I cry at nothing, and cry most of the time
What bothers me is that the narrator cries most of the time but hides it from other people. She seems to feel like she cannot show how unhappy she really is. I think this makes her situation even worse because the people around her might not realize how much she is struggling.
He said that after the wallpaper was changed it would be the heavy bedstead, and then the barred windows, and then that gate at the head of the stairs, and so on.
I was surprised that John thinks changing the wallpaper would only make his wife complain about other things. Instead of asking why she feels uncomfortable, he assumes that she is just being unreasonable. I think he is ignoring the possibility that her environment really affects how she feels.
He says that with my imaginative power and habit of story-making a nervous weakness like mine is sure to lead to all manner of excited fancies,
What troubles me is that John keeps telling her not to trust her imagination or her own thoughts. Instead of trying to understand her, he tells her to control herself. I wonder if this makes her feel even more alone because she cannot freely share what she thinks.
so I take pains to control myself,
What bothers me is that the narrator feels like she has to hide her real emotions around John. She is already struggling, but she also has to spend energy pretending to be okay. I think this makes her situation even more stressful.
He is very careful and loving, and hardly lets me stir without special direction.
I find this part interesting because John seems to care about his wife, but he also controls almost everything she does. I think it shows that sometimes care can turn into control, even when someone believes they are doing the right thing.
I meant to be such a help to John, such a real rest and comfort, and here I am a comparative burden already!
What bothers me is that the narrator feels guilty for being sick and thinks she is a burden to John. She seems to care more about being a good wife than about her own needs. I think this shows how much pressure she feels to meet other people's expectations.
Personally, I disagree with their ideas.
I find this part interesting because the narrator knows that the treatment might not be good for her, but she still feels like she has no choice. I think it's sad that she understands her own feelings but cannot really do anything about them.
You see, he does not believe I am sick!
I was surprised that John doesn't even believe his wife is really sick. Even though he is a doctor, he doesn't seem to take her feelings seriously. I think this shows that being a doctor doesn't mean he always understands what his patient actually needs.