Human Ideals in Two Novels

Gilman's female utopia shows that she believes in the power of human beings to work cooperatively to improve their society and therefore to provide an environment in which the best qualities of human beings can flourish. However, an individualism which isolates one from others is seen as an obstacle to those higher qualities. Gilman emphasizes the importance of community in bringing about the best kind of life for both the individual and the race. Even more central to Gilman's thesis is her emphasis on the consciousness of human beings--male and female--as it develops and is nurtured in her utopia. However, again, this consciousness is not a separate factor, but instead a part of the naturally evolving social order as defined and developed by women.

. . .
bodying the ideals the author advocates. She does show that men can evolve under the influence of women, but women are obviously the superior beings. Even here, Gilman does not condemn men, but merely argues that women are endowed naturally with the ideals of nurturing, loving, sensitivity, and the desire and ability to work cooperatively to realize common ideals. Unlike patriarchal society, the matriarchy of Herland is also able to use technology effectively, without oppressing or destroying, and at the same time maintaining humane ideals which are too often undervalued in technologically advanced societies. When the men first encounter Herland and its all-female realm, they react according to their macho ideals, viewing women as exotic creatures whose primary feature is their sexuality. In fact, they see them as less than human, as birds or fruit, or as more than human, as goddesses. Jeff "idealized women" (Gilman 89), while Terry sees them as objects to be sexually conquered and as incapable of building anything requiring cooperation: "Women always . . . fight amongst themselves. We mustn't look to find any sort of order and organization" (Gilman 8). However, their first sighting of the women tells us all we need to know of t
. . .

Some common words found in the essay are:
Latour Valliant, Comes Archbishop, Valliant Latour, Jean Utterly, Church Cather, Whereas Jeff, Introduction Gilman's, Cross Latour, Cather Gilman, Mexicans Mexicans, saving souls, love friendship, human ideals, death comes archbishop, latour valliant, comes archbishop, gilman condemn, whatever one's, juniper tree, lost catholics, characters ideals,
Approximate Word count = 2086
Approximate Pages = 8 (250 words per page)

More Essays on Human Ideals in Two Novels