Patriarchy In The Yellow Wallpaper

Inci Sariz-Bilge
International Short Story
The Long-Lived Patriarchy Charlotte Perkins Gilman, the author of the late nineteenth century short story “The Yellow Wallpaper,” tells of a young woman who is kept confined in a torn-up room by her husband, John. She is slowly driven insane through her lack of self-expression and social interaction. Women are not seen the same as men in marriage is a theme that is prevalent throughout the narrative. The narrator, according to her husband, has “temporary nervous depression — a slight hysterical tendency” (648). John, who is a physician, thought he knew what was best for his wife, but he did not do much to alleviate her alleged condition. In my opinion, he was rather neglectful and didn’t listen to her. For instance, she told him that she didn’t feel that she was getting much better and wanted to leave, and he responded with “our lease will be up in three weeks, and I can’t see how to leave before” (652). He also says it wasn't an emergency and assures her that she is doing well because he's a doctor. The narrator’s gradual decline into madness can somewhat be attributed to John’s disregard and silencing of his wife’s voice.
“[John] says that with my imaginative power and habit of story-making, a nervous weakness like mine is sure to lead to all manner of excited fancies, and that I ought to use my will and good sense to check the tendency” (649). He prevented his wife’s self-expression, treating her as if she were a child. John’s sister, Jennie fit the persona of a housewife. She took care of the narrator’s child while she recovered and also tended to the chores. Being surrounded by someone who fit the gender role she refused to follow made her feel