The Yellow Wallpaper illustrates the narrator's plight in the Victorian era. The main character, the narrator, is a woman suffering from depression in a time when women were totally dependent on men, and often dismissed as being nervous and hysterical females. The inability of women to become active persons in their own lives as well as, society's decision making processes being dominated by men, contributed to the narrator's malaise. The story is told from the female perspective, a depressed woman struggling to survive.
             The story takes place at a summer vacation home, where the narrator's husband, a physician treats her depression in a condescending manner. He either placates her, or dismisses her feelings, typical of the Victorian era: "If a physician of high standing, and ones own husband, assures friends and relatives that there is really nothing the matter with one but temporary nervous depression-a slight hysterical tendency-what is one to do?" (658). This is an example of her oppressed female status in the existing society, as well as, in her own life. Other dominant males in her life also hold the same opinion: "My brother is also a physician, and also of high standings, and he says the same thing."(658). Again, this demonstrates a sign of the times where males dominated. This viewpoint causes the narrator to question herself and her feelings, as well as, to justify the males opinion. "I sometimes fancy that in my condition if I had less opposition and more society and stimulus - but John says the very worst thing I can do is think about my condition."(658). She disregards her own feelings. Once her feelings and needs are dismissed by John she does not pursue the conversation further. This denial of her feelings along with the isolation only exacerbates the depression. Yet, social pressures cause the narrator to still value her husband's opinion. With her Victorian background, she ...