By all means, the protagonist, the central figure in the story, is the narrator, because this is she, who gets us acquainted with other characters and the setting of the events. Moreover, the whole book is centered on her own feelings, thoughts and emotions.
The writer reveals the narrator by means of both direct and indirect characterisation, though still the latter prevails. Let us dwell more on the personality of the narrator.
Speaking about the cases of direct characterisation, the following comment clearly indicates that she has a kind of a nervous depression: “John is a physician, and perhaps - (I would not say it to a living soul, of course, but this is dead paper and a great relief to my mind - ) perhaps that is one reason I do not get well faster. You see he does not believe I am sick! And what can one do? If a physician of high standing, and one's own husband, assures friends and relatives that there is really nothing the matter with one but temporary nervous depression - a slight hysterical tendency - what is one to do?” The repetition of the word "perhaps" suggests that she is unsure of herself. Her husband provides her with remedies and actions that will supposedly heal her of depression but it sounds as if she does not believe it.
Actually, this mental illness is going to be a great issue from the very beginning of the story. For instance, the woman expresses her attitude according to the disease in the following sentences: “You see John does not believe I am sick! And what can one do? […] So I take phosphates or phosphites – whichever it is, and tonics, and journeys, and air, and exercise, and am absolutely forbidden to "work" until I am well again. Personally, I disagree with their ideas. Personally, I believe that congenial work, with excitement and change, would do me good. But what is one to do?»
To my mind, from this extract it can be vividly seen that the narrator rejects the treatment provided by her husband and her brother. Have a look at the phrase “phosphates or phosphites”! The narrator is not aware of the drug she takes, for it is not very important for her.
To show the state of mind of the character more brightly, Charlotte Perkins Gilman uses a parallelism “Personally, I disagree with their ideas. Personally, I believe that congenial work, with excitement and change, would do me good.” It seems to me that in this way one can see a hint of the woman's rebelliousness. She has different thoughts than her husband and her physician brother.
Moreover, it is important to pay attention to the repetition "What is one to do?", which is repeated throughout the paragraph. In my view, this question exemplifies her oppressed stature in society and demonstrates that the narrator cannot do anything to change her life because her husband controls all her actions.
Another point to mention is the narrator’s main hobby – writing. Because of the negative attitude of her nearest and dearest towards this activity, the woman must write secretly, when no one would see. I guess that in this way Charlotte Perkins depicts the treating of a writer by the society, which regards literature to be a waste of time and efforts. The best example of this is behavior of John and Jennie, who reckon that writing contributes greatly to main character’s illness. The narrator says, "I verily believe she thinks it is the writing which made me sick!" Even though the narrator finds relief in writing, she says, "I don't know why I should write this. I don't want to. I don't feel able. And I know John would think it absurd. But I must say what I feel and think in some way - it is such a relief!" I’d like to draw you attention to one more partial parallel construction: “I don't know why I should write this. I don't want to. I don't feel able.”, which makes the thought of the narrator clearer. Besides such an arrangement adds a kind of an expressiveness to her utterance.
Since writing is forbidden for her, the narrator must not write publicly, but in secret: "There comes John, and I must put this away, - he hates to have me write a word" Furthermore, the main character is not allowed to work: "So I...am absolutely forbidden to 'work' until I am well again". She is virtually imprisoned in her bedroom and has no choice in the decor of the room: "I don't like our room a bit. I wanted...but John wouldn't hear of it".
Furthermore, John also tries to control how and what his wife thinks, exemplifying society's suppression of women. He tells his wife, "...you really are better, dear, whether you can see it or not. I am a doctor, dear, and I know. You are gaining flesh and color, your appetite is better". Again, he uses the fact that he is a doctor to show his higher position in the society. To my mind, the problem is that he does not take into consideration her wife’s feelings. Even when the narrator says, "I don't weigh a bit more, nor as much; and my appetite may be better in the evening when you are here, but it is worse in the morning when you are away!", John simply does not listen. In another instance, the narrator tells John that "there is something strange about the house" but he shows no interest in her words. It seems as if John hardly ever really listens to her at all.
I guess it is also crucial to have a look at the following narrator’s words: "I wish he would let me go and make a visit to Cousin Henry and Julia". Unfortunately, John says that she "wasn't able to go, nor able to stand it after got there". He is always making decisions for her based on his beliefs on what is best for her, and not what she really wants.
On the one hand, it seems as if John really wants his wife to rest and recover, but on the other hand, in the narrator’s word we can notice some notes of irony (e.g. despite the fact that John is a physician, his wife's condition worsens under his care).
More that that, John constantly uses such phrases as “Bless her little heart!” and calls the narrator "blessed little goose", demeaning names that belittle women and make women seem childlike to men.
Along with controlling his wife's actions, John manipulates her thoughts. "I sometimes fancy that in my condition if I had less opposition and more society and stimulus - but John says the very worst thing I can do is to think about my condition, and I confess it always makes me feel bad". She believes that he knows what is best for her and has convinced herself that he is right.
He also has a way of making his wife feel guilty: "He is very careful and loving, and hardly lets me stir without special direction...he takes all care from me, and so I feel basely ungrateful not to value it more. He said we came here solely on my account..."
So, no wonder, that the woman’s only desire is to get a sort of freedom. In this respect she identifies herself with the woman in the wallpaper, who also cannot be fully free. The only way out was to tear all those awful yellow wallpaper in the room. That was a rebellion! Take my word for it: "'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!'".
