The major themes of the short story “The Yellow Wallpaper” are the subordination of women within the institution of marriage and the consequences of the rest cure.
Gilman demonstrates how confining women to domestic chores and not taking their opinions seriously stunted their intellectual development. The men believed they had superiority in wisdom and maturity and felt the need to protect their women. John, the narrator’s husband, is a doctor who doesn’t take the narrator seriously.
The story also highlights the ill effects of the controversial rest cure, which was largely used for people suffering from mental illnesses at the time. While the narrator does not agree with the idea of the rest cure, she is powerless to object.
As the story progresses, it demonstrates how the rest cure often resulted in deteriorating mental health and led to insanity:
"What is the matter?" he cried. "For God's sake, what are you doing!"
I kept on creeping just the same, but I looked at him over my shoulder.
"I've got out at last," said I, "in spite of you and Jane. And I've pulled off most of the paper, so you can't put me back!"
