The theme of this story is control and a woman’s role. In this story the wife is suffering from depression. Her husband, a physician, only wants her to rest and not write. The husbands control is shown in the following quote, “ …and am absolutely forbidden to “work” until I am well again.” However, the narrator thinks just the opposite in her quote, “Personally, I believe that congenial work, with excitement and change, would do me good.” Despite her defiance in continuing to write, she does hide it from him. The role of a woman is also inferred in the story when they introduce the character Jenny. The narrator says, “she is a perfect and enthusiastic housekeeper, and hopes for no better profession.” The narrator also talks about how she thinks
