Journal 19: Charlotte Perkins Gilman

Michelle Romero
Eng 48b
Dr. Scott Lankford

"There comes John's sister. Such a dear girl as she is, and so careful of me! I must not let her find me writing." pg. 836

This always amazes me, how true yet how disturbing, that a race can contribute to its own oppression.

In this case, the other woman in the story, John's sister, also treats the main character as though something were terribly wrong with her and that she should not write because the work will make her sick. Not only does the main character then have to be sneaky behind John's back if she is going to do something that pleases her, but also she must hide it from her female companion. Who can she trust? I think, as was revealed in "The Blue Hotel" too (when the Swede says he is going to die and keeps nudging the Easterner to show his agreement and he doesn't), that when a race is being oppressed, each begins to think in terms of "I" and in terms of survival. If John's sister were to agree with our sickly friend, would she then also be labeled "nervous" and be sent to bed rest?

In addition, the main character reveals that John's sister is so dear, and always "careful" of her. Already, the main character shows symptoms of "made-to-feel" emotions. The people around her have made her feel she is fragile and her dialogue reveals her acceptance of this. What if she is really strong? After all, she has stomached that wallpaper for this long right? She has resisted the persistent voices which tell her the house is lovely, not creepy and not to write....up until now anyway.

However, the effects of her environment are wearing. She later says she is becoming afraid of John and states, "He seems very queer sometimes, and even Jennie (her care-taker) has an inexplicable look." Although the oppression of women is being discussed, both men and women in this story have been affected by the environment around which tells them what to say, think, and feel. Both men and women contributed to the imprisonment of this woman.