The Cup by Charlotte Perkins Gilman
The Yellow Wallpaper, by Charlotte Perkins Gilman: A short story about a woman who is confined to a room by her husband, who believes it will help her recover from what he calls a nervous disorder. The room is covered in yellow wallpaper, which the narrator becomes increasingly obsessed with as she spends more time in the room. The story explores themes of gender roles, oppression, and the effects of isolation on mental health.
By Charlotte Perkins Gilman · First published 1892 · Genre: Short Stories, Feminist Literature, Social Commentary · 176 words
First lines
And yet, saith he, ye need but sip; And who would die without a taste? Just touch the goblet to the lip, Then let the bright draught run to waste!
She set her lip to the beaker's brim- 'Twas passing sweet! 'Twas passing mild! She let her large eyes dwell on him, And sipped again, and smiled.
So sweet! So mild! She scarce can tell If she doth really drink or no; Till the light doth fade and the shadows swell, And the goblet lieth low.
O cup of dreams! O cup of doubt! O cup of blinding joy and pain! The taste that none would die without! The draught that all the world must drain!
What this Textopian page supports
The Cup is listed on Textopian as a short story by Charlotte Perkins Gilman, dated 1892 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: 1892 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Short Stories, Feminist Literature, Social Commentary, Psychological Fiction, Drama
- Length: 176 words
- Structure: 1 section, 4 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Very Easy (5th Grade or below)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for The Cup 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 The Cup?
- How does this short story by Charlotte Perkins Gilman fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Short Stories first become important in the reading?
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Genres
- Short Stories — Charlotte Perkins Gilman is well known for her short stories, 'THE CUP' being one of them. The condensed and focused narrative structure corresponds to the short story genre.
- Feminist Literature — Gilman is historically considered as a pioneering feminist writer. Known for themes around gender inequality and societal expectations of women in her writings like 'THE CUP'.
- Social Commentary — Much like her other works, 'THE CUP' also reflects on issues of her time like social roles and norms, effectively contributing to the genre of social commentary.
- Psychological Fiction — Gilman's writings including 'THE CUP' often engage deeply with her characters' psychological states and realities, lending them to the genre of psychological fiction.
Tags
feminism · gender roles · society · identity · self-discovery · oppression · domestic life · psychological · symbolism · social commentary · women's rights · personal struggle