Next, characters reveal the theme of female oppression during the late nineteenth century. Jennie reflects women at this time who embrace their domestic role because of her duty as housekeeper for Jane and John. The fact that Jennie happily cleans up around the house shows the narrator what a wife should act like. Jennie accepting her domestic role represents what the author did not want herself or women in society to do, refuse to challenge men. Conrad Shumaker believes that John fears the imagination of Jane when she asks him to take down the wallpaper (591). John did not fear that question, but feels undermined that his wife's would not listen to him because he already told her the room is fine. John’s feelings demonstrate that men during
