The Development Of Charlotte Perkins Gilman’s Feminist Ideology

Charlotte Perkins Gilman (1860-1935), the famous feminist, critic and social activist at the end of19th century and the beginning of20th century, was honored as one of the forerunners of Feminist Movement, whose works become the feminist classics. Her life coincides with the rising of Feminist Movement and the awakening of feminist ideas. Her ideology transforms from opposing patriarchal oppression to seeking female potentials. The paper argues that the growth of her feminist ideas coincides with the fates of the female protagonists in her works.Many scholars have researched The Yellow Wallpaper and Herland. Some criticize the patriarchy of oppressing women’s mind while others praise the female talents in writing and management. This paper classifies Gilman’s feminism into three stages according to the different fates of her female protagonists, and elaborates them one by one. The previous study displayed her indignation and revolt against patriarchy, which expropriated female right of speech and consideration. Growing with her life experience and feminist ideology, her writings altered from fierce opposition to patriarchy to exploring female potential and praising their innovation. My Poor Aunt proves that writing could win respect. Making A Change shows that correct fostering and utilizing interests could bring economic-independence and family concord. Her Beauty introduces women’s magnificent ability in innovation and management. Her later work Herland is the comprehensive expression of her feminist ideology. It depicts men’s failure of dominating female and women’s extraordinary genius in administrating the country. Gilman intended to use this Utopian novel to convey her expectation. Different themes of Gilman’s works indicate different phases of her feminist ideology development.This thesis can be divided into five chapters. The first chapter is the introduction to Gilman and her literary achievements, the originality and the structure of the thesis. The second chapter centers on the representative work of the budding stage, The Yellow Wallpaper. It will discuss how the standard Victorian women behave. Then her awareness of oppression and her determination of taking writing as the weapon will be presented. The third chapter focuses on how three talented ladies give full play to their potential in order to challenge patriarchy and win respect and independence in My Poor Aunt, Making A Change and Her Beauty. The fourth chapter explores the mature feminism in Herland. It depicts men’s failure of dominating female and women’s extraordinary power. At last, it concludes that from three phases of Gilman’s creation, we can see the growth of her feminist ideology.