Men in the 19th century had the power to decide where women could go and what they could think. Men always do what they want, but women don't. Men in the 19th century make decisions based on what they think is best for women and not based on what women actually want. The yellow wallpaper represents how women felt during that time. Jane's illness explains the captivity, imprisonment and lack of freedom that women went through in the 19th century. The yellow wallpaper serves as a metaphor for how Jane and 19th century women were treated and how they feel. If I were a 19th century woman locked in a room doing nothing and following a man's instructions, I think I would kill myself. What would you like