9).
Then the woman's housekeeper Jennie and sister-in-law are presented. .
Both women assume the role of caretakers, ever watchful of the woman's behavior. Like .
an institution, there is a schedule for meals, naps and medication. There is almost always .
someone watching her, observing her and waiting for irrational behavior. .
Supposedly, she is too nervous to care for her baby. Although those .
words come from her mouth, the influence of the man and women in her life is the true .
origin of such an idea. She has grown accustomed to hearing what others think she should .
do. If John says that caring for their child would make her tired, then she must relinquish .
her thoughts, needs and instincts to keep the peace. .
John calls her his blessed little goose', her sister-in-law and Jennie think .
she needs constant supervision and protection. What does she have to say? On the surface .
it seems that she feels hopeless in the situation she has found herself in, that she has no .
thoughts of rebellion. Underlying, however, there is a sarcasm that alludes to the fact .
that she indeed does have an opinion. "Personally, I believe that congenial work, with .
excitement and change, would do me good. But what is one to do?- (Gilman p.1). .
.
She is not doing her job as queen of the domestic sphere', a term used by .
men to make the daunting task of managing an entire household seem like an honored .
privilege. Women of the 18th and 19th Century were supposed to be masters of their .
domain and happy to be so. But was it a domain or a prison?.
This woman is intelligent, creative and in control more than one might .
think. There is a sense that she is preparing, working towards something. Perhaps one .
might say she is steadily working toward insanity. Looking deeper, however, it seems .
that the world she has created is, in fact, a safe haven for the purpose of keeping her .
