Question

Give a description of John. Why does the heroine say that his profession is "perhaps . . . one reason I do not get well faster"? How does the narrator view her husband? Does she agree with John's diagnosis and treatment? Who else supports John's diagnosis? What effect does this have on the heroine?

Answer 1

Answer:

The heroine of this play who is John's wife Jane who pictures John as an obvious villain who is not helping her becoming well despite of being a doctor. John is an authoritative figure both as a husband and as a doctor to Jane. He vetoes her smallest wishes such as switching bedrooms just for keeping her sane and preventing her from abyss of her fantasies. The narrator Jane does not agree with John's diagnosis and treatment because of his dry clinical rationality. Jane wants her husband to be considerate of her imaginations.

Explanation:

John only focuses on the outer disease pattern and does not connect with his wife on deeper levels. He misses to sense the trapped and struggling woman, Jane is from inside, and his ignorance is proving to be dangerous for Jane. John is treating his wife as a patient case and not handling her with care. He is not giving Jane, the support she needs from him as a husband which is making her situation worse day by day.