The Yellow Wallpaper: a Stifling Relationship

Jane's illness was also doubted by her family. Jane writes that her husband "does not believe I am sick!" (Perkins Gilman 424) though she does not mention her concerns on the subject with him. Jane is upset because John, "a physician of high standing, and one's own husband, assures friends and relatives that there is really nothing the matter with one" (425). Her brother, also a doctor, agrees with John's report on Jane. John even comments that Jane "shall be as sick as she pleases" (430). Jane continues to hear

“In one of the articles, John is a perfect example of a commanding mate, a husband who holds absolute power over his wife. He treats her as an minor, as seen here: “John laughs at me, of course, but one expects that in marriage.” John sees his wife’s feelings as laughable, never taking them seriously until it is too late. It is also clear from this statement that John laughs at his wife because it is what is expected by the community. Later, when Jane is qualified to control her own thoughts, his role as a strong, higher ranked husband and leader is switched, and he becomes much like a woman himself: “Now why should that man have fainted?” Having seen his wife in a state of dementia (symbolically, shattering the power he has over her), he faints, much like a woman would be expected to. Due to acceptance of her insanity, Jane has changed the traditional roles of husband

John attempts to control even her inner life, her writing. She says that "he hates to have me write a word" (482). He says the writing is not good for people who are sick. He tells her that it will slow down her healing. Writing is the only thing that’s keeping her sane, but she is unable to do it freely. She has to hide her words so John does not find them. This shows that John has mental control as well as physical control.

In the "The Yellow Wallpaper," Charlotte Perkins Gilman describes her postpartum depression through the character of Jane. Jane was locked up for bed rest and was not able to go outside to help alleviate her nervous condition. Jane develops an attachment to the wallpaper and discovers a woman in the wallpaper. This shows that her physical treatment is only leading her to madness. The background of postpartum depression can be summarized by the symptoms of postpartum depression, the current treatment, and its prevention. Many people ask themselves what happens if postpartum depression gets really bad or what increases their chances. Jane's treatment can show what can happen if it is

John attempts to control even her inner life, her writing. She says that "he hates to have me write a word" (482). He says the writing is not good for people who are sick. He tells her that it will slow down her healing. Writing is the only thing that’s keeping her sane, but she is unable to do it freely. She has to hide her words so John does not find them. This shows that John has mental control as well as physical control.

“What is it, little girl” he said. ”Don’t go walking about like that- you’ll get cold.”(Gilman, ) John’s “love” to her was like a father to their child. It’s as if he’s trying to “protect” her, but she does not feel protected. As a matter of a fact, she is starting to feel oppressed.

Analysis: The above quotations clearly display the similarity between John and the Narrator’s relationship to that of a father and a daughter. John controls the majority of the Narrator’s behavior to the point she feels an overwhelming sense of guilt for her incapacity as John’s wife. The Narrator is restricted in her actions and is therefore unable to fulfil her wifely duties, forcing her to consider herself as a burden. When is reality, John treats the Narrator as his daughter and does not permit her to complete her duty. For instance, the Narrator dislikes the yellow wallpaper and wishes to have it removed; however, John does not allow her to do so and acts as if it would feed into a child’s stubbornness. His continued belief in his superiority disregards the Narrator as is wife and instead infantilizes her. He believes her identity exists only through him, which merely encourages his paternalistic

John is an antagonist of the story. He feels he is doing his wife good; by locking her away in this mansion. However, the reader soon realizes, this treatment is only worsening her mental state. He is never home with her; he always has patients to see in town, leaving her locked in this house; alone with her thoughts. He ensures that she gets rest and fresh air to get well. To him, it may seem as though he is doing his wife good; by locking her away in this mansion. However, this seclusion she experiences causes serious damage to her mental state. Her husband has control over her that women

John is introduced into the story by the narrator as soon as the story starts. The narrator describes him as "practical in the extreme." He has "no patience with faith, an intense horror of superstition, and he scoffs openly at any talks of things not to be felt and seen and put down in figures." Although the narrator describes him as these things, they are married and she, undoubtedly, loves him. She continues on by saying " John is a physician and perhaps... that is one reason I do not get well faster." This description paints the husband, John, as controlling over his wife.

Throughout history and cultures today, women have been beaten, verbally abused, and taught to believe they have no purpose in life other than pleasing a man. Charlotte Perkins Gillam uses her short story, "The Yellow Wallpaper" as a weapon to help break down the walls surrounding women, society has put up. This story depicts the life of a young woman struggling with postpartum depression, whose serious illness is overlooked, by her physician husband, because of her gender. Gillman 's writing expresses the feelings of isolation, disregarded, and unworthiness the main character Jane feels regularly. This analysis will dive into the daily struggles women face through oppression, neglect, and physical distinction; by investigating each section

Sometimes in “The Yellow Wallpaper” when he was controlling it was him trying to show love for her because he cared for her and wanted her to get over her temporary mental depression as he called it. John moved them into the summer home just for her sake so that she could get some air and start regaining her strength. John always took care of her as the narrator said, and he always made sure that she had special direction wherever she went. He forced her to take pills daily in hopes that his wife would recover. John probably thought that this was a good way of showing love to Jane, but in reality, he was just forcing her to become more and more mentally ill as time went on. John thought that if he did what was best for her then maybe she would have recuperated when really it was the opposite. John’s love and mindset were more of a straight and narrow path instead of a long, winding road such as a woman's. His love was not an extensive deep love for her but more of a companionship which is really all he could provide for her being that he did not really know how to love deeply. John did not know how to feel about things that were not to be felt and seen. This, though, is what John thought love was. John never asked her what she thought was best for herself which shows that there was not a lot of communication going on in the relationship. This really was the only way that John could show his love though because during this time period men did not take woman’s ideas seriously. John truly did care for his wife though because he put forth so much effort to try and make her better. Not being able to love deeply and communicate openly was a common recurring theme throughout the whole of the 19th-century between the husbands and

She speaks as though her opinions to do not count anyway, but she is very accepting of this. She belittles herself several more times throughout the story. "I meant to be such a help to John, such a real rest and comfort, and her I am a comparative burden already" (Barnet 747). Having read the text through to the end we know that she is in a mental hospital, a reader could most likely begin to imagine what John may have been thinking to have witnessed his wife go through such disturbing mental anguish and that he was only going off of the knowledge available at this point in time. How would the story be different if it had been written from John’s point of view?

The narrator in “The Yellow Wallpaper” talks about John quite often, but changes her mindset of him, especially when John keeps saying that she will not recover and might have to send the narrator away,

Jane tells John, her husband, about how she feels; he does not believe in her and assumes as if everything is fine ( Gilman 527). The fact that John decides to ignore her feelings instead of trying to help her suggests that their relationship is not healthy. According to Suess, Jane also has an unhealthy relationship with the medical language. This is because for doctors, there is nothing wrong with her. Mental problems like depression are things men in this age do not seem to be aware of. Being ignored affects Jane because she might not know what is really going on. She feels ashamed of what she is feeling and society makes it hard for her to want to talk about this with anyone. This means she will not get any help, and it might cause her depression to get worse as time

John, his character and marriage proposal is not sufficiently emphasized in the film, neither is the fact that Jane actually considered his request to marry him and go as missionaries in India. It is a fairly significant moment in Jane’s life, having encountered with a second proposal and romantic prospect, although so unlike the first one. St. John serves as a foil to Rochester: the first one is cold, austere, ambitious, religious and reserved, while the other is passionate, impetuous, dark and mysterious. Marrying Rochester, Jane would fulfill her emotional need for love and affection but would neglect her duty to her moral principles and to her dignity (by becoming a mistress while Bertha was still alive). On the other hand, marrying St. John would bring her spiritual and moral satisfaction (as she would have a religious and righteous partner), while also leading a meaningful life as a missionary in India and having the opportunity to be more than just a governess, but, nonetheless, it would be a loveless, passionless marriage. This internal battle Jane faces between having to choose whether to gratify her emotions or her moral principles is not highlighted in the film, although, in my opinion, it represents a crucial point in her life. In the novel, she earnestly considers St. John’s proposal before finally making her decision: ‘“Shall I?” I said briefly; and I looked at his features, beautiful in their harmony, but strangely formidable in