An Officer and a Thug by Ambrose Bierce
"An Officer and a Thug" is a short story written by Ambrose Bierce, first published in 1879. The story follows the journey of an unnamed protagonist who finds himself in a predicament after he accidentally kills a man in a duel. As he tries to flee the scene, he encounters a group of thugs who are hired by the victim's friends and family to exact revenge. The protagonist is forced to confront his own morality and the harsh realities of society as he navigates this dangerous situation. Throughout the story, Bierce explores themes of justice, morality, and the corrupting influence of power.
By Ambrose Bierce · First published 1899 · Genre: Satire, Humor, Political Commentary · 166 words
First lines
A Chief of Police who had seen an Officer beating a Thug was very indignant, and said he must not do so any more on pain of dismissal.
"Don't be too hard on me," said the Officer, smiling; "I was beating him with a stuffed club."
"Nevertheless," persisted the Chief of Police, "it was a liberty that must have been very disagreeable, though it may not have hurt. Please do not repeat it."
"But," said the Officer, still smiling, "it was a stuffed Thug."
What this Textopian page supports
An Officer and a Thug is listed on Textopian as a fable by Ambrose Bierce, dated 1899 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Fable
- Author: Ambrose Bierce
- Date: 1899 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Satire, Humor, Political Commentary, Short Fiction, Absurdism
- Length: 166 words
- Structure: 1 section, 5 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Fairly Easy (7th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for An Officer and a Thug by Ambrose Bierce
- Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
- Readability and classroom-planning context
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Similar titles
- The Treasury And The Arms by Ambrose Bierce
- A Political Violet by Ambrose Bierce
- The Politicians by Ambrose Bierce
- Titus Andronicus by William Shakespeare
- To London Town by Arthur Morrison
- The Prerogative Of Might by Ambrose Bierce
Genres
- Satire — The work critiques authority and societal norms through humor and absurdity.
- Humor — The dialogue and situations are designed to elicit laughter through irony and wordplay.
- Political Commentary — It reflects on the nature of law enforcement and the absurdities within the justice system.
- Short Fiction — The narrative is concise and presents a complete story in a brief format.
Tags
war · violence · conflict · soldiers · military · politics · power · corruption · greed · betrayal · revolution · social justice