In the Yellow Wall Paper I think Gilman discusses both an important and relevant women's issue. Labeling women as having nervous disorder did several things. It made it easier for the women to be put aside, so to speak, and put under control. This made it easier for those around them to deal with them, or rather - not to deal with them. Labeling women as having a nervous disorder also covered up that which may have been the true nature of what was causing a certain mental instability, such as depression and anxiety. Gilman does an excellent job of addressing this issue in her story of the yellow wallpaper. John is a perfect example of how women were almost neglected in their depression and anxiety. Gilman simultaneously uses John to represent the suppresion of women. By using the excuse of the nervous disorder he has trapped her and bound her to the house - not unlike domesticated women. She is forced to aquiesce each demand he places on her and every part of the 0h-so-depressing "cure", which as we've learned does nothing except worsen the condition. In listening to John she gradually makes herself worse paralleling many women house-bound women who grow unsatisfied and trapped in their daily lives.

Gilmans, The Yellow Wallpaper speaks strongly of women's roles, the treatment of women, and the male role in the suppresion of women. Adding to the class discussion I found a useful quote, from John, to further these thoughts,

"My darling, I beg of you, for my sake and for our childs sake, as well as for your own, that you will never for one instant let that idea enter your mind! There is nothing so dangerous, so fascinating, to a temperment like yours. It is a false and foolish fancy. Can you not trust me as a physician when I tell you so?" (4)

This "idea" that he is speaking of is the idea that maybe she only appears to be better - "better in body". But the mere idea that something is plaguing her more seriously than simply being a weak female is preposturous. John also takes it into his own hands to decide for her how she feels. I feel as if women were often percieved at a level no higher than a childs; incapable of making their own decisions or knowing how they feel. In this scene, John is quite condescending and treats her like a child.

I decided to post this quote because I thought it was a good addition to our class discussion. Although I'm sure many of us found John to be extremely irritating (I apologize if I'm incorrectly assuming) throughout much of the story, it was scenes such as the example above that got to me the most.