All in Good Time: ‘The Cottagette’

In Charlotte Perkins Gilman’s short story, a young woman learns that love blossoms amid rest, not striving to prove herself capable, in ‘The Cottagette.’

A tiny summer cottage is where a young woman learns to cook and bide her time. Mel Thompson/Shutterstock

In her short story “The Cottagette,” Charlotte Perkins Gilman showed how a young woman, Malda, must learn that wisdom can only be obtained by adherence to patience and hope. If she abides by them, she will reap a beautiful reward.

The Cottagette

Malda and her friend Lois decide to rent a beautiful cottagette in the countryside. “Too small for a house, too pretty for a hut, too—unusual—for a cottage,” they call their summer abode a “cottagette,” which consists of one large and two small rooms, as well as a small bathroom.

The little cottagette sits neatly among other cottages and a large community center, which form a summer gathering place for musicians. Lois herself plays the piano beautifully, while Malda, who isn’t a musician, creates beautiful embroidery.

Among the inhabitants of this particular musical countryside is Malda and Lois’s friend, Mr. Ford Matthews. Malda explains: “He has friends at High Court—he likes music—he likes the place—and he likes us.” He often joins Malda and Lois on their front porch or on beautiful, long walks.

An inviting front porch is where Malda's heart is first won over by Mr. Matthews. Elena_Alex_Ferns/Shutterstock

Finally, after his many visits to the cottagette, Lois addresses Malda: “Malda ... let us face this thing and be rational. ... You are beginning to love Ford Matthews—do you know it?” Malda admits that she is and believes that it would be a good match.

Lois then begins advising Malda. She says that, if Malda wishes to win Mr. Matthews, she must work in the kitchen, for “what [men] want to marry is a homemaker.”

Lois explains that they can easily have a kitchen built in the cottagette, so that Malda can demonstrate her cooking abilities to Mr. Matthews. Lois claims that she has superior wisdom and experience, and eventually persuades Malda to agree to having a kitchen.

However, once the kitchen is built, Malda’s free time is whisked away. She gets so busy that she no longer has time for her embroidery or much time to spend with Mr. Matthews. From morning until night, Malda works in the kitchen. She plans out meals, arranges for the delivery of food, prepares the meals, and cleans the kitchen.

All the while, Mr. Matthews continues visiting the house, often joining the two ladies for Malda’s meals. Lois even tells Malda how much he appreciates the meals that she makes.

All in Good Time

Yet, one day, Mr. Matthews invites Malda to go for a hike with him. He has packed some sandwiches and tea for their expedition, so that she doesn’t have to cook.

They have a lovely hike and a delicious meal. And, after they finish eating, Mr. Matthews asks Malda to marry him, but on one condition.

Mr. Matthews decides he'll talk to Malda far away from her new kitchen. Margaret.Wiktor/Shutterstock

Through this charming story, Gilman demonstrated not only the beauty of art, but also that wisdom comes in time. Instead of trusting and letting time unfold, Malda implicitly follows Lois’s advice. She soon discovers that wisdom comes from experience, and she can only obtain this experience over time.

Just as Alexandre Dumas says in “The Count of Monte Cristo,” “All human wisdom is contained in these two words - Wait and Hope.” By waiting and hoping, Malda’s wisdom won’t be forced or artificial. Moreover, she'll gain a beautiful reward for her well-earned wisdom: love.

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