The Standard Household-Effect Company (from Literature and Life) by Howells

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Author Howells, William Dean, 1837-1920
Title The Standard Household-Effect Company (from Literature and Life)
Note Reading ease score: 66.0 (8th & 9th grade). Neither easy nor difficult to read.
Credits Produced by David Widger
Summary "The Standard Household-Effect Company (from Literature and Life)" by William Dean Howells is a satirical and philosophical commentary on housekeeping and domestic life, likely written in the late 19th century. This book explores the complexities and burdens of modern housekeeping, juxtaposing it with the simpler lives of the past. Through conversations between characters, it critiques the obsession with material possessions and the emotional weight of domestic responsibilities. In the narrative, a protagonist discusses with a friend the dire state of housekeeping in contemporary homes compared to the past. They lament the overwhelming anxiety and labor imposed by an abundance of household items, leading to a proposed radical solution: the creation of a "Standard Household-Effect Company," which would take on the responsibility of owning and maintaining all household items. This would free women from the incessant pressures of domesticity and the societal expectations tied to it. The conversation reveals a tension between the longing for comfort and individuality in one's living space and the oppressive nature of ownership and maintenance of household goods, culminating in an exploration of identity and societal roles. Ultimately, the friend's absurd idea reflects a deeper critique of materialism and the relentless cycle of consumerism that burdens modern life. (This is an automatically generated summary.)
Language English
LoC Class PS: Language and Literatures: American and Canadian literature
Subject Fiction
Subject Short stories
Category Text
EBook-No. 3381
Release Date
Most Recently Updated Jan 8, 2021
Copyright Status Public domain in the USA.
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