Benigna Machiavelli

"Benigna Machiavelli" is a charming fictional autobiography written by renowned feminist Charlotte Perkins Gilman. Published in her magazine, The Forerunner, between her famous works "The Yellow Wallpaper" and "Herland," the story follows the life of young Benigna MacAvelly. Inspired by her ancestor Niccolò Machiavelli, Benigna uses her cunning and intelligence for good rather than evil. From a young age, she devises ingenious schemes to help others, such as organizing a money-raising endeavor to buy a watch for a teacher in need. As she grows older, she faces her biggest challenge in her tyrannical father, whom she aims to free her mother from. Benigna crafts an elaborate plan to confront her father and restore her mother's confidence. This delightful tale showcases Gilman's feminist ideals and highlights the power of strategic thinking for positive change.