After the birth of her baby, the female main character suffers through depression, and her physician husband, John, diagnoses her with a mild case of hysteria—from which even her high standing, physician brother agrees (844). He tells his wife that the "rest cure" is the best route to her recovery. However, he his method of recovery for her includes isolation from the public and restriction from intellectually stimulating activities such as writing. The main character's condition deteriorates every day and she tries to fight back: "Personally, I disagree with their ideas. Personally, I believe that congenial work, with excitement and change would do me good" (844). Jane begins to rebel by writing, which is her only escape, and John takes that away from her. In the story, I felt that John's character was very condescending towards women and he was often controlling: "'What is it, little girl?' He said. 'Don’t go walking about like that—you'll get cold'" (850). Keeping in mind that this is a husband speaking to his wife, calling her a little girl is quite degrading. John's constant shut downs on her assertions of the severity of her illness shows that he does not take her word seriously. I believe that John places value on having a wife that would listen to him, especially during the time the story was written and that a woman with the capacity of forming and acting upon her ideas in society would emasculate John, a very successful and authoritative figure in their household. The story has an underlying message through its depiction of women.
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Women don’t seem to have a lot of potential outside of the house: "She is a perfect and enthusiastic housekeeper, and hopes for no better profession" (847). John's sister doesn't wish to elevate her status through work because women at the time did not have as many opportunities outside the home. Their place was to make children, cook food, and bring happiness to their husbands, all while being completely obedient to them. The obedience shown by the main character is consistent with that of a child's, hence, women are viewed as childlike and dependent on their husbands: "And dear John gathered me up in his arms and just carried me upstairs and laid me on the bed, and sat by me and read to me till it tired my head" (849). The woman is forbidden to read and write, and only has the company of her husband and his sister. He lines everything up so that his wife could have the equivalent amount of power as a child. John even places her in a room on the third floor, which was previously a nursery! I wonder why he doesn’t put his own child there instead, or why he does not sleep in the same bed as his wife. He traps her like she is Rapunzel in a castle, and threatens to send her off to an asylum-like structure if she does not make a quick recovery. In addition, women are depicted subservient to men: "Indeed he started the habit by making me lie down for an hour after each meal. It is a very bad habit, I am convinced for you see I don't sleep... The fact is I am getting a little afraid of John" (851). Men should not tell women what to do, but rather make suggestions. John imposes force upon his wife, which makes her fear her husband and his control over her. The main character, in a delusional state of mind,
Women don’t seem to have a lot of potential outside of the house: "She is a perfect and enthusiastic housekeeper, and hopes for no better profession" (847). John's sister doesn't wish to elevate her status through work because women at the time did not have as many opportunities outside the home. Their place was to make children, cook food, and bring happiness to their husbands, all while being completely obedient to them. The obedience shown by the main character is consistent with that of a child's, hence, women are viewed as childlike and dependent on their husbands: "And dear John gathered me up in his arms and just carried me upstairs and laid me on the bed, and sat by me and read to me till it tired my head" (849). The woman is forbidden to read and write, and only has the company of her husband and his sister. He lines everything up so that his wife could have the equivalent amount of power as a child. John even places her in a room on the third floor, which was previously a nursery! I wonder why he doesn’t put his own child there instead, or why he does not sleep in the same bed as his wife. He traps her like she is Rapunzel in a castle, and threatens to send her off to an asylum-like structure if she does not make a quick recovery. In addition, women are depicted subservient to men: "Indeed he started the habit by making me lie down for an hour after each meal. It is a very bad habit, I am convinced for you see I don't sleep... The fact is I am getting a little afraid of John" (851). Men should not tell women what to do, but rather make suggestions. John imposes force upon his wife, which makes her fear her husband and his control over her. The main character, in a delusional state of mind,