Although Gilman did not receive much education as a child, the determined woman did attend the Rhode Island School of Design and worked as a commercial artist. Soon after, Charlotte married artist Charles Walter Stetson. The two had a daughter together, Katharine, which resulted in Charlotte suffering from postpartum depression. Charles and Charlotte ended up separating, however she did remarry to her first cousin in 1900. Charlotte moved to California with Katharine in 1888, and it was at this time that Gilman became …show more content…
involved in feminist organizations. After sending Katharine back to live with Charles and his new wife, Charlotte’s career took off. (POETRYFOUNDATION)
Being a part of the feminist movement, it is no surprise that Gilman’s work focused on feminist topics. One of Charlotte’s poems that is an example of her views is “More Females of the Species.” The intriguing poem lists off females of different species that are more dangerous than the males. Nearly every stanza ends with the line, or a line similar to, “For the female of the species is more deadly than the male.” (GILMAN) Also, every two lines rhyme, which makes the flow of the poem easy to read continuously. The repetition of examples of women appearing more vicious than men gives a female reader a sense of empowerment. The purpose of Gilman’s poem is not tear down men, but to build up women. By reading the author’s heartfelt work, one can see why she had such a large impact on the feminist community.
Another work of literature that exhibits feminist qualities is Charlotte’s short story “If I Were A Man.” The story follows Mollie Mathewson as she lives her day as her husband, Gerald. Mollie is described as a true woman that wishes to be a man. The woman’s wish comes true, and she becomes Gerald. Mollie feels like she finally fits into the world. After Mollie realizes she is a man, she focuses quite a bit on her, or rather his, feet. One can assume Gilman was adding to the theme of what it is like to walk in someone else's shoes when the narrator states, “never before, since her early school days, had she felt such freedom and comfort as to feet.” (GILMAN) The climax of the story develops when Mollie, as Gerald, is listening to other men depreciate women. Gerald must decide whether he will speak as Mollie or himself, and he decides to stand up for women. Gilman uses a round protagonist like Mollie to give the short story dimension. “If I Were A Man” causes a reader to contemplate what life would be like from another gender’s perspective.
Another famous feminist that gave a resembling message to “If I Were A Man” is Beyoncé. The singer released the song “If I Were A Boy” in 2008, about 94 years after “If I Were A Man” was published. Other than the fact that Gilman’s story and Beyoncé’s song have similar titles, both focus on swapping genders in a relationship. Charlotte and Beyoncé both see and have experienced the issue of men feeling like they are superior to women, especially in a relationship. In “If I Were A Boy,” the lines “but you’re just boy, you don’t understand” (BEYONCE) correlate with Gilman’s “If I Were A Man” message of men not knowing how women feel or have to live. Both women are feminist icons of their time and inspire ladies to know their worth.
Arguably Gilman’s most popular piece of literature, “The Yellow Wallpaper” is a telling story of a woman suffering from postpartum depression who is placed in a room with yellow wallpaper that disturbs her.
Over time, the woman becomes mentally unstable and believes there is another woman living in the wallpaper. The short story is based off of Charlotte’s personal experience with postpartum depression, which gives the story a deeper meaning. “The Yellow Wallpaper” is written in first person point of view and is the narrator’s private journal. Knowing that the woman is writing down her true feelings creates an emotional tone in the story, especially since the author has experienced a similar situation
herself.
“The Yellow Wallpaper” is similar to Charlotte’s other works in feminist terms, but the fact that the story is about a mood disorder gives it a unique appeal. The woman in the story’s husband, John, treats her like she is a child and lesser than him. John is also her physician, so he takes care of her as a patient as well as caring for her as a husband. However, John does not believe the woman is truly sick. The woman writes, “If a physician of high standing, and one's own husband, assures friends and relatives that there is really nothing the matter with one but temporary nervous depression―a slight hysterical tendency―what is one to do?” (GILMAN) The way the woman speaks about her husband reveals how women were treated when they were mentally ill. Although Gilman’s situation with postpartum depression is tragic, her writing abilities have opened the eyes of many as to how a mental illness can affect someone, particularly in that time period.
Overall, Charlotte Perkins Gilman has influenced many feminists throughout the years. Her literature and speeches gave hope to women in the 1800s just as well as they do today. Even if an individual does not have the same feminist views as Gilman, it is important to see where her ideas came from and understand the situations she has been in. Women in the past, and even in the present, fight for their basic rights, and Charlotte gave written evidence as to how far they have come. If Gilman were alive today, she would be proud of how much women have accomplished for themselves. Without women like Charlotte Perkins Gilman, women would still be just like Mollie Mathewson: wishing to be in their husband’s shoes.