Women’s rights were becoming an issue throughout the late nineteenth and early twentieth century in the United States. By 1892 women were becoming part of the work force as they were influenced by the Industrial Age (Moss). Despite women entering the work force and being added to society, they were still treated as inferior by men. This can be seen in Charlotte Perkins Gilman’s short story “The Yellow Wallpaper.” Through the husband and wife’s relationship in the text, the author uses diction and condescending language to influence the idea of women being the inferior gender in the late nineteenth and early twentieth century. 

One example of the relationship shaping the reader on how life was for women during this time is through the use of referencing the woman in the story with a child-like approach. During the short story by Gilman, the narrator repetitively questions her husband’s actions and notes to the audiences that since “John says” to do something, he is the superior. An important example of how the narrator is treated as a child is when she is placed in a room where children stayed and states, “she would hate herself if she had to live in this room long,” (Gilman 301). The author uses the aspect of her being in a room on lockdown as an advantage to get out to the reader about the issue of women being treated poorly, notably as if they were children. At the time that this piece was being written in the late 1800s, women could not vote, could not own their own property and at most times had less of an opportunity to get an education than a male (Moss). The relationship between the husband and wife exemplifies the treatment of women in a child-like way in the late 1800s and early 1900s. Following the use of condescending language in the text, the text also displays the idea of women being restricted. 

Another example of how the husband and wife’s relationship showed women as the inferior gender is by the use of women being influenced by how history was presented to themselves. In "The Yellow Wallpaper" and Women's Discourse essay, Karen Ford exemplifies the influence of gender roles in the late 1800s and early 1900s.  This ideology was brought upon by the narrator’s sister-in-law and how she was raised. In the text, the woman explains how her husband’s sister is a housekeeper that is always “enthusiastic” about her job and how she never wanted another. Additionally, the narrator explains how she believes that her husband’s sister thinks she got sick from writing (Gilman 303). Along with this idea, many people can come to the conclusion that the idea of men being the superior in ancient history was the reason, most notably before the 1800s, because men are the influence behind it. Furthermore, Gilman uses her work to challenge the ideology of women only being able to work at home. Gilman believes that the only way a woman can live a full life is if they are offered a vast range of choices and opportunities (Moss). This idea of the relationship between the wife and the husband is brought upon again when the narrator asks if John “would take her away from there.” In the text the narrator states how it is “hard to talk to John” because she believes “he is so wise” (Gilman 305). The idea of the narrator not being able to share her opinion because her husband is too wise and her ideas are not important show the reader that women are being taught or shown that they are inferior and are not as well fit as a male. Gilman is able to show through the meager relationship of the husband and wife that society at her time is restricting women from being limitless. As women are influenced to the point to where they feel restricted, the author shows that there is a problem with women’s health. 

The relationship of husband and wife has been shown as the woman being the inferior with her being treated as a child and the fact that women in the story are shown as holding limited power in society. Although, the relationship also brings to the table the issue of women’s health. Starting from the beginning when the wife is placed in a house because of her health, the audience begins to get a glimpse of how women’s health is just characterized as a mental illness based on their specific gender. In the text the narrator says she believes she is sick but her husband believes she is not and that his idea is the majority vote. She then states the question of “what can one do?” (Gilman 299). This specific question from the text shows how society is at the time of it being published. It brings up the question of “The Rest Cure,” which was a theory by Dr. Silas Mitchell which called for women to be isolated form society in order for their sickness to go away (Moss). This idea of women being isolated thus is specifically challenged by Gilman in her text. The author shows how isolation can make an illness worse and can cause psychological problems such as mental illness on top of the past illness they were diagnosed with. Gilman is able to give an understanding of the true happenings in society during the time of the text being written. Along with the fact that women were seen as inferior and their health is shown as poor from the relationship between the husband and wife, it also allows for a conclusion of the idea of Darwinism.

Darwinism was sparking through the country in the late nineteenth and early twentieth century and many people were deciding on how to react to the idea. Gilman, through the relationship of the husband and wife, in the text is able bring up the idea of the Darwin theory of evolution. The act of the wife in the text shows that women should be capable of being independent on their actions and should be able to be mothers and professionals in society (Moss). As this is stated, in the text the narrator continually states how “John is a Physician,” and he knows best, triggering the fact that women aren’t able to become professionals themselves due to the limited rights offered to them (Gilman 299). With this occurrence there is a thorough understanding of the livelihood of women in society, thus, showing the impact of Darwinism in the women’s rights movement. 

Charlotte Perkins Gilman in her textual descriptive relationship between the husband and wife, thoroughly displays the idea of women being inferior in society in the late nineteenth and early twentieth century. One major aspect picked up from the text is the idea of women being treated as children. Gilman shows the narrator as a woman in the text who never has an important opinion that is worthy of being said. The idea of women being shown as an inferior in the text is yet again shown when the issue of gender roles erupts. One idea set in the story is that women are supposed to be the housekeepers and not do anything else in society. This leads to the impact on the idea of women being identified by their gender, not their capabilities. Along with this idea in the text, another was presented on the issue of women’s health. In the text, the narrator continuously is claiming that she has a health issue, but her husband doesn’t buy into it, and since he is a male and she is a female, he has the majority vote. With the idea of health being on the table, the problem associated with Darwinism is presented in the text. In the text the narrator is shown as someone who is inferior to men, showing the idea of women not being able to advance, which is an idea contradicting the idea of Darwinism. Darwinism in the late nineteenth century was heavily impacted by the relationship between the husband and wife because it showed how women weren’t advancing in society because they were stagnant. Gilman through her strong diction and condescending attitudes shows how women’s rights were being diminished, and ultimately influenced the rising of the women’s rights movement.
