An Economist
AN ECONOMIST BY CHARLOTTE PERKINS GILMAN: The narrator of the story is an economist who has been hired to evaluate the economic potential of a woman who is experiencing what appears to be a nervous breakdown. Despite the woman's protests that she is not ill, the economist remains skeptical and continues to analyze her behavior in terms of its financial implications. The story is a scathing critique of the way society views and values women's work and experiences, and it highlights the ways in which women are often marginalized and disregarded in economic discussions.
By Charlotte Perkins Gilman · First published 1890 · Genre: Economics, Feminist Literature, Non-fiction · 341 words
First lines
The serene savage sitting in his tree Saw empires rise and fall, And moralized on their uncertainty. (He never rose at all! )
He was full fat from god-sent droves of prey; He was full calm from satisfied desire; He was full wise in that he chose to stay Free from ambition's fire.
What this Textopian page supports
An Economist is listed on Textopian as a short story by Charlotte Perkins Gilman, dated 1890 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Short story
- Author: Charlotte Perkins Gilman
- Date: 1890 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Economics, Feminist Literature, Non-fiction, Social Science
- Length: 341 words
- Structure: 1 section, 8 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Easy (6th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for An Economist by Charlotte Perkins Gilman
- Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
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Discussion starters
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Genres
- Economics — The title denotes that it's related to economics which is primarily the profession of the protagonist.
- Feminist Literature — Charlotte Perkins Gilman is a known feminist writer and the book reflects feminist ideas about economic independence for women.
- Non-fiction — Although the individual story of the economist could be fictional, the insights, ideas and themes around economics and social issues are non-fictional.
- Social Science — The book also involves discussions on social issues and observation of societal norms, lending it characteristics of social science literature.
Tags
economics · feminism · gender roles · social critique · capitalism · women's rights · societal norms · economic theory · labor · class struggle · patriarchy · independence