She's convinced that the chimney behind the head of her bed is haunted, because it's full of sinister sounds. The poor little heroine is staying with her Great Aunt Nancy. So was Laura, when she found herself lying awake, staring into the darkness, ever alert in case she was the unlucky victim. Mrs B used to lose her cool and brandish the carving knife, making desperate threats of murder or suicide. In 'These Happy Golden Years' she describes a tough time she had while she was teaching far from home, and boarding with the Brewster family. He can detect auras around people, and also sees a strange race he dubs the 'little bald doctors', who are engaged in a terrible battle against the Crimson King. Ralph Roberts not only has to put up with the frustration, but also experiences disturbing visions with his. From there, it's an easy leap to assume that she might even be one of them! No wonder she can't sleep. She lies awake all night to the point where she believes other women may be confined behind it. The main character, who probably suffered a bout of post natal depression, is ordered to relax and recuperate, but the yellow wallpaper in her bedroom starts sending her around the twist. 'O sleep, o gentle sleep, nature's soft nurse, how have I frightened thee?'Ĭharlotte Perkins Gilman came out the other side of what she considered a bout of near madness, and wrote this story to help process her experience. Henry had Richard II deposed so he could claim the throne, but now the poor wretch trudges the palace passages all night long, groaning because his poorest subjects are that moment enjoying the luxury that's denied to him. I think this might have been guilt-induced sleeplessness. I'll start with the desperate and sinister side of insomnia (just to prove that things might be worse). Call this the Insomnia Hall of Fame if you like, proving that we're in good company. If you google 'insomnia stories' you'll be more likely to find a litany of true woe-is-me anecdotes from poor suckers, rather than fun lists of literary gems. And take my word for it, there's nothing much around like what I'm about to offer. So I've compiled this list for times when you might need it. Sleep experts suggest not lying there stewing, but getting up to work or read a book. I'm sure all these purchases must be made at 2 or 3 am. Thankfully I've never been a chronic sufferer, but it's caused terrible frustration on random nights, when I've joined the ranks of keyed up mortals googling books with titles such as Desperately Seeking Snoozin'. I'm sure we've all battled this beast at some time or another, and tried counting thousands of sheep.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |