Husband's Control In The Yellow Wallpaper

A Husband’s Control: Women Must Defer to Her Husband in All Matters of Marriage and Obedience
As the narrator introduces her story “The Yellow Wallpaper” by Charlotte Perkins Gilman, the reader goes back in where a women is considered fragile in her mind and naïve to the world around them. The narrative depicts a woman’s strife while personally suffering “nervous depression” (376) and how such a malady happened to be treated by her attending physician, whom is also her husband by the name of John. In 1899, polite society dictated and observed propriety at all times therefore, wives and unmarried ladies were expected to defer to their husband or the oldest living male family member within the residence. However, this did not confirm that

For example, she most often relegates to her room to rest and not task her mind in any way. Ultimately and to her own detriment, she stayed to herself and left to her own devices for numerous hours on end. Eventually, her mental journey which details her internal trials and tribulations as a women, wife, and a new mother has her doubting her own opinions, feelings and overall wellbeing. Over the days and weeks she often and willingly confines herself to the dilapidated nursery that bears resemblance to a bedroom of sorts. Again, at the end of the day, she left only with her thoughts, creative fantasies and journal writings for company. “The Yellow Wallpaper” narrative moves beyond a “nervous depression” (376) matter, it operates around John imposing his own personal opinions, half hazard physician’s diagnosis, and furthermore, his overall arrogance that he

He hovers, he quietly controls, and furthermore, portrays a narrow mind, to the point of extreme. “John is a physician, and PERHAPS—(I would not say it to a living soul, of course, but this is dead paper and a great relief to my mind)—PERHAPS that is one reason I do not get well faster.” (376) “You see he does not believe I am sick!” (376) as her self-awareness develops she becomes mindful of yet another symbol of John’s control and narrow mindedness. He has just enough arrogance to the point of telling his wife, how she should feel based on his own merits and limited knowledge of a female’s internal workings. John had been especially proficient at diverting certain topics that which he will not speak with his wife about. When dear “John is away all day, and even some nights, when his cases are serious” (377) the narrator may not be concerned if John might take the opportunity to be away from his marriage or if he is indeed working with other patients late in the night. She just accepts her lot in life to be alone, vulnerable and totally dependent at the same