It's a treatment for depression that was popular a long time ago (I'm not sure exactally when...) that assumed that the best thing was to lock up someone depressed and not let them do anything or see...
There are only two male characters mentionedin the Yellow Wallpaper, the first is John the second is Weir Mirtchell. Weir Mircthell was not a main character in the story but he is mentioned by name...