At the Prison Gate by Edith Nesbit
The story revolves around a woman sitting alone by a foreign prison gate, overwhelmed with immense pain and anguish. Her despair is palpable, and it seems as though she has lost all hope. The narrator reflects on the woman's situation, imagining the weight of her sorrow and the ghosts of past delights that haunt her. The narrator acknowledges the universality of heartache, feeling the collective pain of humanity. However, a sense of solace emerges with the realization that a higher power has borne the burden of the world's suffering, including the woman's, and that this sacrifice brings redemption.
By Edith Nesbit · First published 1900 · Genre: Historical Fiction, Drama, Social Critique · 248 words
First lines
_And underneath us are the everlasting arms._
Once by a foreign prison gate, Deep in the gloom of frowning stone, I saw a woman, desolate, Sitting alone; Immeasurable pain enwound Infinite anguish lapped her round, As the sea laps some sunken shore Where flowers will blossom never more.
Despair sat shrined in her dry eyes -- Her heart, I thought, in blood must weep For hopes that never more can rise From their death-sleep; And round her hovered phantoms gray -- Ghosts of delight dead many a day; And all the thorns of life seemed wed In one sharp crown about her head.
And all the poor world's aching heart Beat there, I thought, and could not break.
What this Textopian page supports
At the Prison Gate is listed on Textopian as a short story by Edith Nesbit, dated 1900 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Short story
- Author: Edith Nesbit
- Date: 1900 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Historical Fiction, Drama, Social Critique
- Length: 248 words
- Structure: 1 section, 5 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Fairly Easy (7th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for At the Prison Gate by Edith Nesbit
- 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 At the Prison Gate?
- How does this short story by Edith Nesbit fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Historical Fiction first become important in the reading?
Similar titles
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- The Sick Journalist by Edith Nesbit
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- The Burning Spear by John Galsworthy
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Genres
- Historical Fiction — The narrative is set in a specific historical period and includes real events of the time.
- Drama — The narrative focuses on emotional experiences and conflicts of the characters.
- Social Critique — The narrative critiques societal norms and institutions, particularly the prison system.
Tags
Prison Reform · Social Justice · Victorian Era · British Literature · Fiction · Novel · Rehabilitation · Crime and Punishment · Sociology · Psychology · Incarceration · Penology