Reflecting their role in society, women in literature are often portrayed in a position that is dominated by men. In the nineteenth century, women were repressed and controlled by their male influences. In "The Yellow Wallpaper", Charlotte Perkins Gilman, the dominant, submissive relationship between the oppressive husband John and his submissive wife Jane pushed her from depression to insanity. John, who is a physician, cannot admit that there might be something wrong with his wife. In addition, her brother also a physician carries the same attitude. This attitude along with the actions taken contributed to her breakdown. .
Further, as the story opens, Jane speaks about her depression and how her husband and her brother dismiss it. However, her husband and brother refuse to see that she is suffering from depression. They feel it is just stress and a nervous condition that can be cured with some rest. Even when John sees that bed rest will not cure her he refuses to accept that she may have a real problem. This attitude of John's shows how he was possibly threatened by his wife and kept her from doing the things she loved. For example, she loved to write and wrote very well, this was one of the things John forbid her to do. In her environment, mental stimulation was very important. If she would have been able to do things, she may not have gone insane. By depriving her from mental stimulation she turned to her room for stimulation. In this dull room, Jane was forbidden to decorate it to her liking. Also, she speaks about wanting a room downstairs that opened on the piazza. Also, Jane was not allowed to have visitors. John felt visitors would make her tired. However, John feared Jane to get any other stimulation besides himself. Obviously, john suffered from his own insecurities. .
Furthermore, one can see Jane changes toward the end of the story. She begins to develop a relationship with the wall.