Introduction
Shame is a multi-faced and complicated emotion that can adversely affect an individual’s mental health and social relationships. Scholars and researchers in different fields of psychology have explored the concept from various perspectives. Most studies focus on the evolutionary origin of shame, its manifestation across cultures, and its association with other feelings such as pride, embarrassment, and guilt. However, this paper addresses shame’s negative social and mental health implications, drawing from the short story “The Yellow Wallpaper” by Charlotte Perkins Gilman.
Throughout history, women have suffered because of stereotyping and gender roles reinforced by society through shaming. Gilman’s narrative shares a story of a woman who gradually descended into psychosis because of shame and limitations beyond her power. The short narrative can benefit the syllabus and course unit by informing students of the extent of shame as the author explains its attributes and negative effects on individuals and society.
Summary of the Narrative
“The Yellow Wallpaper” is a fiction short story written by Charlotte Perkins Gilman, an American feminist writer. The narrative was first published in 1892 in the New England Magazine. The story features a woman who falls ill shortly after giving birth due to post-partum depression. However, her situation is made worse by her husband’s decision to isolate and confine her instead of providing her with the appropriate medical attention (Gilman, 1892).
The root cause of the woman’s suffering is shame, as her husband does not come to terms with her illness until it is too late. Instead of seeking professional assistance, the woman’s husband prescribes undisturbed bed rest and complete isolation. Subsequently, he limits his wife from engaging in any activity, including writing, which she loves, and caring for her baby. Ultimately, his actions result in adversity because his wife suffers more and loses her mind.
The woman in “The Yellow Wallpaper” experiences escalating issues because she does not receive professional medical attention to address her mental health concerns. In addition, she is forced to act normally, especially when in the company of her sister, as she cannot admit that she has a problem. Although the woman’s husband hopes for her recovery, his decision to isolate and confine her makes the situation worse (Gilman, 1892). The woman later becomes delusional and starts believing in her hallucinations, but her husband insists on keeping her locked in a room. Ultimately, the woman cannot control herself and loses touch with reality. Subsequently, she goes insane and is convinced that what she perceives is real.
The Theme of Shame in “The Yellow Wallpaper”
The narrative’s author presents the concept of shame in several ways, as it is one of the emotions that shape the characters’ behaviors and result in undesired outcomes. A prominent example of shame is seen in the protagonist and her perceptions of mental illness. Although the woman knows she is going through a condition, she hesitates to seek professional assistance and accepts to be under her husband’s care (Gilman, 1892).
The woman’s shame is visible throughout the story because she is aware of the social stigma that comes with mental illness. Nevertheless, her pride overpowers her, and she tries to hide her suffering from her sister and husband. The author notes that she occasionally felt inadequate and ashamed whenever they criticized her behaviors (Gilman, 1892). Thus, shame drove the protagonist to conceal her symptoms and forced her to suffer until it was too late to recover.
The woman’s sense of shame is reinforced by her husband and exasperated by the yellow wallpaper. Her husband quickly dismisses her concerns and insists she needs bed rest and fresh air (Gilman, 1892). The husband’s behavior is unreasonable because he does not satisfy his physician’s responsibility of offering the highest possible quality of care. The protagonist could not admit that her condition was worsening because of her husband’s outlook and his fears. His lack of empathy increased her shame and preference for isolation. Similarly, the author describes the yellow wallpaper as “repellent and almost revolting” to suggest that it is full of shame and disgust (Gilman, 1892, 648). Therefore, the protagonist’s fixation and obsession with the wallpaper reflect her feelings of being trapped and humiliated.
Reasons Why the Short Narrative is Essential for the Unit
“The Yellow Wallpaper” is one of Gilman’s most appraised literature pieces and accurately reflects complex issues in traditional and modern societies. The general course and unit discuss the implications of shame on individuals and the community. Thus, Gilman’s portrayal of shame and its association with adversities is an excellent example of how emotion can affect humans. The protagonist and her husband would have sought professional assistance and high-quality medical care if not for their shame and fear of judgment. Hence, the narrative is relevant to our readings and the unit’s ideas because it discusses the implications of shame.
Gilman is well-known for her discussion of issues affecting marginalized groups. However, her writing style makes her work admirable and allows her to stand out. The author adopts several literary elements, including metaphors, imagery, irony, foreshadowing, and personification, thus enabling her to engage her audience throughout.
“The Yellow Wallpaper” is a rich and intriguing piece of literature that can be valuable to the course readings. The book takes a relatable and interesting approach to describing the concept of shame and the social phenomena that drive the emotion. In addition, it highlights various issues individuals go through because of their position in society and others’ power over their actions. Therefore, the book is an example of a reading that instructors can use to educate students about diverse human and social issues like shame while engaging them with different literary elements and writing techniques.
Conclusion
Gilman’s portrayal of shame in her short narrative “The Yellow Wallpaper” is a powerful depiction of how this emotion can wreck human relationships and interfere with individuals’ health and wellness. The story features a woman who becomes mentally ill after giving birth but is isolated instead of receiving the appropriate medical attention. The protagonist’s husband is in the best position to assist her but is not aware of the seriousness of her condition. Moreover, the stigma and shame that surrounds mental illness discouraged the characters from openly admitting the protagonist’s health status and offering the required assistance. Subsequently, her condition worsens until she is unable to recover.
The narrative is invaluable because it shows how shame manifests and its potential effects. Therefore, it can play a major role in informing research about shame, its contributing factors, and its negative effects when integrated with other learning materials from the course units. The narrative is valuable to our readings because the author touches on how shame and destructive emotions such as pride can lead people to make wrong decisions and neglect their responsibilities toward themselves and others.
Reference
Gilman, C. P. (1892). The Yellow Wallpaper. The New England Magazine, 24(5), 647-656. Web.
