Creativity and Madness: The Misunderstandings Behind Mental Health
Presenter Hometown
Lexington, KY
Major
Wildlife Management and Biology
Department
Biological Sciences
Degree
Undergraduate
Mentor
Minh Nguyen
Mentor Department
Philosophy and Religion
Recommended Citation
Dennis, Clarissa E., "Creativity and Madness: The Misunderstandings Behind Mental Health" (2019). University Presentation Showcase Event. 26.
https://encompass.eku.edu/swps/2019/undergraduate/26
Abstract
Charlotte Perkins Gilman’s “The Yellow Wallpaper” is a short story centered around a woman with a creative, writer’s mind, an active imagination, and a nervous disorder (depression). This poster presentation attempts to analyze several themes contained within this story. First, creative thinking and the purpose behind the text. This consist of the psychological aspect of the text and how Gilman’s main character, Jane, is affected by her creative mind, nervous disorder, treatment, and the negative response their combinations bring. Second, mental health and how it changes throughout the entirety of the story. This second section explains Gilman’s mental health history and experience with the treatment present in the text, the rest cure. It also analyzes how women in this time were treated when they tried to explain their mental health state. And third, the good life, and how the main character does or does not lead this “good life.” The poster presentation explains that Gilman’s story does not present a character who experiences the good life. It is argued that neither Jane nor Gilman could experience the good life as long as the solution to depression remained in the realms of silence and solitude because a creative mind without an outlet leads to madness.
Presentation format
Poster
Creativity and Madness: The Misunderstandings Behind Mental Health
Charlotte Perkins Gilman’s “The Yellow Wallpaper” is a short story centered around a woman with a creative, writer’s mind, an active imagination, and a nervous disorder (depression). This poster presentation attempts to analyze several themes contained within this story. First, creative thinking and the purpose behind the text. This consist of the psychological aspect of the text and how Gilman’s main character, Jane, is affected by her creative mind, nervous disorder, treatment, and the negative response their combinations bring. Second, mental health and how it changes throughout the entirety of the story. This second section explains Gilman’s mental health history and experience with the treatment present in the text, the rest cure. It also analyzes how women in this time were treated when they tried to explain their mental health state. And third, the good life, and how the main character does or does not lead this “good life.” The poster presentation explains that Gilman’s story does not present a character who experiences the good life. It is argued that neither Jane nor Gilman could experience the good life as long as the solution to depression remained in the realms of silence and solitude because a creative mind without an outlet leads to madness.
