An Anarchist by Ambrose Bierce
"An Anarchist" is a short story by Ambrose Bierce, first published in 1890. The story follows the life of an anarchist named John who becomes disillusioned with society after witnessing the suffering of the working class. He abandons his middle-class lifestyle and joins a group of anarchists, determined to overthrow the government and create a new, equal society. However, as he becomes more deeply involved in the movement, John begins to question the validity of his beliefs and the true nature of his comrades. The story raises questions about the nature of revolution and the consequences of radical political action.
By Ambrose Bierce · First published 1903 · Genre: Political Fiction, Drama, Historical Fiction · 229 words
First lines
False to his art and to the high command God laid upon him, Markham's rebel hand Beats all in vain the harp he touched before: It yields a jingle and it yields no more.
No more the strings beneath his finger-tips Sing harmonies divine. No more his lips, Touched with a living coal from sacred fires, Lead the sweet chorus of the golden wires.
The voice is raucous and the phrases squeak; They labor, they complain, they sweat, they reek! The more the wayward, disobedient song Errs from the right to celebrate the wrong, More diligently still the singer strums, To drown the horrid sound, with all his thumbs.
What this Textopian page supports
An Anarchist is listed on Textopian as an essay by Ambrose Bierce, dated 1903 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Essay
- Author: Ambrose Bierce
- Date: 1903 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Political Fiction, Drama, Historical Fiction, Social Commentary, Satire
- Length: 229 words
- Structure: 1 section, 4 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Fairly Easy (7th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for An Anarchist by Ambrose Bierce
- Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
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Discussion starters
- What should a reader notice first when entering An Anarchist?
- How does this essay by Ambrose Bierce fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Political Fiction first become important in the reading?
Similar titles
- A Merciful Governor by Ambrose Bierce
- Lusus Politicus by Ambrose Bierce
- A Political Apostate by Ambrose Bierce
- Anarchists And The Situation by Errico Malatesta
- The Statesmen by Ambrose Bierce
- The City Of Political Distinction by Ambrose Bierce
Genres
- Political Fiction — The title of the book suggests a theme of anarchism, which typically falls under political fiction.
- Drama — Given the nature of the subject, the book likely involves dramatic character interactions and moral dilemmas.
- Historical Fiction — The theme of anarchism often leads to historical contexts or references, especially if the book involves historical events or characters.
- Social Commentary — Anarchism as a theme is often used as a tool for social commentary, analyzing or critiquing aspects of society.
Tags
political fiction · dystopian literature · social commentary · anti-establishment · revolutionary ideology · government corruption · resistance movement · protest literature · critique of society · alternative lifestyle · individualism · freedom vs. authority