She is not allowed to have her opinion, it is dismissed as soon as it is said. She feels guilty to even think her husband is wrong about her sickness, as she "take pains to control myself - before him at least, and that makes me very tired."" (Gilman 432). Jane has her opinions, but to no avail, she has to take her husband's orders. .
The story goes on to show the control the husband has over Jane and her daily activities. He puts her in a house, allowing no visitors, "work- or any form of excitement that may harm her health. He controls her daily schedule. "I have a schedule prescription for each hour in the day; he takes all care from me, and so I feel basely ungrateful not to value it more."" (Gilman 432). He takes control of every aspect of her life, including her desire to write. This only makes her situation worse. "Personally I disagree with their ideas. Personally, I believe that congenial work, with excitement and change, would do me good. But what is one to do? I did write for a while in spite of them; but it does exhaust me a good deal - having to be so sly about it, or else meet with heavy opposition."" It is not the actual writing that wears out Jane, it is having to hide her writing due to her husband's opposition that makes her so tired. She can't even be with her baby. "Such a dear baby! Yet I cannot be with him, it makes me so nervous.""(Gilman 433) She knows that if she can't escape his control, she can get better, but that is an impossible option.
John behaves more as a paternal figure to Jane than a husband. He puts her in a nursery despite her protests. "No wonder the children hated it! I should hate it myself if I had to live in this room long."" He does not expect her to behave' on her own, he doesn't even expect that she can't take care of her own child. "Then he took me in his arms and called me a blessed little goose, and said he would go down cellar, if I wished, and have it whitewashed into the bargain.