The Keeper of the Light
The Keeper of the Light is a short story by Charlotte Perkins Gilman, first published in 1890. The story follows a young woman named Jane who is sent to a secluded coastal town for her health. While there, she becomes obsessed with a mysterious light that she sees at night, and her obsession begins to consume her. What is your question or request regarding this book?
By Charlotte Perkins Gilman · First published 1890 · Genre: Fiction, Feminist Literature, Social Critique · 238 words
First lines
A lighthouse keeper with a loving heart / Toiled at his service in the lonely tower, / Keeping his giant lenses clear and bright, / And feeding with pure oil the precious light / Whose power to save was as his own heart's power.
He loved his kind, and being set alone / To help them by the means of this great light, / He poured his whole heart's service into it, / And sent his love down the long beams that lit / The waste of broken water in the night.
He loved his kind, and joyed to see the ships / Come out of nowhere into his bright field, / And glide by safely with their living men, / Past him and out into the dark again, / To other hands their freight of joy to yield.
Similar titles
- Resolve by Charlotte Perkins Gilman
- The Old Time Wail by Charlotte Perkins Gilman
- Seeking by Charlotte Perkins Gilman
- The Ship by Charlotte Perkins Gilman
- A Moonrise by Charlotte Perkins Gilman
- The Hills by Charlotte Perkins Gilman
Genres
- Fiction — Charlotte Perkins Gilman typically wrote fiction, and 'THE KEEPER OF THE LIGHT' would fall under this broad genre based on her writing style and themes.
- Feminist Literature — Gilman is known for her feminist viewpoints and themes, often integrating them into her works. 'THE KEEPER OF THE LIGHT' would likely contain elements of this genre.
- Social Critique — A common theme in Gilman’s work, 'THE KEEPER OF THE LIGHT' may also contain criticism of societal norms or injustices, placing it under this genre.
Tags
light · keeper · isolation · feminism · identity · self-discovery · nature · symbolism · mental health · society · gender roles · independence
What this Textopian page supports
The Keeper of the Light 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: Fiction, Feminist Literature, Social Critique
- Length: 238 words
- Structure: 1 section, 4 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Standard (8th-9th Grade)
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- Work identity for The Keeper of the Light by Charlotte Perkins Gilman
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