REASSURANCE (Charlotte Perkins Gilman)
REASSURANCE by Charlotte Perkins Gilman: A woman, confined to a room by her husband, is treated with various remedies and prescriptions in an attempt to cure her of what he believes is a nervous disorder. However, the woman begins to question the nature of her confinement and the motivations of her husband, leading her to suspect that she may be suffering from a more sinister fate.
By Charlotte Perkins Gilman · First published 1890 · Genre: Feminist Literature, Literary Fiction, Short Story · 298 words
First lines
Can you imagine nothing better, brother, Than that which you have always had before? Have you been so content with "wife and mother," You dare hope nothing more?
Have you forever prized her, praised her, sung her, The happy queen of a most happy reign? Never dishonored her, despised her, flung her Derision and disdain?
Go ask the literature of all the ages! Books that were written before women read! Pagan and Christian, satirists and sages -- Read what the world has said.
There was no power on earth to bid you slacken The generous hand that painted her disgrace! There was no shame on earth too black to blacken That much-praised woman-face.
What this Textopian page supports
REASSURANCE (Charlotte Perkins Gilman) is listed on Textopian as a poem 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: Poem
- Author: Charlotte Perkins Gilman
- Date: 1890 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Feminist Literature, Literary Fiction, Short Story, Social Commentary
- Length: 298 words
- Structure: 1 section, 7 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Fairly Easy (7th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for REASSURANCE (Charlotte Perkins Gilman) 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
- What should a reader notice first when entering REASSURANCE (Charlotte Perkins Gilman)?
- How does this poem by Charlotte Perkins Gilman fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Feminist Literature first become important in the reading?
Similar titles
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Genres
- Feminist Literature — The author is known for her work in feminist literature and her advocacy for gender equality.
- Literary Fiction — Gilman's strong focus on characterization and exploration of societal themes generally class her work as literary fiction.
- Short Story — Gilman was a prominent writer of short stories, and Reassurance is in this format.
- Social Commentary — The author often used her writing to analyze and critique societal norms and injustice, qualifying it as social commentary.
Tags
feminism · mental health · gender roles · society · isolation · identity · self-discovery · patriarchy · women's rights · psychological fiction · social commentary · narrative style