was where she stayed. When she told John that she did not believe that she was getting well in the old house and that she wanted to go home, he told her that they must stay the remainder of the three weeks. She wanted to visit with her Cousin Henry and Julia, and John would not allow her to visit for she would not be able to handle such a visit. The woman was forbidden to think and write at the direction of her husband, John. Every request she makes to John is denied. She begins to spiral downward into depression because of her loss of control of her life and denial of mental stimulation. Johns misguided efforts to make her well with the Rest Cure method, constant control of her life, and removal from the things she enjoys only drive her into madness. Initially in the story, she seems to be happy with the beauty of the old house and the outside surroundings, except that it feels ghostly and strange. She also seems to like her room, except that its paint and paper look as if a boys school had used it and its sprawling, flamboyant patterns committing every artistic sin. The house is described as The most beautiful place! It has a delicious garden with large and shady, full of box-bordered paths, and lined with long grape-covered arbors with seats under them. The room where John assigns her to living is a big, airy room, the whole floor nearly, with windows that look all ways, and air and sunshine galore. The room was once a childrens nursery and therefore has bars on the windows for the safety of the children. The very early descriptions lead one to believe that this temporary home is a place where the woman may become well with Johns prescribed rest and relaxation, and that she may overcome her slight case of mental instability. However, as the story moves on, the womans attitude toward the room with the yellow wallpaper begins to revert to utter confusion, disgust, and hatred. The yellow wallpaper is repellent, almost revolting: a smou...
