The Yellow Wallpaper

Narrator

Also known as Jane

John’s unnamed wife, who narrates the story through her private journal. While being treated for a nervous illness, she becomes fixated on the wallpaper and identifies herself with the woman she imagines trapped behind its pattern.

John

The narrator’s husband and physician. He dismisses her illness as nervous depression, prescribes rest, and keeps her in the upstairs nursery; at the end he faints when he sees her creeping around the room.

Narrator’s brother

An unnamed physician of high standing who agrees with John’s assessment of the narrator’s condition. He is mentioned but does not appear.

Mary

A woman who is good with the narrator and John’s baby. Her exact relationship to the family is not stated.

John’s sister

Also known as Jennie

John’s sister, a careful and enthusiastic housekeeper who looks after the narrator and reports on her to John. She is also called Jennie.

John and the narrator’s baby

Also known as the baby · their child

The narrator and John’s unnamed baby, cared for by Mary and kept out of the upstairs nursery. The narrator says she cannot be with the child because it makes her nervous.

Cousin Henry

A cousin whom John and the narrator hope to invite for a visit when she is well; he is described as one of the stimulating people John thinks would be bad for her now. He is mentioned but does not appear.

Julia

A person John and the narrator hope to invite for a visit with Cousin Henry; John considers her company too stimulating for the narrator at present. She is mentioned but does not appear.

Narrator’s mother

Also known as mother

The narrator’s mother, who visits the summer house with Nellie and the children. She is mentioned but does not otherwise appear in the story.

Nellie

A woman who visits the summer house with the narrator’s mother and children. Her relationship to the narrator is not stated.

The woman behind the wallpaper

Also known as the creeping woman

The woman the narrator imagines trapped behind the wallpaper’s pattern, struggling against its bars and creeping outside by day. The narrator ultimately identifies herself with this figure.

The narrator’s friend

Also known as friend who was in Weir Mitchell’s hands

An unnamed friend of the narrator who was once treated by Weir Mitchell and told the narrator he was like John and her brother, only more so. She is mentioned but does not appear.

Weir Mitchell

A physician John threatens to send the narrator to if she does not improve. The narrator’s friend was once under his care; he is mentioned but does not appear.

The children

The unnamed children who visit the summer house with the narrator’s mother and Nellie. Their identity and relationships are not specified.