature. She was clearly ahead of her time in that regard. However, some aspects of the values she presents in this story strike me as outdated feminist values.
This was a very odd tale but an interesting read. I understand The premise itself is there and still quite thought provoking. However, functionally, an argument is presented that the utmost righteousness, and ultimate purpose of womanhood is motherhood. The story scoffs at the concept of women “belonging” to their husbands and acting virtually as prisoners in the home. But the alternative to this, in the story, when women take full autonomy and freedom, they exhibit mastery of craft and innovation yet hold motherhood as the pinnacle of woman existence. The story seemingly posits that women deserve complete freedom to pursue their passions and that their passions are and can only be procreation and rearing of children. With a modern lens this strikes me as wholly separate from modern feminist values.
A couple other points of interest that demonstrate the time period in which Perkins-Gilman was apart of are the pro-life sentiment that feels a bit strange in modernity, as well as the not that subtle eugenics argument.
It’s hard for me to fully judge which areas are satire / commentary on western culture and which areas are the true values that Charlotte Perkins Gilman upholds. The three men in the story could not possibly have been portrayed any more foolishly. It’s as if the three guys from It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia stumbled into this land. It’s quite clear that anything they say, including our narrator, is to be taken loosely as idiocy. But at the same time I couldn’t help but feel as much as this story perhaps wants to be anti-western patriarchy, it kind of romanticizes colonialism and man’s conquest?
I don’t know… those are some of my initial thoughts on Herland. The Yellow Wall-Paper was brilliant and several other short stories in here were pleasant surprises!
Much of Charlotte Perkins-Gilman’s work featured here focuses on life happening to the women characters as they watch it flee from them. Perkins-Gilman seems to imagine and argue for a world in which these women are given, or many times take/achieve, the freedom to live the lives of their choosing. As characters gain their autonomy they become academic and industrious. Those that do not gain their freedom end up prisoners in their own homes as the “repellent, almost revolting” wall-paper swallows them up.
I’ve avoiding touching on “Herland,” but it’s the only novel-length work featured here, so some of my initial thoughts…Charlotte Perkins-Gilman is rightfully a celebrated historical figure in feminist literature. She was clearly ahead of her time in that regard. However, some aspects of the values she presents in this story strike me as outdated feminist values.
This was a very odd tale but an interesting read. I understand The premise itself is there and still quite thought provoking. However, functionally, an argument is presented that the utmost righteousness, and ultimate purpose of womanhood is motherhood. The story scoffs at the concept of women “belonging” to their husbands and acting virtually as prisoners in the home. But the alternative to this, in the story, when women take full autonomy and freedom, they exhibit mastery of craft and innovation yet hold motherhood as the pinnacle of woman existence. The story seemingly posits that women deserve complete freedom to pursue their passions and that their passions are and can only be procreation and rearing of children. With a modern lens this strikes me as wholly separate from modern feminist values.
A couple other points of interest that demonstrate the time period in which Perkins-Gilman was apart of are the pro-life sentiment that feels a bit strange in modernity, as well as the not that subtle eugenics argument.
It’s hard for me to fully judge which areas are satire / commentary on western culture and which areas are the true values that Charlotte Perkins Gilman upholds. The three men in the story could not possibly have been portrayed any more foolishly. It’s as if the three guys from It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia stumbled into this land. It’s quite clear that anything they say, including our narrator, is to be taken loosely as idiocy. But at the same time I couldn’t help but feel as much as this story perhaps wants to be anti-western patriarchy, it kind of romanticizes colonialism and man’s conquest?
I don’t know… those are some of my initial thoughts on Herland. The Yellow Wall-Paper was brilliant and several other short stories in here were pleasant surprises!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 29, 2024
Charlotte Perkins Gilman’s infamous story “The Yellow Wallpaper” is known by many for being a disturbing horror story. This had always intrigued me so I was looking forward to giving it a read. It’s about a women who describes her time of being stuck in this bedroom under her husband’s “remedy” for her postpartum depression. In detail the author reflects on wether this women is losing her mind or are her controlling husband’s actions justified.
It was an unsettling story in how this women thinks she has gone mad at the hand of her husband. It shows the impact of such treatment in this kind of a relationship. As the author is known as writing feminist stories, these are reflected in the other shorts that follow in this collection.
Overall this is a great way to be introduced to the authors works and I can see why the title story is quite popular amongst many readers.
It was an unsettling story in how this women thinks she has gone mad at the hand of her husband. It shows the impact of such treatment in this kind of a relationship. As the author is known as writing feminist stories, these are reflected in the other shorts that follow in this collection.
Overall this is a great way to be introduced to the authors works and I can see why the title story is quite popular amongst many readers.
October 3, 2025
Gilman ci dona storie ordinarie e apparentemente semplici, rivoluzionate da personaggi solidi che riescono a imporsi attivamente trasformando il proprio microcosmo.
Le madri costrette ai lavori domestici, le figlie tenute nell’ombra della vita e le mogli assoggettate, tutte spingono per liberarsi dai costrutti di una società snaturata, cominciando a pensare a scrivere e a desiderare.
Lo spirito femminile si scontra in questa battaglia con la razionalità dell’uomo medico e scientifico che rifiuta una vita di sogni e aspirazioni, volendo intrappolare la donna in una realtà confinata.
La casa, unico luogo che le donne possono esplorare nella loro vita, diventa tramite questi racconti un luogo di rivolta e riappropriazione di potere. Le donne-fantasma, escluse ed emarginate, infestano così la casa e la narrazione.
Le madri costrette ai lavori domestici, le figlie tenute nell’ombra della vita e le mogli assoggettate, tutte spingono per liberarsi dai costrutti di una società snaturata, cominciando a pensare a scrivere e a desiderare.
Lo spirito femminile si scontra in questa battaglia con la razionalità dell’uomo medico e scientifico che rifiuta una vita di sogni e aspirazioni, volendo intrappolare la donna in una realtà confinata.
La casa, unico luogo che le donne possono esplorare nella loro vita, diventa tramite questi racconti un luogo di rivolta e riappropriazione di potere. Le donne-fantasma, escluse ed emarginate, infestano così la casa e la narrazione.
June 28, 2023
If you want to read early well done feminist literature I highly recommend some of Charlotte Perkins Gilman's short stories.
The yellow wallpaper was good (especially when you know the personal history and backstory of the author) but my favourite was by far the story "the rocking-chair." It was creepy and well done, cliché by today's standards maybe but not for the time. I also enjoyed a few of her selected poems that came in this edition. She wrote about female characters rising above their stations and the sad realities of life as woman in her time. I liked that she didn't overly vilify men, it was realistic.
The yellow wallpaper was good (especially when you know the personal history and backstory of the author) but my favourite was by far the story "the rocking-chair." It was creepy and well done, cliché by today's standards maybe but not for the time. I also enjoyed a few of her selected poems that came in this edition. She wrote about female characters rising above their stations and the sad realities of life as woman in her time. I liked that she didn't overly vilify men, it was realistic.
February 9, 2024
Short and sweet. This is referenced so much in media that I had too high of expectations. I will say that I listened to The Yellow Wallpaper by narration though, and that the narrator was the worst one I've ever experienced. It's insane how bad it is. The story itself while a classic is a bit lackluster. A woman suffers from post-partum depression, her husband is an ass who disregards her every thought and isolates her(as I assume is the norm for the time) and she's slowly driven insane by the yellow wallpaper in the room she's stuck in. Maybe if I had a different narrator and a bit more build-up, I would rate it higher. I hope I'm not being too unfair here.
October 8, 2025
The Yellow Wallpaper fascinated and horrified me when I first read it at 15, and it remained my favourite piece of writing since. Perkins Gilmans other short stories were similarly fascinating to me reading this at 24, now grasping a bit more of the despair of the feminine condition, tempered with CPG’s signature wit and fable-like style. Ending with excerpts from her biography I found myself in tears more than once, sitting in her heartache which was always handled in such a stoic, rational, heartbreaking way.
June 1, 2023
This is the type of short stories they select for the reading comprehension portion of the ACT
March 8, 2024
Helps me get back into reading 📚
March 7, 2025
Most accurate flu experience
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