What Is The Importance Of The Nurse In The Yellow Wallpaper?

The nurse in "The Yellow Wallpaper" by Charlotte Perkins Gilman is a crucial character who highlights the societal attitudes towards women's health and mental illness during the 19th century. The narrator, who is suffering from postpartum depression, is confined to her room by her husband and physician, who believe that rest and inactivity is the cure for her condition. However, the nurse, who is described as a "silent woman" and a "fat and groundless" person, is the only character who acknowledges the narrator's suffering and provides her with a small measure of comfort and support.
The nurse's presence serves to underscore the oppressive and patriarchal nature of the medical establishment of the time. The narrator's husband and physician believe that they know what is best for her and deny her agency and autonomy. The nurse, on the other hand, is depicted as kind and understanding, offering a rare ray of hope for the narrator in her time of distress.
In conclusion, the nurse in "The Yellow Wallpaper" is a crucial character who sheds light on the societal attitudes towards women's health and mental illness in the 19th century. She serves as a foil to the narrator's husband and physician, highlighting their oppressive and patriarchal nature, and offering a ray of hope for the narrator in her time of distress. The nurse's presence in the story is a reminder of the importance of empathy and understanding in the care of those who are suffering.