There is a lot of skepticism that is followed among the world, one of them being suffering patients. In Freud’s first lecture, Freud introduces the actuality of doctors mistreating hysteria patients. Freud states that doctors don’t provide help and ignore the patients by not giving them sympathy or understanding. Doctors serve a lack of interest treating a patient rather than exploring further. The skepticism of doctors played a big role in the story “The Yellow Wallpaper”. The irony of the narrator is expressed by her physician “husband” smothering her that in turn makes her worse rather than being understood. Thus explains the realization of how doctors act standoffish towards their patients.  

The ignorance of doctors treating hysteria patients shows neglectfulness. In the first lecture, Freud explains the reasoning the way hysteria patients act. For example, their past life/ symptoms, the trauma, consciousness. (Freud 2207-2208). However, there are many doctors that do not see eye to eye. Being a student in Breuer’s class, Freud learned many points which showed the better alternatives for treatment. In Freud’s first Lecture he states “He attributes every kind of wickedness to them, accuses them of exaggeration, of deliberate deceit, of malingering. And he punishes them by withdrawing his interest from them.” (Freud 2201). Freud notes that doctors would rather give a lack of interest than to try. Therefore, this has a deeper connection with the story “The Yellow Wallpaper” by Charlotte Perkins Gilman because the main character goes through a “temporary nervous depression” (Gilman 648).  She is treated wrong by her “husband” that exhibits the doctor’s view as an obstacle to overcome. 

In “The Yellow Wallpaper” the narrator finds herself enclosed in a room alone that makes her feel sicker and lonely. John believes that the rest cure is a great solution to treating her mental illness. (Gilman 648). The whole time as John smothers her, she undresses her illness and recognizes her true self. The narrator notices a big problem with her “temporary nervous depression” (Gilman 648). She listens to her “husband” and follows his directions. For example, no writing even though she claims to enjoy writing. (Gilman 649). Someone who manages a person’s life under their rules is not free; they’re encaged. Along the story the narrator doesn’t appreciate John’s intentions she states “John does not know how much I really suffer. He knows there is no reason to suffer, and that satisfies him.” (Gilman 649). The narrator acknowledges desperation. Therefore, this story captures the illustration of Freud’s criticism of doctors being blind into not noticing the necessities of what a patient needs.  

Both Freud’s first lecture and “The Yellow Wallpaper” shows symbolism within the reality of patients being outnumbered by doctors. In the first lecture, Freud combats the doctor’s shameful attitude towards the patients. (Freud 2203-2205).  In “The Yellow Wallpaper” reality sets in when the narrator imagines a woman unfolding out the wallpaper and in the end notices it has been her. The narrator states “It is so pleasant to be out in this great room and creep around as I please!” (Gilman 656). Additionally, Freud explained how Breuer showed different efforts to his patient than most doctors would. Freud mentions “He cannot understand hysteria, and in the face of it he is himself a layman. This is a pleasant situation for anyone who as a rule sets so much store by his knowledge.” (Freud 2201). According to Freud, doctors forfeit their sympathy towards the patient and categorize them as exaggeration.  

A doctor’s attitude towards a patient should never be justifiable. In Freud’s first lecture he describes his thoughts on the inconsistency of efforts doctors don’t contribute. This indicates the narrator’s husband in “The Yellow Wallpaper” treating her in a fallacious way. This correlates to the idea of how Freud notices the way Breuer treats his patients in a way he’s never seen before. Breuer’s method of treating his patient made Freud’s point of view change and follow a different insight. Both “The Yellow Wallpaper” and Freud’s Lecture have similar knowledge about the in-depth meaning of mental illness. This solves the true meaning of providing better intentions to patients who suffer the exact way and need better assistance.  

Work Cited

• Freud, Sigmund. “Five Lectures on Pyscho-Analysis.” 1909, Worcester Massachusetts, Clark University.
• Perkins Stetson, Charlotte. “The Yellow Wallpaper.”  Jan. 1892.