Although John adores his wife, the reason for the narrator’s incarceration is her gender. While men hold high-ranking, sophisticated positions in the cities, such as John being a physician, women are expected to find fulfillment in the home. Being in a conventional nineteenth century marriage, Jane is prevented from reaching full development and is kept in a childish state of mind. Assuming he is superior, John misjudges, patronizes, and dominates over his wife believing to benefit her: he understands her illness to be nothing more than nervousness, saying that mental illness in women does not exist: but in reality, Jane’s condition is extremely serious. The narrator is unable to make her own decisions, like which treatment would suit her illness,
