In “The Yellow Wallpaper” the couple’s marriage is unsteady due to a mental illness of postpartum depression. Throughout the plot, the reader begins to realize there are two sides to the story. First there is the voice of the narrator who expresses her feelings freely; even though eventually she seems to be crumbling. Then there is the voice of her husband John, who seems convinced that the best medical treatment for his wife is the “rest cure”. Analyzing John and the narrator’s perspectives throughout the plot brings insight into the cause of the mental problem. The narrator’s illness is caused by control issues, in turn, cause her to seek out a sense of true self. The fact that John ignores his wife’s feelings makes her illness worse.
From John’s perspective, keeping his wife in the ugly, scary, barred room seems okay. During the time when the story takes place is a time when men dominated women. Society allowed this, and men were highly represented as doctors, lawyers, and in charge. In the beginning of the story John repeatedly ignores his wife needs saying, “Your exercise depends on your strength, my dear,” said he, “and your food somewhat on your appetite; but air you can absorb all the time” (Gilman, 554). His statement is dominating because he throws her point off track by throwing in his opinion. Another
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Her perspective is easier to understand as it is done in first person so she consistently speaks about her oppressions. Unfortunately, being locked up in the room does the complete opposite instead of helping her feel better it weakens her. She loses touch with the outside world and this only leads to her struggles for freedom. Since John has suppressed her emotions and kept her confined; the only way for her to escape is through the wallpaper. The feelings of emptiness, and being neglected actually hurt the