First published by Charlotte Perkins Gilman in January 1892 in The New England Magazine, The Yellow Wallpaper is a short story of extraordinary power, exploring issues of mental health, the role of women in society and the oppressive nature of the patriarchy.
Told in the first person, the story follows the plight of a woman confined by her husband in a small room in and old mansion - ostensibly for her own good. As her boredom increases and her sanity deteriorates, she becomes fixated on the wallpaper in the room, the yellow design of which includes an image of a trapped woman. Reflecting themes of oppression, the subjugation of women and the sexism of the late 19th century, this story has been reproduced in numerous textbooks, anthologies and feminist literary collections for over a century and has been hailed as one of the early triumphs of Gothic literature.
