“If I Were a Man” central idea

Charlotte Perkins Gilman's short story "If I were a Man" vividly shows the subliminal thought of a young lady who wishes with all her heart that she might transform into a man. The plot revolves around a young lady named Mollie, who ends up being her significant other due to her ability to take care of business. She then returns to work as Gerald, her significant other, for the rest of the day. "She was Gerald, strolling down the road so upright and square-bore, in a hurry for his morning express, of course, and, it must be admitted, in a bit of a rage" (Gilman 50). Gilman effectively breathes life into this tale by taking a third person point of view, which permits us to see inside her deepest considerations. Mollie yearns to take care of business, in light of the fact that as of now men have all the power and pride ladies don't. She is jealous of the considerable number of things men can have. "She felt what she had never felt in all her life-the ownership of cash, of her own earned cash hers to offer or to withhold, not to ask for, bother for, coax for-hers" (Gilman 51). Without precedent for her life she gets the chance to perceive what it is like to get a kick out of the chance to have cash that she doesn't need to impart to any other person. Men get the opportunity to profit while ladies remain at home and deal with things around their homes. Mathewson now gets the opportunity to experience life outside her home, and she likewise gets the opportunity to have a feeling of the need of not to answer to anybody. She is her own particular individual at this point. A "genuine" lady must have every one of the characteristics of an incredible housewife. Mathewson is an incredible housewife and an adoring mother. She cleans, dresses in decent garments and cooks. She resembles each other lady who lives to satisfy her significant other and act how society anticipates them to act. She is for sure like the "genuine" lady. However, she feels like there is a whole other world to life than communicating with other housewife's or remaining home. The author utilizes an alternate way to deal with those individuals who think what a "genuine" lady ought to be with the utilization of mockery. He does this by expressing remarks like, "Close to nothing, of course-no genuine lady might be enormous. Lovely, of course-no genuine lady could be plain". Mollie resembles the perfect lady Gilman portrays. What's more, much the same as all other ladies she is not equipped for working and paying her own particular bills. Subsequently, she is compelled to hear her significant other "fuss" about the bill she was reluctant to outline for him. These little clashes lead Mollie to think about how it would feel to live in another person's shoes. On account of that, Mathewson Mollie needs to assume the part of her better half, since she is intrigued to understand individuals with a better point of view. She needs to meet others beside the typical housewife's and have important discussions. She wishes to feel huger, have genuine flexibility lastly have pockets. Having Mollie cross-dress permits her to communicate with men and opens her eyes to how they truly ponder about ladies. She examines about how a few ladies were more brilliant than men in school and how a man's pride does not permit ladies to work. Since Mollie was seen as one of the men she was not restricted with what she needed to state. It gave her the chance to transparently express her convictions towards ladies.