A sister's plea: Jennie's letter in "The Yellow Wallpaper"

Yellow Wallpaper by CP Gilman

My dearest brother John

I hope that this letter finds you well, dear brother. I am writing you now because I do not know if I can bravely tell you personally how I have experienced distraught and felt troubled because of the seemingly worsening condition of your beloved wife.

I have just visited her this evening for her supper, giving her the special dinner that we only prepare for her, to soother her nerves and make her feel better. I cannot help but observe how she seem to 'look' worse and worse everyday. This morning, as I tried to fix her bed, she just kept on staring at nothing, almost to a point that she looked at the space so intently that it terrified me. At times, though, I can see her looking helplessly around her, while talking to me in a calm voice and composed manner. But I could see it in her eyes, John. She is just going through feelings of fear and helplessness, and her calmness is so bothering I believe it is not a sign of improvement of her condition, but a sign of resignation, surrender of the kind of life we have given her.

What I have told you are just my feelings and opinion, John. Though I am do not know exactly what is ailing your wife, I do know -- as a woman's intuition would know -- that your wife is not happy being alone in that room everyday, treated like a patient with a horrifying, yet undetermined, 'disease.' I can feel the hurt in her as she only see glimpses of her children every day, and nothing of the life that we experience everyday. I beg you, dear brother, to consider changing the form of treatment you have been giving her.