Gilman appeals to her reader’s sense of pathos as Mrs. McPherson describes how long she’s had to endure being a wife:
“I have considered Mr. McPherson’s wishes for thirty years,” she replied. “Now, I’ll consider mine. I have done my duty since the day I married him. It is eleven thousand days—today.”
The last with sudden intensity.
When an author appeals to a reader’s sense of pathos, they are attempting to evoke the reader's emotions. Here, Gilman makes the McPherson marriage seem like a prison sentence that the widow was forced to endure. Mrs. McPherson counts the exact number of days she's been married, "eleven thousand days—today," to show just how long she's been a loyal wife. The way she focuses on the total number of days makes it clear how difficult and endless this commitment seemed to her. It's almost like she's been keeping track of each day in a jail cell. This enumeration prompts a strong emotional response from the reader, as they are asked to consider how long "eleven thousand days" under those circumstances would feel.
This emotional moment aims to change how the reader sees Mr. McPherson’s death. The narrator implied previously that he was an unpleasant man. Given this suggestion, it makes sense that his wife would feel relief at his passing. Through evoking pathos, Gilman makes sure that Mrs. McPherson comes across as a woman who has faithfully done her duty for a very long time. Because of this extended sacrifice, she feels justified in pursuing her own goals and happiness now.
