The Wolf at the Door by Charlotte Perkins Gilman
The Wolf at the Door is a short story by Charlotte Perkins Gilman, first published in 1893. The story follows a woman who is confined to her home with a mysterious illness and becomes increasingly paranoid and isolated. She believes that a wolf is lurking outside her door, waiting to pounce on her. As the story progresses, the woman's grip on reality begins to slip, and she becomes trapped in a cycle of delusion and fear. The story is a powerful critique of societal expectations placed on women during the late 19th century, as well as the ways in which gender roles and social norms can lead to mental and emotional isolation.
By Charlotte Perkins Gilman · First published 1892 · Genre: Mystery, Thriller, Feminist Literature · 469 words
First lines
There's a haunting horror near us / That nothing drives away: / Fierce lamping eyes at nightfall, / A crouching shade by day; / There's a whining at the threshold, / There's a scratching at the floor. / To work! To work! In Heaven's name! / The wolf is at the door!
The day was long, the night was short, / The bed was hard and cold; / Still weary are the little ones, / Still weary are the old. / We are weary in our cradles / From our mother's toil untold; / We are born to hoarded weariness / As some to hoarded gold.
What this Textopian page supports
The Wolf at the Door 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: Mystery, Thriller, Feminist Literature, Crime Fiction
- Length: 469 words
- Structure: 1 section, 6 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Easy (6th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for The Wolf at the Door 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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Similar titles
- The Dead Level by Charlotte Perkins Gilman
- Little Cell by Charlotte Perkins Gilman
- For Fear The Forerunner by Charlotte Perkins Gilman
- The Hills by Charlotte Perkins Gilman
- Whats That by Charlotte Perkins Gilman
- Hardly A Pleasure by Charlotte Perkins Gilman
Genres
- Mystery — The book is primarily a mystery, revolving around the suspense of who the 'wolf at the door' might be and what its presence means.
- Thriller — The book's suspenseful plot and ominous title suggest elements of a thriller
- Feminist Literature — Charlotte Perkins Gilman is known for her feminist views which are present in this book as well.
- Crime Fiction — The book includes elements of crime, as the characters try to discover the identity of the 'wolf'.
Tags
feminism · psychological · gothic · short story · isolation · mental health · gender roles · societal expectations · domestic life · anxiety · symbolism · narrative