How Many Poor!
HOW MANY POOR! BY CHARLOTTE PERKINS GILMAN: The short story "How Many Poor!" by Charlotte Perkins Gilman explores the themes of poverty, inequality, and the societal expectations placed on women during the late 19th century. The narrator, who is unnamed, is a poor woman living in a small apartment with her daughter. Despite their poverty, the narrator is expected to maintain a certain level of domesticity and cleanliness, as well as to provide for her child. However, the narrator's husband has abandoned them, leaving her to struggle financially and emotionally on her own. The story highlights the oppressive nature of societal expectations placed on women during this time period and the ways in which poverty can exacerbate these issues.
By Charlotte Perkins Gilman · First published 1899 · Genre: Social Commentary, Political Literature, Non-fiction · 496 words
First lines
"Whene'er I take my walks abroad, how many poor I see! " Said pious Watts, and thanked the Lord that not so poor was he. I see so many poor to-day I think I'll walk no more, And then the poor in long array come knocking at my door. The hungry poor! The dirty poor! The poor of evil smell! Yet even these we could endure if they were only well! But, O, this sick and crippled crew! The lame, the deaf, the blind! What can a Christian person do with these upon his mind! They keep diseases growing still like plants on greenhouse shelves, And they're so generous they will not keep them to themselves; They propagate amazing crimes and vices scandalous, And then at most uncertain times they wreak the same on us! With charity we would prevent this poverty and woe, But find the more we've fondly spent, the more the poor do grow! We've tried by punishment full sore to mend the case they're in; The more we punish them the more they sin, and sin, and sin! We make the punishment more kind, we give them wise reform, And they, with a contented mind, flock to our prisons warm! Then science comes with solemn air, and shows us social laws, Explaining how the poor are there from a purely natural cause. 'Tis natural for low and high to struggle and to strive; 'Tis natural for the worse to die and the better to survive. We swallowed all this soothing stuff, and easily were led To think if we were stern enough, the poor would soon be dead. But, O! in vain we squeeze, and grind, and drive them to the wall- For all our deadly work we find it does not kill them all! The more we struggle they survive! increase and multiply! There seem to be more poor alive, in spite of all that die! Whene'er I take my walks abroad how many poor I see, And eke at home! How long, O Lord! How long must this thing be!
What this Textopian page supports
How Many Poor! is listed on Textopian as an essay by Charlotte Perkins Gilman, dated 1899 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Essay
- Author: Charlotte Perkins Gilman
- Date: 1899 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Social Commentary, Political Literature, Non-fiction
- Length: 496 words
- Structure: 1 section, 1 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Very Easy (5th Grade or below)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for How Many Poor! by Charlotte Perkins Gilman
- Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
- Readability and classroom-planning context
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Discussion starters
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Genres
- Social Commentary — The book deals with the issue of poverty and the socioeconomic system, thus reflecting the genre of social commentary.
- Political Literature — The book challenges the existing political and economic structure, aligning with the genre of political literature.
- Non-fiction — The author presents studies and investigations about the status of poor people, which aligns with the non-fiction genre.
Tags
poverty · social issues · inequality · feminism · economic disparity · class struggle · women's rights · social justice · historical context · American literature · critique of society · gender roles