“It is very seldom that mere ordinary people like John and myself secure ancestral halls for the summer”
First line of story – importance of names in characterisation. John is typical male name – maybe representing all men. Narrator remains unnamed – symbolising all the nameless women of society oppressed by all the Johns of history.
“John laughs at me, of course, but one expects that in marriage”
Central theme of story that John and men in general do not treat there wives seriously or with respect.
“John is practical in the extreme”
Writer creates John to be the opposite to the narrator in almost everyway. John is practical and rational – a typical nineteenth-century man of science who believed in the natural order of things. Part of this “natural order” was that men were superior to women.
“John is a physician”
It is no coincidence that the writer makes John a doctor. This fits in nicely with her critique of traditional, male-dominated medical practices of the time. Something that Gilman suffered through first-hand.
“I take pains to control myself – before him, at least”
This shows that the relationship between the narrator and her husband, even at the beginning, is far from healthy as she feels she needs to hide things from him.
“he takes all care from me”
Interesting way to phrase this. Instead of saying “he takes care of me” . “he takes care from me” sounds like John is dispossessing the narrator of something important rather than looking after her.
“John does not know how much I really suffer”
“it makes me so nervous. I suppose John never was nervous in his life”
Contrast between John and narrator. Also the multiple meanings of “nervous” (ie. frightened and, in nineteenth century, depression)
“blessed little goose”
condescending way John refers to narrator – as if she was a child.
“my habit of story making”
dismissive way that John refers to his wife’s writing. He doesn’t place any value on it.
“Cousin Henry and Julia” “stimulating people”
These characters who, importantly, never appear (John won’t let them – he’s in control) represent the free-thinking liberal people that the writer needs to be with. Traditional society (John) regards them as dangerous.
Setting
“A colonial mansion, a hereditary estate, I would say a haunted house”
First and most general description of the house. Narrator describes the house in three different ways – each of them suggesting something different to the reader.
“There is something strange about the house – I can feel it”
Creates a sinister mood at the beginning of the story.
“the windows are barred for little children, and there are rings and things in the wall”
This description of the nursery makes it sound like a prison cell or a room in an asylum which is what, in a way, it becomes.
“atrocious nursery”
Theme
“John laughs at me, of course, but one expects that in marriage” (p.98)
Central theme of story that John and men in general do not treat there wives seriously or with respect.
“John is a physician, and perhaps …. that is one reason I do not get well faster”
“My brother is also a physician”
It is important that John and his brother are doctors. One of the central themes of the story examines how male-dominated society, and especially the rational male-dominated medical profession, controlled and suppressed women who suffered from depression.
“habit of story-making”
John’s dismissive view of his wife’s writing in contrast with her view …..
“I think sometimes if I were only well enough to write a little it would relieve the press of ideas and rest me”
Symbol
“I never saw a worse paper in my life”
First reaction of the narrator to the wallpaper.
“when you follow the lame uncertain curves for a little distance they suddenly commit suicide”
Description of the pattern. It is personified as somebody who has killed themselves.
Narrative method
“There comes John, and I must put this away”
The first person, present tense narrative makes the text sound like a journal or diary. Also as it is written in the present tense it seems that we are closer to everything that is happening. Because she writes in the present tense, we witness her change and her feelings change as the story progress. She is not writing this story in reflection after the events or after she left the house – she is writing it as it happens. This increases the tension and excitement of the story.
“atrocious nursery” in contrast to “I’m really getting quite fond of the big room”
Narrative method (present tense) allows use to see the change in her attitude to the nursery (and also the wallpaper)
“nervous” or “nervousness” euphemistically used to describe depression or mental illness throughout the story. In other words the medical profession and society of the day preferred to use a vague and unoffending word to describe mental illness or depression.