During my time at Saint Mary's, I have experience the wonderful world of liberal arts and the overlapping of course material across classes and departments. I expected this to happen this semester since I am taking a HUST and a history course, but I had an unexpected cross-over earlier this week-- I quoted the Yellow Wallpaper to my photography class. While critiquing my peers' work for our "Extreme Angles" project, I was struck by a photo by my classmate, Caitlin. She had framed a shot of her couch cushions so that three were meeting at the center with their swirling floral design. I immediately thought of the "irritating" yellow wallpaper the narrator becomes consumed with during her stay at the summer home and though the pattern did not bother me in the least, Gilman's description of bulbous eyes and dangling heads ran through my head.I find this type of occurrence fascinating. Because of my "setting" at Saint Mary's, I am able to learn holistically from different angles of the same subject. My classes interweave and affect one another and I love it. If I had selected a different place for my college studies, I may not have had these experiences.
After closely reading "The Yellow Wallpaper," we discovered that the narrator is suffering from postpartum depression and that "the rest cure" has been prescribed in an attempt for her to recover. With our medical knowledge much more developed than in 1892, we can understand and properly treat this condition of new mothers. On the Mayo Clinic's website, it goes over the various types of depression which women can experience- from the baby blues to postpartum pyschosis. After going over the symptoms, I was able to trace the progression of the narrator's depression.
From postpartum depression--
Feelings of guilt, shame or inadequacy:
"It does weigh on me so not to do my duty in any way!"
"...here I am a comparative burden already!"
Difficulty bonding with baby:
"Such a dear baby! And yet I cannot be with him, it makes me so nervous."
to postpartum psychosis--
Hallucinations and delusions:"The front pattern does move-- and no wonder! The woman behind shakes it!"
"I think that woman gets out in the daytime!"Paranoia:
"I always lock the door when I creep by daylight. I can't do it at night, for I know John would suspect something at once."
"I don't want anybody to get that woman out at night but myself."
I was surprised to find that the treatment of the milder version of this type of depression (known as baby blues) is actually rest- which is the treatment prescribed to our poor narrator. If the severity increases, counseling, antidepressants and hormone therapy are suggested. Obviously, these weren't available near the turn of the century. What do you think might have helped the narrator? Instead of resting, what should have been the best medecine to help her recover?
