Contentment by Ambrose Bierce (1879)
"CONTENTMENT" is a short story written by Ambrose Bierce in 1891. The story follows a man named Asa Trenchard, who has achieved great success and wealth through his business ventures. However, despite his outward appearance of happiness and fulfillment, Asa feels unfulfilled and empty inside. He begins to question the meaning of life and the pursuit of wealth, ultimately coming to the realization that true contentment can only be found in the simple pleasures of life. Through Asa's journey, Bierce explores themes of materialism, happiness, and the search for meaning in life.
By Ambrose Bierce · First published 1879 · Genre: Satire, Short Stories, Philosophical · 869 words
First lines
Sleep fell upon my senses and I dreamed Long years had circled since my life had fled.
The world was different, and all things seemed Remote and strange, like noises to the dead.
What this Textopian page supports
Contentment is listed on Textopian as a short story by Ambrose Bierce, dated 1879 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: 1879 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Satire, Short Stories, Philosophical, Fiction
- Length: 869 words
- Structure: 1 section, 21 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Fairly Easy (7th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for Contentment by Ambrose Bierce
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- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
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Discussion starters
- What should a reader notice first when entering Contentment?
- How does this short story by Ambrose Bierce fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Satire first become important in the reading?
Similar titles
- An Antidote by Ambrose Bierce
- Yorick by Ambrose Bierce
- A Forfeited Right by Ambrose Bierce
- Disavowal by Ambrose Bierce
- A Controversialist by Ambrose Bierce
- A Needless Labour by Ambrose Bierce
Genres
- Satire — Known for his sardonic wit and criticism of 19th-century society, Bierce often uses satire to shed light on the ironies of life.
- Short Stories — Bierce's structure in 'Contentment' is indicative of his masterful short story craft, offering a fully condensed yet detailed plot into a brief narrative.
- Philosophical — The book engages readers with deeper ideological and existential questions about contentment, arguably making it philosophical in scope.
- Fiction — 'Contentment' is a work of fiction as it does not connect directly with real events or individuals.
Tags
horror · gothic · supernatural · mystery · thriller · fiction · literary · classic · american · 19th century · short stories · dark humor