The Yellow Wallpaper

John is a doctor, who has his own ideas about his wife's diagnosis and treatment. Rather than seek out the assistance of another doctor, he prescribes his wife's treatment himself. John is arrogant, self-absorbed, and over confident is his own abilities, especially in treating someone so close to him. John treats his wife like a little girl, refuses to talk or listen to her, and ignores her wants and desires. Thus, his wife is forced to spend much of er time hiding the things she has been forbidden.... like writing.

He said that after the wall-paper was changed it would be the heavy bedstead, and then the barred windows, and then that gate at the head of the stairs, and so on.

If a physician of high standing, and one’s own husband, assures friends and relatives that there is really nothing the matter with one but temporary nervous depression—a slight hysterical tendency—what is one to do? . . . So I take phosphates or phosphites—whichever it is, and tonics, and journeys, and air, and exercise, and am absolutely forbidden to “work” until I am well again. Personally, I disagree with their ideas . . .