Women In Herland Analysis

“And woman should stand beside man as the comrade of his soul, not the servant of his body.” Charlotte Perkins Gilman

Gilman has depicted fine portraits of a variety of characters struggling between the two worlds Herland (the world which entirely consists of women) and United States of America (from where the boys have come which is a world full of corruption, violence, jealousy, competition, wars). As a feminist novel about the isolated society/country of women, the novel serves an idealistic viewpoint. Though it is a utopian novel but there is a touch of reality. The imaginary world is related to the contemporary world and has a realistic touch. Although it is an imaginary world yet there is so much to learn from them. Herland is an ideal

As Helen Cixous suggests, Gilman “breaks up truth with laughter.” (11) Although it was written hundred years ago yet it has so much relevance in the contemporary world. By strongly criticizing the culture and tradition of outside world, Gilman has brought this imaginary world with a feminist perspective. She has presented in her novel that, gender difference, suppression and oppression of women, sexual harassment, rape, will continue throughout the years. Gilman’s works are strongly embedded and connected with women like Women and Economics, Concerning Children, The home: Its work and Influence and many more. Herland depicts the breakdown of isolated society and expresses the changed ideas and the conflict between the outside world and their world. Van, the narrator of the story always is in dilemma seeing the girls of Herland so much

There is integrity, aesthetic zeal, craftsmanship and imaginative power in her works. His strength of characterization lies in his thorough and close observation of life’s incident’s which is somewhat related to her personal life being a suffragette. Her works are so well written with imaginative plight that it is relevant in today’s world also. She is realist and her imaginative power is outstanding. Her success lies in his individualizing and variety of her character and bringing out the major issues in a very simple and subtle manner. She is a woman and writes from a feminist view point keeping herself in the place of women. Her works are by women, for women. Gilman thoughts are ageless and will continue to guide the world through centuries. Her inspiring thoughts will provoke women to make their identity and to fight for their own rights. She shares and writes what she feels. Both her imagination and writing goes hand in hand while writing this