Charlotte Perkins Gilman's "The Yellow Wallpaper" is full of symbolism and unique literary techniques. She incorporates views and ideals of society into the work and gets her message across clearly. The relationship between the narrator and her husband would be disagreeable to a modern woman's relationship. Today, most women desire and expect equality with their partner. The reader never learns the name of the narrator, perhaps to give the idea that she could be any woman, including you. Gilman illustrates the male dominated society and relationship at the very beginning of the story. John, the narrator's husband, is a prominent doctor and both his and his wife's words and actions reflect their relationship, "John laughs at me, of course, but one expects that in marriage." This statement illustrates the blatant sexism of society at the time. John does not seem to believe that his wife is sick and he does not listen to her thoughts and feelings, which would give insight to her health problems and allow him to help her. Conversely, by closing her off from the rest of the world, he is taking her away from things that are important to her, like reading, writing, and human interaction. .
Throughout the beginning of the story, the narrator tends to buy into the idea that the man is always right and makes excuses for her feelings and his actions and words, "It is so hard to talk to John about my case, because he is so wise and because he loves me so." In a healthy, equal relationship, each partner should be able to express one's own thoughts and feelings. In this case, the narrator feels that she can not tell him how she feels without upsetting him and making him mad. When the narrator does attempt to have a discussion with John, she ends up crying and not being able to express herself. John treats her like a child, as men believed that crying something women do and shows weakness.
As, the title of the work shows, the narrator is very interested in the wallpaper in the room.
