On a Proposed Crematory by Ambrose Bierce
The story follows a man who has been invited to a cremation ceremony for an unknown person. As he arrives at the location, he finds himself surrounded by a group of people who are all dressed in black and seem to be mourning the loss of someone dear. The man is confused and asks one of the mourners who the deceased person is, but the mourner simply shakes their head and tells him that they don't know either. As the ceremony begins, the man notices that there are no flowers, no candles, and no other symbols of mourning present. Instead, there is a large stone slab with a small inscription on it that reads "On a Proposed Crematory." The man becomes even more confused and asks one of the mourners why there are no signs of mourning or grief, but the mourner simply shakes their head and tells him that they don't know. As the ceremony continues, the man begins to notice strange things happening around him. The air seems to grow colder, and he can hear distant sounds of weeping and wailing. He becomes increasingly uncomfortable and decides to leave, but as he turns to go, he sees a figure standing in the shadows. It is the unknown person who was supposed to be cremated, and they are alive and well. The man is shocked and asks the figure how this is possible, but the figure simply smiles and tells him that it is a mystery. The story ends with the man feeling confused and unsure of what has happened. He is left with more questions than answers, and he is unable to make sense of the strange events that have unfolded.
By Ambrose Bierce · First published 1878 · Genre: Satire, Short Story, Cultural Criticism · 487 words
First lines
When a fair bridge is builded o'er the gulf / Between two cities, some ambitious fool, / Hot for distinction, pleads for earliest leave / To push his clumsy feet upon the span, / That men in after years may single him, / Saying: "Behold the fool who first went o'er!" / So be it when, as now the promise is, / Next summer sees the edifice complete / Which some do name a crematorium, / Within the vantage of whose greater maw's / Quicker digestion we shall cheat the worm / And circumvent the handed mole who loves, / With tunnel, adit, drift and roomy stope, / To mine our mortal parts in all their dips / And spurs and angles. Let the fool stand forth / To link his name with this fair enterprise, / As first decarcassed by the flame.
What this Textopian page supports
On a Proposed Crematory is listed on Textopian as an essay by Ambrose Bierce, dated 1878 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: 1878 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Satire, Short Story, Cultural Criticism, Dark Humor
- Length: 487 words
- Structure: 1 section, 4 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Difficult (College Level)
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- Work identity for On a Proposed Crematory by Ambrose Bierce
- Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
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Genres
- Satire — This is a satirical piece by Ambrose Bierce, a writer known for his biting wit and critical view of human nature.
- Short Story — ON A PROPOSED CREMATORY is a short story, a form that Bierce frequently opted for in his writing.
- Cultural Criticism — In this story, Bierce critiques societal norms of his time, suggesting a cultural criticism genre.
- Dark Humor — The piece reflects Bierce's signature style of dark humor, making it a suitable genre.
Tags
horror · gothic · fiction · short story · supernatural · death · grief · mourning · funeral · cremation · graveyard · cemetery