New Duty by Charlotte Perkins Gilman
NEW DUTY by Charlotte Perkins Gilman: A young woman, trapped in a room with no windows and only a door that leads to a small, dark space. She is given a task to perform, but the nature of the task is not revealed to her. The story explores themes of confinement, isolation, and the dehumanizing effects of patriarchal society on women.
By Charlotte Perkins Gilman · First published 1899 · Genre: Fiction, Feminist Literature, Sociological Literature · 159 words
First lines
Once to God we owed it all,- God alone; Bowing in eternal thrall, Giving, sacrificing all, Before the Throne.
Once we owed it to the King,- Served the crown; Life, and love, and everything, In allegiance to the King, Laying down.
Now we owe it to Mankind,- To our Race; Fullest fruit of soul and mind, Heart and hand and all behind, Now in place.
Loving-service, wide and free, From the sod Up in varying degree, Through me and you-through you and me- Up to God!
What this Textopian page supports
New Duty is listed on Textopian as a short story 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: Short story
- Author: Charlotte Perkins Gilman
- Date: 1899 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Fiction, Feminist Literature, Sociological Literature, Historical Fiction
- Length: 159 words
- Structure: 1 section, 4 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Fairly Easy (7th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for New Duty 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
- Passage-specific claims should cite the exact /read/ URL for the relevant chapter or paragraph
Discussion starters
- What should a reader notice first when entering New Duty?
- How does this short story by Charlotte Perkins Gilman fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Fiction first become important in the reading?
Similar titles
- Give Way by Charlotte Perkins Gilman
- Another Creed by Charlotte Perkins Gilman
- As Flew The Cross by Charlotte Perkins Gilman
- The Beds Of Fleur De Lys by Charlotte Perkins Gilman
- What Then by Charlotte Perkins Gilman
- Who Is To Blame by Charlotte Perkins Gilman
Genres
- Fiction — Charlotte Perkins Gilman typically writes in the fiction genre, with many of her works being novels or short stories.
- Feminist Literature — Known as a feminist author, Gilman often incorporates themes of gender equality and female empowerment into her writing.
- Sociological Literature — Gilman integrates societal analysis and commentary into her narratives, making sociological literature a relevant genre.
- Historical Fiction — Though it cannot be confirmed without more information on the book's specifics, considering Gilman's tendency to set her works around the late 19th and early 20th century, the genre of historical fiction could apply.
Tags
feminism · gender roles · society · women's rights · independence · identity · social change · domestic life · psychological drama · family dynamics · self-discovery · cultural critique