A review by aroomofonesown
The Yellow Wall-Paper, Herland, and Selected Writings, by Charlotte Perkins Gilman
4.0
herland 3/5
this is a utopian novel, depicting a land where there are no men. here, we follow the story of three men and their journey into discovering this land and it’s civilizations.
in this novel, charlotte perkins gilman decides to criticize our societies through the ‘innocent’ and curious questions of the women as the men attempt to explain their lands to them. by having them question everything, the reader themselves begins to question our world too, and as we follow along with the narrator (one of the men) as he grows more and more conscious of the defects of our world and how unfair and inhumane it actually is, we begin to create the same conclusions. however, Charlotte offers us an additional two perspectives on it; one from an extremely misogynistic man and the other a man who idealizes women. through such extreme views, it’s as if she attempts to communicate to us that balace is essential and that neither sex should be glorified or demonized in such extremities.
the yellow wallpaper 5/5
this is one of Charlotte’s most famous short stories, following some short enetries written by an unnamed woman struggling with mental illness while she stays at some ancestral halls for the summer time with her husband, child and maid.
this story was absolutely amazing and i loved it. it felt like this woman’s fascination and obsession with furniture was simply a reflection of her own mental state. she refers to ‘plain’ and ‘blank’ furtinure being mesmerizing to her as a child, and now this intricate and deteriorating wallpaper being her main focus in life, as she herself deteriorates from mental health issues. it’s a really interesting piece because it’s very short and leaves you with so many questions.
this is a utopian novel, depicting a land where there are no men. here, we follow the story of three men and their journey into discovering this land and it’s civilizations.
in this novel, charlotte perkins gilman decides to criticize our societies through the ‘innocent’ and curious questions of the women as the men attempt to explain their lands to them. by having them question everything, the reader themselves begins to question our world too, and as we follow along with the narrator (one of the men) as he grows more and more conscious of the defects of our world and how unfair and inhumane it actually is, we begin to create the same conclusions. however, Charlotte offers us an additional two perspectives on it; one from an extremely misogynistic man and the other a man who idealizes women. through such extreme views, it’s as if she attempts to communicate to us that balace is essential and that neither sex should be glorified or demonized in such extremities.
the yellow wallpaper 5/5
this is one of Charlotte’s most famous short stories, following some short enetries written by an unnamed woman struggling with mental illness while she stays at some ancestral halls for the summer time with her husband, child and maid.
this story was absolutely amazing and i loved it. it felt like this woman’s fascination and obsession with furniture was simply a reflection of her own mental state. she refers to ‘plain’ and ‘blank’ furtinure being mesmerizing to her as a child, and now this intricate and deteriorating wallpaper being her main focus in life, as she herself deteriorates from mental health issues. it’s a really interesting piece because it’s very short and leaves you with so many questions.