...Lee Ann American Women’s Literature 4360.001 Dr. Sharon Talley 29 Sept. 2011 Surnames in Herland Charlotte Perkins Gilman’s Herland, written in 1915, illustrates women’s growing issues of inequality, forced submissiveness, which reduces individuality, and the concern to break with those traditions, which are abundant in the United States. They do not exist in the country of Herland, nor do surnames. The qualities of individualism and equality through rationality do exist. Among the many beliefs the women of Herland employ to enhance these qualities is the lack of surnames. Surnames are a “label” usually acquired from the male species, not the female species. In addition, surnames descend from generations past based on the occupation of a deceased ancestor, merely a tradition with no rationality. The use of surnames does not comply with the logical women of Herland and reduces their emphasis on individualism and equality. In the passage that addresses this issue, the “male” question arises as to why all the women have only one name. Why is there not an identifiable family surname for the children? The sensible answer from Moadine is, “Why should we? We are all descended from a common source-all one ‘family’ in reality.” (64). The men then begin to question the concepts of personal pride and the “claiming” of one’s child. Moadine replies, “No-why should she? The child has her own” (64). Moadine is speaking to the issue of individuality and equality. The women of Herland...
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