“Women are pretty much people, seems to me” (Gilman, 38). These are the words that Charlotte Perkins Gilman, a famous feminist author, uses in one of her famous short stories, “If I Were a Man”, in an attempt to break down the walls of misogyny built up by society in the mid-nineteenth century. In this story (and many of her other stories), Gilman portrays the common idea that women are lesser than men. She then discredits this idea by creating thought-provoking female characters that break the mold that society has made for women. In doing so, Gilman makes the notion of women being men’s equals seem attainable. Through her written works, such as “The Yellow Wallpaper” and “If I Were a Man”, Charlotte Perkins Gilman promotes her feminist beliefs,
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Mollie Matthewson, the main character of this short story, is the ideal housewife (dainty, charming, and classically pretty), but when her husband, Gerald, does not indulge her every whim, she wishes that she could be a man. Then, one day her wish comes true, and she assumes the body of her husband. Although Mollie has become part of Gerald, he is still in his own body as well. After becoming accustomed to her new manly physical features, Mollie begins to develop misogynistic views, like her husband. She boards the train that Gerald takes to work and speaks to Gerald’s friends. Although Mollie’s viewpoint changes, she is still able to remember what it was like to be a woman and therefore only remembers the men as the husbands of the women from her town. As the men begin to disparage the women in their lives, Mollie (as Gerald) feels guilty for thinking demeaning thoughts about women and angrily defends women’s honor in a lengthy speech. Both Gerald and Mollie learn from this experience and are able to better understand each other’s …show more content…
“If I Were a Man”. The Charlotte Perkins Gilman Reader: “The Yellow Wallpaper” and Other Fiction. Ann J. Lane. New York City: Pantheon Books, 1980. 32-38. Print.
Gilman, Charlotte Perkins. “The Yellow Wallpaper”. The Charlotte Perkins Gilman Reader: “The Yellow Wallpaper” and Other Fiction. Ann J. Lane. New York City: Pantheon Books, 1980. 3-20. Print.
Knight, Louise W. "Gilmania." The Women's Review of Books Nov.-Dec. 2010: 29+. Literature Resource Center. Web. 13 Apr. 2016.
Stone, Les. "Charlotte (Anna) Perkins (Stetson) Gilman." Contemporary Authors Online. Detroit: Gale, 2003. Literature Resource Center. Web. 12 Apr. 2016.
Veeder, William. "Who Is Jane? The Intricate Feminism of Charlotte Perkins Gilman." Arizona Quarterly 44.3 (1988): 40-79. Rpt. in Short Story Criticism. Ed. Lawrence J. Trudeau. Vol. 182. Detroit: Gale, 2013. Literature Resource Center. Web. 12 Apr. 2016.
Wagner-Martin, Linda. "Gilman's 'The Yellow Wallpaper': A Centenary." Charlotte Perkins Gilman: The Woman and Her Work. Ed. Sheryl L. Meyering. UMI Research Press, 1989. 51-64. Rpt. in Twentieth-Century Literary Criticism. Ed. Linda Pavlovski and Scott T. Darga. Vol. 117. Detroit: Gale, 2002. Literature Resource Center. Web. 24 Apr.
Mollie Matthewson, the main character of this short story, is the ideal housewife (dainty, charming, and classically pretty), but when her husband, Gerald, does not indulge her every whim, she wishes that she could be a man. Then, one day her wish comes true, and she assumes the body of her husband. Although Mollie has become part of Gerald, he is still in his own body as well. After becoming accustomed to her new manly physical features, Mollie begins to develop misogynistic views, like her husband. She boards the train that Gerald takes to work and speaks to Gerald’s friends. Although Mollie’s viewpoint changes, she is still able to remember what it was like to be a woman and therefore only remembers the men as the husbands of the women from her town. As the men begin to disparage the women in their lives, Mollie (as Gerald) feels guilty for thinking demeaning thoughts about women and angrily defends women’s honor in a lengthy speech. Both Gerald and Mollie learn from this experience and are able to better understand each other’s …show more content…
“If I Were a Man”. The Charlotte Perkins Gilman Reader: “The Yellow Wallpaper” and Other Fiction. Ann J. Lane. New York City: Pantheon Books, 1980. 32-38. Print.
Gilman, Charlotte Perkins. “The Yellow Wallpaper”. The Charlotte Perkins Gilman Reader: “The Yellow Wallpaper” and Other Fiction. Ann J. Lane. New York City: Pantheon Books, 1980. 3-20. Print.
Knight, Louise W. "Gilmania." The Women's Review of Books Nov.-Dec. 2010: 29+. Literature Resource Center. Web. 13 Apr. 2016.
Stone, Les. "Charlotte (Anna) Perkins (Stetson) Gilman." Contemporary Authors Online. Detroit: Gale, 2003. Literature Resource Center. Web. 12 Apr. 2016.
Veeder, William. "Who Is Jane? The Intricate Feminism of Charlotte Perkins Gilman." Arizona Quarterly 44.3 (1988): 40-79. Rpt. in Short Story Criticism. Ed. Lawrence J. Trudeau. Vol. 182. Detroit: Gale, 2013. Literature Resource Center. Web. 12 Apr. 2016.
Wagner-Martin, Linda. "Gilman's 'The Yellow Wallpaper': A Centenary." Charlotte Perkins Gilman: The Woman and Her Work. Ed. Sheryl L. Meyering. UMI Research Press, 1989. 51-64. Rpt. in Twentieth-Century Literary Criticism. Ed. Linda Pavlovski and Scott T. Darga. Vol. 117. Detroit: Gale, 2002. Literature Resource Center. Web. 24 Apr.