The story “The Yellow Wallpaper” takes place in the 19th century when there were very strict expectations and sexist views on women. They were expected to obey their husbands and were expected to be the perfect housewife. They were not respected or listened to at this period of time, they were viewed as less than men. The narrator in this story starts off with a small nervous disorder, which eventually progresses into something more serious. The husband is also her physician and in charge of many aspects of her life. He keeps her in a room that adds to her anxiety while telling her that she simply needs to rest to get better. The way her husband treats her reflects the sexist views of women at this time, causing her to feel trapped. These feelings
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He is in charge of her treatment as her doctor and she must listen to him as her husband. He doesn’t believe she is actually sick, as women at that time were expected to be emotional and hysteria was very common. This influences his judgment in regard to her treatment. He simply recommends that she rest with no stimulation. She tries to tell him multiple times that she doesn’t think his treatment is working. She believes that “congenial work, with excitement and change, would do [her] good.” (Gilman 468) He will not listen to her, however, as he believes that he knows best. She also asks him more than once to move rooms because the yellow wallpaper makes her uncomfortable. The wallpaper is the source of her hallucinations, if she had been in a different room, things may have been different. She knows how she is feeling better than him, and she knows what would be helpful for herself. She can’t act on what she thinks would be beneficial because she is obligated to obey what her husband wants. She has no say in her treatment or where she is staying. She knows that she can’t be in control and acknowledges it when she asks, “What is one to do?” (Gilman 468) He is also isolating her, she wants to see her family but he believes that they would be too stimulating so she is stuck in the house with only her husband and his sister to keep her company. There are many things she wants to do, that she believes could help her but she can’t act on them because her husband doesn’t
He is in charge of her treatment as her doctor and she must listen to him as her husband. He doesn’t believe she is actually sick, as women at that time were expected to be emotional and hysteria was very common. This influences his judgment in regard to her treatment. He simply recommends that she rest with no stimulation. She tries to tell him multiple times that she doesn’t think his treatment is working. She believes that “congenial work, with excitement and change, would do [her] good.” (Gilman 468) He will not listen to her, however, as he believes that he knows best. She also asks him more than once to move rooms because the yellow wallpaper makes her uncomfortable. The wallpaper is the source of her hallucinations, if she had been in a different room, things may have been different. She knows how she is feeling better than him, and she knows what would be helpful for herself. She can’t act on what she thinks would be beneficial because she is obligated to obey what her husband wants. She has no say in her treatment or where she is staying. She knows that she can’t be in control and acknowledges it when she asks, “What is one to do?” (Gilman 468) He is also isolating her, she wants to see her family but he believes that they would be too stimulating so she is stuck in the house with only her husband and his sister to keep her company. There are many things she wants to do, that she believes could help her but she can’t act on them because her husband doesn’t