Jane’s husband pushes her over the edge, from depression to insanity. New mothers have up to a 20 percent chance that they may experience postpartum depression within months following the birth of their child. Unless properly treated, the symptoms can worsen over time. In Jane’s journal entries, her rapid progression into insanity is very visible as she goes from seeing an unpleasant yellow wallpaper to finding that there is a woman trapped inside it. Gilman carefully illustrates the huge impact of Jane’s husband based on the lack of control, patronization and confinement she undertakes at his will.
Women had no control over themselves during the 19th century in which The Yellow Wallpaper made its debut. Self-explanatory, Jane had no choice but to abide by what her husband wanted of her. Additionally, physicians’ (mostly men at the time) had vague knowledge and awareness of mental illnesses in this era, …show more content…
In the story he calls Jane “a blessed little goose,” refers to her as a “little girl,” and even goes on to say “bless her little heart” (Gilman 218; 222; 223). These readings imply that John sees her as very subordinate. He feels superior to her because he is the provider, the keeper, and at times the “comforter.” But since she is already so accustomed to these standards, she submits to it because she is in no position to stand her grounds. She expresses this when she restlessly writes, “And what can one do?” and “what is one to do?” (216). Even more, Catherine Sustana declares in her article, “Analysis of ‘The Yellow Wallpaper’ by Charlotte Perkins Gilman,” that John conceals his actions in concerns for her, in which she starts to believe herself. To verify, she writes things like, “He is very careful and loving, and hardly lets me stir without special direction” (Gilman 217). Jane’s submission to John makes it unsurprising that she is also confined by
Women had no control over themselves during the 19th century in which The Yellow Wallpaper made its debut. Self-explanatory, Jane had no choice but to abide by what her husband wanted of her. Additionally, physicians’ (mostly men at the time) had vague knowledge and awareness of mental illnesses in this era, …show more content…
In the story he calls Jane “a blessed little goose,” refers to her as a “little girl,” and even goes on to say “bless her little heart” (Gilman 218; 222; 223). These readings imply that John sees her as very subordinate. He feels superior to her because he is the provider, the keeper, and at times the “comforter.” But since she is already so accustomed to these standards, she submits to it because she is in no position to stand her grounds. She expresses this when she restlessly writes, “And what can one do?” and “what is one to do?” (216). Even more, Catherine Sustana declares in her article, “Analysis of ‘The Yellow Wallpaper’ by Charlotte Perkins Gilman,” that John conceals his actions in concerns for her, in which she starts to believe herself. To verify, she writes things like, “He is very careful and loving, and hardly lets me stir without special direction” (Gilman 217). Jane’s submission to John makes it unsurprising that she is also confined by