The Role of the Protagonist’s Husband in “The Yellow Wallpaper” and Its Effect on Her Mental Health
The Role of the Protagonist’s Husband in “The Yellow Wallpaper” and Its Effect on Her Mental Health
In The Yellow Wallpaper, the role of the protagonist’s husband, John, is pivotal to understanding the dynamics of control and authority that define the narrator’s psychological collapse. John, a physician, represents the dominant patriarchal force in the narrator’s life, exercising complete authority over her well-being. His treatment of his wife is both physically and emotionally controlling, reinforcing the gendered power dynamics that were prevalent in the 19th century. His actions serve as a reflection of the societal expectations that confined women to passive, dependent roles, contributing significantly to the protagonist’s mental deterioration.
John’s control over the protagonist is evident from the very beginning of the story. He dictates her daily routine, prescribes her treatment, and dismisses her ideas and concerns. Despite the narrator’s objections to being confined to a room, he insists on her rest cure, believing that he knows what is best for her. This paternalistic attitude, coupled with his professional authority as a physician, stifles the narrator’s agency and autonomy. John’s role as both husband and doctor highlights the intersection of gender and medical authority during this period. He represents the larger societal view that women were incapable of making their own decisions and were in need of constant supervision.
As the story unfolds, John’s insistence on her compliance with his treatment plan further isolates the narrator, making her feel as though she has no control over her own life. The room in which she is confined, with its yellow wallpaper, becomes a symbol of her psychological imprisonment, and John’s unyielding authority exacerbates her sense of powerlessness. His failure to understand her distress and his continued dismissal of her emotions contribute to the narrator’s obsession with the wallpaper and her eventual breakdown. By portraying John’s authoritative role in the story, Gilman critiques the medical and social systems that reinforced patriarchal control over women’s bodies and minds.
Ultimately, John’s actions highlight the dangerous effects of medical and patriarchal control on women’s mental health. His lack of empathy and understanding of his wife’s condition, coupled with his refusal to acknowledge her needs and desires, push the narrator further into isolation. By undermining her autonomy and treating her as a passive subject rather than an active participant in her own care, John contributes directly to her psychological decline.
In conclusion, John’s role as both husband and physician plays a crucial role in the protagonist’s mental breakdown in The Yellow Wallpaper. His dominance and disregard for the narrator’s autonomy reflect the oppressive societal norms of the time, which contributed to women’s mental distress. Through his character, Gilman critiques the medical and patriarchal systems that denied women agency and reinforced their subjugation, ultimately leading to the narrator’s tragic unraveling.
