Charlotte Perkins Gilman wrote stories that often looked at women’s roles in society and the constraints placed upon them. Her work often explored themes of social injustice and the inner lives of women.
If you enjoy authors who tackle similar topics and write with a sharp eye for societal norms, here are some writers you might find interesting.
Readers who enjoy Charlotte Perkins Gilman might also appreciate Kate Chopin, an author known for exploring the lives of women in the late nineteenth century.
In “The Awakening,” Chopin tells the story of Edna Pontellier, a woman who begins to question the traditional roles of wife and mother. Edna wrestles with her desire for freedom and independence in a society that values conformity.
Through vivid and often emotional scenes of her life in New Orleans and the Louisiana coast, the novel portrays Edna’s personal transformation and its profound consequences.
For those interested in literature that thoughtfully confronts women’s experiences and societal expectations, Kate Chopin offers rich and memorable characters.
Virginia Woolf was an English author who explored the realities of women’s experiences through stories rich in psychological depth and social observation.
If you’re drawn to the themes of female independence in Charlotte Perkins Gilman’s “The Yellow Wallpaper,” you might appreciate Woolf’s novel, “Mrs. Dalloway.” The story takes place on a single summer day in post-war London.
It follows Clarissa Dalloway, a society woman, as she prepares for an evening party. Woolf captures Clarissa’s inner thoughts, her memories of past choices, and the hidden tensions beneath the polite surface of everyday life.
Clarissa’s day reveals unexpected parallels with Septimus Smith, a World War I veteran whose internal struggles quietly disrupt her world. Woolf blends moments of clarity and small revelations, pulling you intimately into the minds of her characters.
Her writing offers an honest look at human relationships, identity, and the roles people play in society.
Readers who enjoy Charlotte Perkins Gilman will likely appreciate Susan Glaspell, an author known for her insightful portrayals of women’s inner lives and societal constraints. Her play “Trifles” is especially powerful.
It centers around a murder investigation in a modest rural farmhouse. During their search for clues, the men dismiss the everyday items in the kitchen as trivial.
However, two women at the scene see something the men overlook, uncovering hidden truths about isolation and oppression in domestic life. The story offers a vivid, intense expression of women’s perspectives and quietly challenges the biases of the era.
Books by Edith Wharton often examine the lives of women caught between personal desire and societal pressures, themes that readers of Charlotte Perkins Gilman will find familiar.
In “The House of Mirth,” Wharton introduces us to Lily Bart, a charming young woman who struggles to secure her financial future through advantageous marriage in early twentieth-century New York society.
Lily’s story exposes how limiting and harsh society’s rules can be for women who step outside accepted conventions.
The novel draws you into a world of glamorous parties and ruthless gossip, making clear the high price these women pay for independence and dreams of something more.
If you enjoy Charlotte Perkins Gilman’s insightful exploration of women’s lives and social struggles, Margaret Atwood’s “The Handmaid’s Tale” is worth your attention.
Margaret Atwood is a Canadian novelist known for her vivid storytelling and powerful themes, often focused on women’s experiences and society’s pressures.
“The Handmaid’s Tale” is set in a near-future America that has become an extremely repressive society where women have few rights. Offred, the protagonist, serves as a handmaid tasked with bearing children for powerful men.
Through her eyes, readers witness loss of freedom and resistance against oppression. Atwood’s thoughtful storytelling highlights issues about gender roles and societal control, themes that readers of Gilman might deeply appreciate.
Readers who appreciate the thoughtful narratives and social awareness of Charlotte Perkins Gilman might enjoy exploring the works of Rebecca Harding Davis.
Davis was an influential American author known for her realistic take on social issues and especially for her insightful portrayal of working-class struggles.
Her novella “Life in the Iron Mills” vividly illustrates the harsh realities faced by mill workers in 19th-century America. The story follows Hugh Wolfe, a talented ironworker trapped in poverty, who longs for escape and meaning in his life.
Davis’s writing spotlights the dark side of industrial progress as it powerfully explores themes of repression, class conflict, and the desperate search for human dignity.
Readers who enjoy Charlotte Perkins Gilman’s powerful exploration of women’s lives and societal pressures may also appreciate Elizabeth Gaskell. Gaskell’s novels often focus on the challenges women face in Victorian society.
Her novel “North and South” follows Margaret Hale, a strong-willed young woman who relocates from the peaceful countryside of southern England to an industrial northern town. Margaret witnesses the struggles between mill owners and their workers.
She becomes deeply involved in social issues and faces her personal prejudices through her complex relationship with the stern, misunderstood mill owner, John Thornton.
This social and personal drama offers readers a compelling glimpse into class conflicts, gender roles, and the realities of industrial life.
Readers who appreciate Charlotte Perkins Gilman’s exploration of society and gender roles may find Ursula K. Le Guin equally fascinating. Le Guin often combines imaginative worlds with thoughtful questions about humanity.
Her novel “The Left Hand of Darkness” takes place on the planet Gethen, where inhabitants have no fixed gender and can assume male or female characteristics at different times.
Genly Ai, an envoy from Earth, arrives to encourage collaboration among nations and must navigate unfamiliar social dynamics shaped by gender fluidity.
Through Ai’s evolving friendship with Estraven, a local political figure, Le Guin challenges readers to rethink their beliefs about identity and society.
This book captures readers with its thoughtful storytelling and unique view of how removing gender roles affects politics, friendship, and trust.
Charlotte Brontë shares a talent for exploring women’s lives and inner struggles, similar to author Charlotte Perkins Gilman. In her best-known novel, “Jane Eyre,” Brontë creates a powerful story about Jane, an orphan girl treated harshly by her cruel relatives.
Jane grows up and finds herself employed as a governess at Thornfield Hall, where she meets the mysterious Mr. Rochester. Thornfield contains secrets that challenge Jane’s beliefs while testing her courage and self-determination.
Brontë's careful portrayal of Jane’s strength, independence, and emotional depth should resonate with readers familiar with Gilman’s stories.
Harriet Beecher Stowe was an American author and abolitionist known for her powerful storytelling on social and moral issues. Her most famous novel, “Uncle Tom’s Cabin,” explores the harsh realities of slavery through the lives of vivid and unforgettable characters.
The story follows Uncle Tom, an enslaved man of great dignity and kindness, who endures tremendous suffering yet retains a deep sense of loyalty and humanity.
Readers who appreciate Charlotte Perkins Gilman’s sensitive exploration of social injustice and strong character portrayals will find Stowe’s writing both moving and thought-provoking.
Willa Cather was an American author known for her vivid depictions of life on the prairie, strong female characters, and thoughtful explorations of identity and self-discovery.
Readers who appreciate Charlotte Perkins Gilman’s portrayal of women’s inner lives and societal constraints might find themselves equally drawn to Cather’s book “My Ántonia.”
The novel follows Jim Burden’s childhood memories in rural Nebraska, where he forms a lasting bond with Ántonia, an immigrant farm girl from Bohemia. Their relationship blossoms through challenges and heartbreak.
The narrative reveals how Ántonia’s struggle and resilience illuminate deeper truths about American pioneer life and womanhood.
The quiet beauty of Cather’s storytelling, rich with sensory detail and emotional authenticity, resonates with readers seeking profound portrayals of human experience.
Alice Walker is an author known for her powerful storytelling and deep focus on women’s experiences, identity, and race.
If you appreciate Charlotte Perkins Gilman’s thoughtful exploration of women’s inner lives and struggles, you might find Walker’s novel “The Color Purple” equally captivating.
The book follows the life of Celie, an African-American woman living in rural Georgia in the early 20th century. Through heartfelt letters addressed to God and her sister Nettie, readers join Celie’s emotional journey as she endures pain, strength, and eventual empowerment.
Walker’s authentic voice and vivid portrayal of character relationships highlight themes of oppression, resilience, and hope, bringing Celie’s challenging yet inspiring story vividly to life.
Books by Sylvia Plath often explore women’s struggles with societal pressures and identity, similar themes to those found in Charlotte Perkins Gilman’s works.
One of Plath’s most famous novels, “The Bell Jar,” follows the story of Esther Greenwood, a bright young woman who should have a promising future. Esther earns a prestigious summer internship in New York City but finds herself increasingly overwhelmed by society’s expectations.
As the novel progresses, Esther’s mental state begins to unravel, providing an honest exploration of isolation, anxiety, and the challenges of finding one’s own path.
Plath’s sharp insight into her character’s experiences makes Esther’s journey memorable and emotionally powerful. Readers who appreciate Gilman’s exploration of women’s internal struggles in stories like “The Yellow Wallpaper” may find “The Bell Jar” equally engaging.
Dorothy Richardson was a pioneering modernist author known for her innovative narrative techniques and deep exploration of women’s inner lives. If you enjoy Charlotte Perkins Gilman’s insightful works on women’s experiences, Richardson’s “Pointed Roofs” may interest you.
This novel is the first volume in her autobiographical series “Pilgrimage.” It introduces readers to Miriam Henderson, a young woman who leaves England to teach in a German boarding school.
Through Miriam’s eyes, readers experience the subtle challenges and quiet triumphs of being a young woman abroad at the turn of the 20th century. Richardson’s narrative embraces Miriam’s thoughts and perceptions, capturing her emotions and ideas vividly and authentically.
“Pointed Roofs” celebrates the complexity of women’s minds and offers an immersive journey into the everyday realities faced by early 20th-century women.
Readers who enjoy Charlotte Perkins Gilman might also appreciate Louisa May Alcott’s thoughtful exploration of women’s roles and personal growth.
Alcott is best known for her classic novel “Little Women,” which follows the stories of the four March sisters—Meg, Jo, Beth, and Amy—as they grow up during the American Civil War.
Each sister faces unique challenges, balancing personal dreams with family responsibilities and societal expectations. Jo, the bold and spirited writer, especially captures readers with her independent nature and determination to live life on her own terms.
Alcott portrays the strength and complexity of women’s experiences in a style both gentle and honest, crafting characters whose journeys are relatable and inspiring.