Question

read the excerpt from the yellow wallpaper. john does not know how much i really suffer. he knows there is no reason to suffer, and that satisfies him. of course it is only nervousness. it does weigh on me so not to do my duty in any way! i meant to be such a help to john, such a real rest and comfort, and here i am a comparative burden already! nobody would believe what an effort it is to do what little i am able,—to dress and entertain, and order things. how does the narrator’s viewpoint reveal a social attitude of gilman’s time? the narrator questions why she should perform certain duties, such as entertaining guests. the narrator feels an overwhelming responsibility to meet society’s expectations. the narrator thinks that her husband displays a great deal of nervousness, and she wonders about its source. the narrator questions her place in society and her role as a mother and a wife.

Explanation:

The question is about analyzing the narrator's viewpoint in "The Yellow Wallpaper" to reveal a social attitude of Gilman's time. The option "The narrator feels an overwhelming responsibility to meet society’s expectations" aligns with the excerpt's context: the narrator talks about doing duties (dress, entertain, order things) as a burden, showing the societal pressure on women to fulfill such roles. Other options don't match: the excerpt doesn't question why duties are done, focus on husband's nervousness source, or question place in society as mother/wife directly related to the social attitude of the time regarding women's roles.

Answer:

The narrator feels an overwhelming responsibility to meet society’s expectations