Stetson's Portrayal of Her Own Life
“The Yellow Wallpaper” can often be viewed as a portrayal of Stetson’s life. Stetson lived in the time period that she writes about in “The Yellow Wallpaper,” so she experienced what the narrator goes through first hand. Stetson wrote “The Yellow Wallpaper” in order to express her views on the improper way of treating depression in the 1800s. Stetson was sent to a doctor who prescribed the “rest cure” for her just as was prescribed for the narrator (Wagner-Martin 1). This cure did not allow for women to do any mental activity on their own. Without expression or individualism people treated this way actually suffered more than before. Stetson portrays how the “rest cure” can negatively affect a woman. The narrator, Jane, becomes completely insane at the end of the story when she has finally removed all of the wallpaper.
Stetson is a perfect example of someone who was able to recover from the “rest cure,” because many women were not able to. Stetson wanted everyone to know about the problems associated with the “rest cure” in order to prevent women from experiencing what she experienced. Stetson wants to show how women were oppressed through this type of medical treatment. As a result of writing “The Yellow Wallpaper” Stetson wanted to make Dr. S. Weir Mitchell’s methods public and try to demonstrate the negative effects that result from the “rest cure” (Wagner-Martin 1). Stetson hoped that her work would make Dr. Mitchell change his methods to ones that would positively benefit women.
Stetson is a perfect example of someone who was able to recover from the “rest cure,” because many women were not able to. Stetson wanted everyone to know about the problems associated with the “rest cure” in order to prevent women from experiencing what she experienced. Stetson wants to show how women were oppressed through this type of medical treatment. As a result of writing “The Yellow Wallpaper” Stetson wanted to make Dr. S. Weir Mitchell’s methods public and try to demonstrate the negative effects that result from the “rest cure” (Wagner-Martin 1). Stetson hoped that her work would make Dr. Mitchell change his methods to ones that would positively benefit women.