Home > Q&A by Experts > Literature >
Q

The Yellow Wallpaper: Is John the Real Villain of the Story?

A

The Yellow Wallpaper is a story by feminist writer Charlotte Perkins Gilman first published in 1892. It describes the dramatic experiences of a young woman. Her husband, John, is a physician and prescribes treatment for her postpartum depression. To cure, she needs to stay in a poorly furnished room of an old colonial mansion in the countryside.

Detailed answer:

John rents the mansion with the only purpose to accommodate his wife. From time to time, his sister Jennie visits her to check that the woman is resting. Rest means that she remains passive and does not touch a pen and paper. Charlotte Gilman wrote the work after she became hostage to a similar situation. When she gave birth to a daughter, her husband strongly recommended her to see Dr. Mitchell. The doctor prescribed her the so-called “rest cure.” This method was prevalent at the time.

A woman had to stay at home and limit herself from any activities. In the early 20th century, women had very few rights in society. Many educated middle-class women felt oppressed by the limits imposed on them. Their desire to go beyond these limits, suppressed by husbands and other men, caused a depressive or hysterical state. Recovery meant a return to a submissive state when a woman began to obey a doctor’s or husband’s will.

The situation reflected in The Yellow Wallpaper was horrible. A male’s voice dictated to the heroine what to feel and how to perceive reality. Critics point out that the real prototype of John was not Dr. Mitchell, but Gilman’s husband.

Answer's rating:
Updated:
Ask your Question
(We won’t publish it)
Cite This page
You're welcome to use this expert's answer in your assignment. Be sure to cite it correctly

Reference

IvyPanda. (2024, August 21). The Yellow Wallpaper: Is John the Real Villain of the Story? https://ivypanda.com/q/the-yellow-wallpaper-is-john-the-real-villain-of-the-story/

Work Cited

"The Yellow Wallpaper: Is John the Real Villain of the Story?" IvyPanda, 21 Aug. 2024, ivypanda.com/q/the-yellow-wallpaper-is-john-the-real-villain-of-the-story/.

References

IvyPanda. (2024) 'The Yellow Wallpaper: Is John the Real Villain of the Story'. 21 August.

References

IvyPanda. 2024. "The Yellow Wallpaper: Is John the Real Villain of the Story?" August 21, 2024. https://ivypanda.com/q/the-yellow-wallpaper-is-john-the-real-villain-of-the-story/.

1. IvyPanda. "The Yellow Wallpaper: Is John the Real Villain of the Story?" August 21, 2024. https://ivypanda.com/q/the-yellow-wallpaper-is-john-the-real-villain-of-the-story/.


Bibliography


IvyPanda. "The Yellow Wallpaper: Is John the Real Villain of the Story?" August 21, 2024. https://ivypanda.com/q/the-yellow-wallpaper-is-john-the-real-villain-of-the-story/.

Privacy Settings

IvyPanda uses cookies and similar technologies to enhance your experience, enabling functionalities such as:

  • Basic site functions
  • Ensuring secure, safe transactions
  • Secure account login
  • Remembering account, browser, and regional preferences
  • Remembering privacy and security settings
  • Analyzing site traffic and usage
  • Personalized search, content, and recommendations
  • Displaying relevant, targeted ads on and off IvyPanda

Please refer to IvyPanda's Cookies Policy and Privacy Policy for detailed information.

Required Cookies & Technologies
Always active

Certain technologies we use are essential for critical functions such as security and site integrity, account authentication, security and privacy preferences, internal site usage and maintenance data, and ensuring the site operates correctly for browsing and transactions.

Site Customization

Cookies and similar technologies are used to enhance your experience by:

  • Remembering general and regional preferences
  • Personalizing content, search, recommendations, and offers

Some functions, such as personalized recommendations, account preferences, or localization, may not work correctly without these technologies. For more details, please refer to IvyPanda's Cookies Policy.

Personalized Advertising

To enable personalized advertising (such as interest-based ads), we may share your data with our marketing and advertising partners using cookies and other technologies. These partners may have their own information collected about you. Turning off the personalized advertising setting won't stop you from seeing IvyPanda ads, but it may make the ads you see less relevant or more repetitive.

Personalized advertising may be considered a "sale" or "sharing" of the information under California and other state privacy laws, and you may have the right to opt out. Turning off personalized advertising allows you to exercise your right to opt out. Learn more in IvyPanda's Cookies Policy and Privacy Policy.