02348cam a22003133u 4500 3381 UtSlPG 20260610133111.0 m cr n 260607r2004||||utu|||||o|||||||||||||| d UtSlPG en iso639-1 PS Howells, William Dean, 1837-1920 The Standard Household-Effect Company (from Literature and Life) Salt Lake City, UT : Project Gutenberg, 2004 1 online resource : multiple file formats text txt rdacontent computer c rdamedia online resource cr rdacarrier Release date is 2004-10-22 Produced by David Widger "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.) Original publication data not identified Fiction Short stories https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/3381 45452 45452