A Demand by Ambrose Bierce (1890)
The book "A DEMAND" by Ambrose Bierce is a short story that explores the themes of power, control, and the consequences of making demands. The protagonist, a man named Smith, is faced with a difficult decision when he discovers that his neighbor has been making unreasonable demands of him for years. Despite feeling resentful and oppressed, Smith is unable to stand up for himself and instead caves in to his neighbor's demands. The story highlights the dangers of allowing oneself to be controlled by others and the importance of standing up for one's own rights and dignity.
By Ambrose Bierce · First published 1890 · Genre: Short Stories, Literary Fiction, Drama · 526 words
First lines
You promised to paint me a picture, Dear Mat, And I was to pay you in rhyme.
Although I am loth to inflict your Most easy of consciences, I'm Of opinion that fibbing is awful, And breaking a contract unlawful, Indictable, too, as a crime, A slight and all that.
What this Textopian page supports
A Demand is listed on Textopian as a short story by Ambrose Bierce, dated 1890 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Short story
- Author: Ambrose Bierce
- Date: 1890 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Short Stories, Literary Fiction, Drama, Classic
- Length: 526 words
- Structure: 1 section, 8 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Fairly Easy (7th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for A Demand by Ambrose Bierce
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- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
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Discussion starters
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Similar titles
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- The Victor And The Victim by Ambrose Bierce
- The House by Arthur Willis Colton
- To Her by Ambrose Bierce
- Ad Moodium by Ambrose Bierce
- To One Detested by Ambrose Bierce
Genres
- Short Stories — The title 'A Demand' is one of the short stories written by Ambrose Bierce, who is famously known for his contribution to this genre.
- Literary Fiction — Bierce's works, including 'A Demand', often feature deep explorations of character and society, a hallmark of the literary fiction genre.
- Drama — Given that 'A Demand' unfolds in dramatic sequences with intense character interactions, it fits the drama genre.
- Classic — Given that Ambrose Bierce's works, including 'A Demand', are often studied for their literary merit, 'A Demand' fits into the classic genre.
Tags
horror · thriller · gothic · supernatural · mystery · suspense · psychological · dark · twisty · unsettling · chilling · haunting