The Giant Wistaria by Charlotte Perkins Gilman
Author: Charlotte Perkins Gilman | Published: 1891
The Giant Wistaria Synopsis
Charlotte Perkins Gilman's short story "The Giant Wistaria," published in 1891, weaves a captivating tale of mystery, ghosts, and hidden secrets. Through "The Giant Wistaria," Gilman explores the intersection of the supernatural and the mundane, demonstrating how human curiosity and imagination can transform the ordinary into the extraordinary. The story showcases Gilman's skill in building suspense, drawing readers into a realm where the boundaries between reality and imagination blur, inviting them to contemplate the haunting beauty of forgotten tales and the profound connections between people and their surroundings.
Excerpt from The Giant Wistaria Online Book
"Meddle not with my new vine, child! See! Thou hast already broken the tender shoot! Never needle or distaff for thee, and yet thou wilt not be quiet!"
The nervous fingers wavered, clutched at a small carnelian cross that hung from her neck, then fell despairingly.
"Give me my child, mother, and then I will be quiet!"
"Hush! hush! thou fool-some one might be near! See-there is thy father coming, even now! Get in quickly!"
About Charlotte Perkins Gilman
Charlotte Perkins Gilman was a prominent American author, poet, and lecturer in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. She is renowned for her progressive views on gender roles and her ability to capture the dynamics of power within relationships. Her most famous works include “The Yellow Wallpaper” short story and Women and Economics treatise. She wrote extensively about feminism, advocating for greater economic independence for women through education, paid employment outside the home, birth control access, and an end to sexual double standards.
Gilman is considered one of the leading figures in early American feminism as well as a key contributor to utopian literature. Her work challenged dominant ideas about gender roles that existed at the time but still have relevance today. Through her writing she sought to create an ideal world free from restrictive social norms imposed by religion or tradition that restricted women's lives. Find out more about Charlotte Perkins Gilman at sevenov.com.