She spends her days bedridden after an unknown trauma forces her husband to prescribe "rest cures" as an antidote. During this time period, women were dehumanized into objects that were to be seen and not heard. Resistance during this era was futile, so whatever a man deemed worthy of a woman to do, she allowed to do. "If a high-ranking doctor, and one's husband, assure friends and relatives that in reality there is nothing but a temporary nervous depression - a slight hysterical tendency - what is to be done?" (Gilman 126) Although nothing is specified in the story, this woman suffers from postpartum depression and delirium. No baby is found in the story, so one might assume a miscarriage or stillbirth. This initial period of isolation is a key factor in helping the narrator truly identify with herself, as she begins to question the actions of people around her who invoke their merit through their absence. This neglect, this abuse has helped shape the mentality that has been forced to create due to the lack of communication between doctor and patient. Feminism comes into play when the patient's gender compromises treatment. Due to the severity of the trauma, which was kept extremely low profile, this woman was unable to adequately grieve her loss.