"The Yellow Wallpaper"

• How did Charlotte Perkins Gilman contribute to social reform?

  Through her writing, Gilman addressed social issues, particularly women's rights and mental health, in the early 1900s.
• What personal experience inspired Gilman to write "The Yellow Wallpaper"?

  Gilman suffered from postpartum depression and was treated with the "rest cure," which nearly drove her insane. This experience inspired her to write the story.
• What is the "rest cure" and how does it relate to The Yellow Wallpaper?

  The "rest cure" was a controversial treatment for mental illness, which involved isolation and inactivity. In The Yellow Wallpaper, a woman becomes insane due to this treatment.
• What was the public reaction to "The Yellow Wallpaper"?

  The story faced criticism and led to many questions about Gilman's views, prompting her to write the essay "Why I Wrote The Yellow Wallpaper" in response.