The American Sycophant
The American Sycophant by Ambrose Bierce is a short story that explores the themes of ambition, power, and the corrupting influence of wealth. The protagonist, a young man named Edwin, becomes embroiled in a political scandal after he is discovered to be secretly working for a rival candidate. As he becomes more and more entrenched in the political arena, Edwin finds himself compromising his own values and principles in order to maintain his position of power. The story is a commentary on the corrupting influence of wealth and power, as well as the ease with which individuals can become consumed by their own ambition. Through Edwin's journey, Bierce highlights the dangers of unchecked ambition and the importance of staying true to one's values in the face of temptation and pressure from those in positions of power. Overall, The American Sycophant is a thought-provoking and timely tale that continues to resonate with readers today.
By Ambrose Bierce · First published 1879 · Genre: Historical Fiction, Political Fiction, Satire · 3,879 words
First lines
AN AMERICAN newspaper holds this opinion: "If republican government had done nothing else than give independence to American character and preserve it from the servility inseparable from the allegiance to kings, it would have accomplished a great work."
What this Textopian page supports
The American Sycophant is listed on Textopian as an essay 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: Essay
- Author: Ambrose Bierce
- Date: 1879 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Historical Fiction, Political Fiction, Satire, Drama
- Length: 3,879 words
- Structure: 1 section, 25 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Fairly Difficult (10th-12th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for The American Sycophant by Ambrose Bierce
- Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
- Readability and classroom-planning context
- Passage-specific claims should cite the exact /read/ URL for the relevant chapter or paragraph
Discussion starters
- What should a reader notice first when entering The American Sycophant?
- How does this essay by Ambrose Bierce fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Historical Fiction first become important in the reading?
Similar titles
- The Party Manager And The Gentleman by Ambrose Bierce
- The Politicians And The Plunder by Ambrose Bierce
- A Reply To A Letter by Ambrose Bierce
- The Optimist And The Cynic by Ambrose Bierce
- The Committee On Public Morals by Ambrose Bierce
- The Self Made Monkey by Ambrose Bierce
Genres
- Historical Fiction — Ambrose Bierce's 'The American Sycophant' deals primarily with historical events, imbuing them with handled fictional elements. Historical Fiction therefore forms the most relevant genre.
- Political Fiction — The book uses fictional characters and events to make commentary on political scenarios and entities. It therefore falls into the realm of Political Fiction.
- Satire — Ambrose Bierce's acerbic and scathing critique of the American political and social landscapes positions 'The American Sycophant' firmly within the genre of Satire.
- Drama — Despite its prevalent sardonic tone, the book has dramatic moments that revolve around its characters and their interactions, making Drama one of its genres.
Tags
satire · political satire · social commentary · critique of society · irony · humor · dark comedy · cynicism · skepticism · realism · American literature · 19th century literature