This research paper examines the representation of mental illness in Charlotte Perkins Gilman’s “The Yellow Wallpaper” via the lens of narrative voice, symbolism and character interactions. The story highlights the oppressive cultural perspective towards female mental health in the late 1800s by delving into the protagonist’s journey into insanity and her relationship with her husband, John. The study uses the method of qualitative content analysis to illustrate the negative consequences of “the rest cure”, a popular medical treatment consisting of total isolation, a systematic diet and complete rest for patients. It also discusses the necessity of agency and autonomy in mental health care. The findings support Gilman’s work’s enduring relevance in modern discourse about mental health treatment and gender dynamics and calls for a more compassionate and empathetic approach to dealing with mental illness. In the final analysis, "The Yellow Wallpaper" offers freedom, not through madness, but through ecriture feminine, the expression of the feminine self-using words, finally empowering the unnamed female protagonist. The portrayal of mental illness in literature has been an important topic in past and recent years. Physical illness was always researched and portrayed by authors in their literary works, and the fear of suffering emotionally caused an increase of the literature that broached the topic mental illness. Charlotte Perkins Gilman, a significant writer of fiction and nonfiction in the early 20th century, employed her own battle with depression to create a powerful fictional narrative which has broad effects in what concerns historical or fictional works relative to portrayals of mental illnesses.