In his first lecture, Freud is reproachful of doctors’ attitudes towards hysterics. He says doctors’ medical skills are unable to treat Hysteria, and so doctors let nature decide a hysteric’s prognosis (Freud 2201). Furthermore, doctors are unsympathetic to hysterics, as doctors are unable to understand why a hysteric is suffering, and because they put doctors in a layman’s position (where no learned person likes to be). As such, doctors view hysterics’ grievances as deceiving and exaggerated. Freud acknowledges that Breuer was undeserving of the same reproach, as he was sympathetic and his kind yet critical examination of his patient allowed him to heal her (Freud 2202). On the other hand, John from the “The Yellow Wallpaper” is a catalyst to his wife’s worsening condition. He exemplifies the limitations of medical training in treating Hysteria, and other psychological conditions. The short story also demonstrates doctors’ disbelief in Hysterical patients’ condition- another criticism derived from Freud’s lecture- which is seen in John’s reactions to his wife’s condition. Thus the overarching theme of Freud’s criticism, which is the damage doctors can cause hysterics and other psychologically ill, is applicable to John.
It should be noted that Freud’s stance on doctors’ approach to Hysteria also applies to psychological illnesses in general, as he says “Medical skill is … powerless against severe diseases of the brain…” (Freud 2201). With that in mind, John is treating the psychological illness his wife has, so Freud’s criticism can be applied to John if John’s treatment is damaging. This makes sense considering that John parallels the doctors that Gilman wanted to protect others from, those who treated psychological conditions such as Melancholia with rest cure (Why I wrote the Yellow Wallpaper). And so, John can be viewed as a doctor with limitations treating psychological illnesses, and Freud’s criticism can be applied to him.
John illustrates Freud’s point that doctors in the late nineteenth century were limited in treating hysteria. In his lecture, Freud states: “Medical skill is … powerless against severe diseases of the brain…” (Freud 2201). This occurred in “The Yellow Wallpaper” when John provides treatment for his wife that is physiologically beneficial, but does not treat her psychological condition. For example, on page 651, the narrator describes how John treats her with “cod liver oil and tonic…” in order to keep her from losing her strength (Gilman). On page 652 however, John states that the narrator’s physique was improving, to which the narrator then implies she is not improving elsewhere, but is cut off by John (Gilman). This shows that John is focused on the narrator’s physical health, and nothing more. Furthermore, the narrator writes “I cry at nothing, and cry most of the time” (Gilman 650), which portrays that she is psychologically unwell, and John’s treatments are ineffective. Accordingly, John is limited in his medical training and treatment of his wife, which Freud points out against doctors.
Other than ineffective treatment, John rejects his wife’s illness being anything but physiological, relating to Freud’s claim that doctors were skeptical of hysterics (Freud 2201). For instance, when the narrator suggests her pain is not physiological, John refuses to entertain that idea, calling it a “false and foolish fancy” (Gilman 652). This bears similarity to Freud’s claim that doctors were skeptical of and accusatory towards hysterics, which in itself suggests that doctors do not believe in their suffering (Freud 2201). Both John’s rejection and other doctors’ skepticism lay on the same essence of disbelief. There hence exists another commonality between John and doctors that Freud criticizes: the skepticism and doubt of Hysteria and other psychological illnesses.
John’s limitations in treating Hysteria caused him to address his wife’s physiology, but not her psychological illness. Also, he rejects that she is psychologically ill. Because of these factors, he holds accountability in being a catalyst for his wife’s condition worsening. The indifference to Hysteria from nineteenth century doctors must have caused the same damage to hysterics, which Freud holds doctors accountable for by criticizing them. Thus, Freud’s criticism of most doctors applies to John.
