Summary:
John really loves his wife and does everything he can to make her life comfortable and carefree. She is initially intrigued by their new home then soon comes to despise the yellow wallpaper in her room, although she still adores the rest of the estate. Her sister-in-law comes to help out as well, and her husband truly is doing his best to help and protect his wife, but she becomes increasingly paranoid about the people in her life.
John is not trying to drive his wife crazy. John is simply trying to keep his wife out of harm's way. He brings her to a totally new surrounding, he is trying to keep her from overstressing herself by setting restrictions and showing that he still cares. He even has some of his family help his wife along. So one does not need to see how John could possibly be coaxing his wife into acting insanely, but only trying to relieve the affliction that is upon her.
In the beginning of the story, John's wife tells us about a house her husband has just purchased. And that they shall be residing in it. Through a short period of time she shows an immediate intrigue for the house and then a great distaste for it. The reason given is that there is a room in which she resides in that has atrocious yellow wallpaper. Although she shows a great disgust for this one room, she seems to love the rest of the estate including the landscape. So it is fact that John has purchased this house for the liking of his wife so she may rest through her ordeal. "He said we came here solely on my account, that I was to have perfect rest and all the air I could get...." This is John's wife herself writing in fact of what her husband had told her.
Further into the story, we read that John's wife feels displeased with how he treats her. She expresses that in un-passive ways. "I suppose John never was nervous in his life. He laughs at me so bout this wallpaper!" On the other hand she also states with enthusiasm, "He is very careful and loving, and hardly lets me stir me without special direction ... 'Dear John! He loves me very dearly, and hates to have me sick.' In this case, it is more obvious that she needs John to watch after her since she's so indisposed.
What else do we know about that John has done for his wife? We find that John has acquired his sister to watch his wife on occasions. She makes it quite obvious that she is rather paranoid of this woman and perhaps does not like her either. "There comes John's sister.... She is a perfect and enthusiastic housekeeper, and hopes for no better profession. I verily believe she thinks it is the writing which made me sick!" In this excerpt she shows a rather light dislike of her husband's sister; however, she tells us herself that John has his sister around to help out so we know that this is another apparent reason John is trying to help his ill wife.
The only doubt of John's love for his wife is her own surreal thoughts, which have plainly been proved in her journal that she is un-rational. John seems to be trying his best to keep her at a low level of energy by restricting her to certain enjoyments, and even though she seems to resist his demands, she still expresses how she feels for him. He does all possible to his will to help her even by including other family members to join in the help. John truly loves his wife.
This is the complete article, containing 541 words
(approx. 2 pages at 300 words per page).
