“The repairs are not done at home, and I cannot possibly leave town just now. Of course if you were in any danger, I could and would, but you really are better, dear, whether you can see it or not. I am a doctor, dear, and I know. You are gaining flesh and color, your appetite is better. I feel really much easier about you.” (652)
In this passage from “ The Yellow Wall-Paper” by Charlotte Perkins Stetson, the narrator is a mentally disturbed woman who describes her thoughts, emotions and her obsession about this enchanting wall throughout the story to the reader. Her husband John is thought to be the scoundrel of this story causing her to become more sick. What if the story was told by her husbands point of view? We certainly understand that not every marriage is perfect but it does seem to me that he does what a husband is suppose to do which is be the provider for the family, be there for your family through sickness and in health, and thought the good times and in bad.
They are currently living in a summer home waiting for their new home to be finished where they can raise there child and live happily. John says to his wife “The repairs are not done at home” so this is the reason they cannot leave just yet. The lease will end in three weeks and then they can leave but she urges him to leave now. John has good intentions when he denies her to leave town at this moment a very confident person as the provider of the family there is a lot of pressure on a man to do the right thing.
When John says “If you were in any danger, I could and would” I really trust him at this point because it sounds sincere and the fact that he gives her a big hug after he is finished speaking says he cares. He is speaking in a soft and calm manner not raising his voice just pleading to her "Can you not trust me as a physician when I tell you so?"(p.652) he sounds tired of repeating himself not getting through to her as her husband so that's why he says trust me as a physician. The narrator says "He is very careful and loving"(p648) i believe the things he calls her such as "dear"(p652) or "blessed little goose"(p649) shows that he has a soft side for her. He shows his emotions with these words because only a real gentleman would use such words.
I believe this is a sad love story about how the narrators struggling with her illness and John who would do anything in his power to make her better so they can raise their child together. She speaks about her husband again and says "He said I was his darling and his comfort and all he had"(p652) again calling her "darling" showing his respectful gentlemen side speaking to her with such a smooth and calmness to his voice. He says she is all he has in this world putting her as his highest priority before work, friends and social life which is a heart warming thought.
This is not an easy situation for anyone having a spouse who is sick, some people would feel like they have become to much a burden to handle but not for John when he says “I am a doctor, dear, and I know” who better to trust when it comes to an illness than a doctor who is your own husband. I believe when he says that he may sound some what arrogant or high and mighty to others because he is stating the obvious saying "I am a doctor" sounds a bit sarcastic and "I know" is the part of his arrogance. Because of his position in society, being a physician it can be very stressful she says " John is away all day, and even some nights when his cases are serious"(p.649) lack of sleep, no days off, endless hours working can put a lot of weight on his shoulders may be a reason for his behavior when he may sound arrogant or unemotional all job related.
She also says "My brother is also a physician and also of high standings, and he says the same thing."(p.658) agreeing with John about her condition and methods to cure her so they have a second opinion about the situation. So you can not really put much blame on John especially if her own brother is saying that he agrees with him. I believe her treatments are working and she was getting better he even says “ I feel much easier about you” he truly cares for her constantly reassuring her. A man is suppose to be very tough and not show weakness never to cry or complain because we are men everyone is different just because someone does not show you tears doesn’t mean they don’t care I believe John is a good husband and will never leave her side.
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