The Mother's Charge

Name: The Mother's Charge
Author: Charlotte Perkins Gilman

THE MOTHER'S CHARGE: A short story by Charlotte Perkins Gilman, published in 1890. The narrator, a woman, is advised by her husband to rest and recover in a dark, quiet room after giving birth to their child. However, the room is actually a prison-like environment, and the husband's intentions are revealed to be sinister and controlling. The story explores themes of patriarchy, oppression, and the societal expectations placed on women during the late 19th century.

By Charlotte Perkins Gilman · First published 1890 · Genre: Feminist Literature, Social Commentary, Psychological Fiction · 369 words

First lines

She raised her head. With hot and glittering eye, "I know," she said, "that I am going to die. Come here, my daughter, while my mind is clear. Let me make plain to you your duty here; My duty once-I never failed to try- But for some reason I am going to die. " She raised her head, and, while her eyes rolled wild, Poured these instructions on the gasping child:

What this Textopian page supports

The Mother's Charge 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: Feminist Literature, Social Commentary, Psychological Fiction, Realism
Length: 369 words
Structure: 1 section, 3 paragraphs
Reading fit: Standard (8th-9th Grade)

Good citation fit

Work identity for The Mother's Charge 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 The Mother's Charge?
How does this short story by Charlotte Perkins Gilman fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
Where does Feminist Literature first become important in the reading?

Similar titles

Genres

Feminist Literature — Charlotte Perkins Gilman is a renowned feminist author whose works often center around the roles, struggles, and viewpoints of women in the society. This book is likely view events from a feminine perspective, promoting gender equality, and highlighting the issues faced by women - specifically mothers - in their everyday life.
Social Commentary — Considering Gilman's writing style and common themes, it can be inferred that the book would examine societal norms, values, and defects, particularly those adversely affecting women.
Psychological Fiction — Gilman is known to delve into the psychological state of her characters and provides an in-depth analysis of their thoughts, emotions, and reactions, which is characteristic to the psychological fiction genre.
Realism — The author often portrays situations realistically based on the societal conditions of her time, making it likely for this book to contain elements of realism.