Similarities Between Three Thanksgivings And The Cottagette

Reading these pieces by Gilman has been a unique experience as to seeing on how different life was during the nineteenth century from a first hand experience from Gilman herself. Over the course of reading these pieces I would like to go more in depth about three pieces including The Yellow Wallpaper, Three Thanksgivings, and The Cottagette. All of these writings were about Gilman’s own life experiences through the nineteenth century that she endeavored. Charlotte Perkins Gilman was a talented writer, self-educated social scientist and lecturer, an activist for women’s rights who herself experienced the consequences of oppressive male attitudes and treatment of females. She rebelled against the accepted role and fate of women in her time.

In the Yellow Wallpaper, is trying to make points about how women were treated by men and medical professionals at this time. Women were not necessarily treated with respect and they would often have their opinions dismissed. She is trying to make the point that women’s needs and opinions need to be addressed just as a man’s world. In the story, Three Thanksgivings, Gilman is trying to show how women can be strong willed and independent if they choose even if others do not see it. This is represented by the main character, Mrs. Morrison, deciding not to give in and lose her house and her independence. She goes on to get her way in the end through grit and determination and this shows that women do not need to be guided through life by their male counterpart. In the Cottagette, Gilman attempts to make a point on how relationships were perceived. In the story, the main character has a passion for art only to give up her passion and become a cook to win over the man of her dreams. She eventually courts the man and he proposes but with a twist, she must never cook, and she should do what makes her happy, art. This shows how women of that time often wanted nothing more but to please their significant other and would not pursue dreams of their own. Gilman makes a point that relationships should be more than that and both parties should share equal happiness. Gilman consistently makes points about women equality and individual strength. Gilman had a very unique style of writing during this time period which made her a very successful