An Ecofeminist Reading Of Charlotte Perkins Gilman’s Herland

Charlotte Perkins Gilman was a prominent feminist who spent most of her life in bettering women’s life and raising public consciousness about women’s issues. Critics at home and abroad have made great amount of comments on Gilman’s contribution to feminist movement; however, her eco-feminist thoughts have not been fully explored. This thesis intends to study her utopian novel Herland and explore her ecofeminist views by drawing a detailed comparison between the patriarchal society and Herland, so as to illuminate how foresighted she was in the early 20 t h century to have deep ecological concern.The thesis consists of five chapters. Chapter One first presents a general introduction to Charlotte Perkins Gilman and the novel Herland. Then it offers the literature review on Herland as well as an introduction to the theory ecofeminism. Chapter Two consists of two parts. The first part focuses on Gilman’s criticism against the destructive wars generated by andro-centric culture, as well as the side effects caused by the wars. The second part focuses on the love of peace in Herland and their harmonious society. Chapter Three first discusses Gilman’s indictment against the industrial exploitation in the andro-centric world and the destruction as well as pollution caused by the over-exploitation. Then it discusses the garden model in Herland and the co-existence of nature and the Herlanders. Chapter Four first renders Gilman’s views on the hierarchical structure in the patriarchal world in which exploitation is prevalent. Then it shows the readers the equality in Herland where alienation and exploitation among social members are overcome. In Chapter Five, which is the conclusion, the thesis points out that in Herland Gilman criticizes andro-centricism and calls for a friendly world based on peace, environmental protection and equality, in which exists a harmonious relationship between man and man, man and nature.