Final answer:
Charlotte Perkins Gilman critiqued the rest cure in her short story "The Yellow Wall-Paper," which was inspired by her own experience with depression and the harmful effects of such treatment.
Step-by-step explanation:
Charlotte Perkins Gilman wrote about her experiences with the rest cure in her famous short story, "The Yellow Wall-Paper". This narrative, based on Gilman's own life, critiques the practice of the rest cure that was prescribed to her after the birth of her daughter, which led her to a state of deep depression. Gilman's doctor recommended that she cease all intellectual activities and focus solely on domestic responsibilities, which proved detrimental to her mental health. In "The Yellow Wall-Paper", Gilman portrays the protagonist's descent into madness as a direct result of the oppressive treatment, highlighting the dangers and inefficacy of the rest cure. The story serves as a powerful feminist critique of the societal norms that confined women to the private, domestic sphere and restricted their autonomy and intellectual pursuits.