Wanted. a Home by Helen Hunt Jackson
The novel tells the story of Zephaniah Pickett, an African American man who returns to his family's former home after being away for many years. He finds that it has been taken over by a white family and must navigate the complexities of racial tension and identity in order to reclaim his heritage.
By Helen Hunt Jackson · First published 1871 · Genre: Social Commentary, Essay, Domestic Fiction · 2,112 words
First lines
Nothing can be meaner than that "Misery should love company. " But the proverb is founded on an original principle in human nature, which it is no use to deny and hard work to conquer. I have been uneasily conscious of this sneaking sin in my own soul, as I have read article after article in the English newspapers and magazines on the "decadence of the home spirit in English family life, as seen in the large towns and the metropolis. " It seems that the English are as badly off as we. There, also, men are wide-awake and gay at clubs and races, and sleepy and morose in their own houses; "sons lead lives independent of their fathers and apart from their sisters and mothers; " "girls run about as they please, without care or guidance. " This state of things is "a spreading social evil," and men are at their wit's end to know what is to be done about it.
What this Textopian page supports
Wanted. a Home is listed on Textopian as a short story by Helen Hunt Jackson, dated 1871 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Short story
- Author: Helen Hunt Jackson
- Date: 1871 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Social Commentary, Essay, Domestic Fiction, Feminist Literature, Philosophical Literature
- Length: 2,112 words
- Structure: 1 section, 18 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Standard (8th-9th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for Wanted. a Home by Helen Hunt Jackson
- 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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Genres
- Social Commentary — The text critiques societal norms and the decline of family life, focusing on the roles and responsibilities within the home.
- Essay — The work is structured as a reflective and argumentative essay, discussing the importance of home and the role of women in creating it.
- Domestic Fiction — The narrative centers on domestic life and the dynamics within a household, emphasizing the creation of a nurturing environment.
- Feminist Literature — The text advocates for women's roles and rights, particularly in the context of home-making and societal contributions.
Tags
American Literature · Feminist Fiction · Social Commentary · Poverty · Homelessness · Native American Issues · Colonialism · Exploitation · Societal Critique · Realistic Fiction · Late 19th Century · Domestic Drama
More by Helen Hunt Jackson
- Mammy Tittleback and Her Family: A True Story of Seventeen Cats (1886)
- Ramona (1884)
- Hetty's Strange History (1867)
- A Calendar of Sonnets (1882)
- Mercy Philbrick's Choice (1889)
- Between Whiles (1887)
- Draxy Miller's Dowry (1881)
- The Elder's Wife. Sequel to "Draxy Miller's Dowry. " (1882)
- All works by Helen Hunt Jackson