The Real Reason Classic Literature Calls Women Crazy

Classic literature is full of women called crazy, hysterical, unstable, dramatic, or impossible to trust. But those labels usually tell us much more about the world around them than they do about the women themselves. In this video, English professor, Dr. Whitney Kosters, looks at the women classic literature tries to dismiss and asks what becomes easier to ignore once everyone agrees she’s “crazy.” Specifically, Gilman's "The Yellow Wallpaper," Bronte's _Jane Eyre_, Shakespeare's _Hamlet_, and Faulkner's "A Rose for Emily," are examined in relation to marriage, medicine, family, power, reputation, and the way women’s anger or grief can still get treated like the problem instead of a response to one. Watch my lecture on Charlotte Perkins Gilman's "The Yellow Wallpaper" here:    • Understanding Charlotte Gilman's "The Yell...   *CALLING ALL TEACHERS AND INSTRUCTORS!* If you’re teaching "The Yellow Wallpaper"—or writing a paper on it—and want to go further, download my teaching guide here: https://gumroad.com/products/kxetfj/edit The video is just the starting point. The guide includes everything I’d use in a high-level AP, college, or graduate classroom: historical background, feminist and psychoanalytic theory, differentiated lesson plans, creative projects, assessments, Socratic seminar questions, and even Mad Studies materials. It’s designed to save you hours of prep while elevating your discussion, writing, and analysis of the story. You’ll get a full 10-day unit—but it’s flexible enough for a one-day lesson, too. **AP Lit on the calendar this year? Download my AP Lit and Lang study and teaching guides, which focus on what that exams actually rewards: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/s... https://whitneykoster.gumroad.com/l/c... Check out my lecture on Faulkner's "A Rose for Emily" here:    • “A Rose for Emily" – William Faulkner’s Da...   Check out my playlist on lectures on the short story:    • English Professor Explains Kate Chopin’s “...   TikTok/Instagram: @drwhitneykosters Support this channel. This channel is a free educational resource. If these videos are helpful, optional support always helps make the research, preparation, and editing possible and is appreciated: https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted...