The Desperate Object
The Desperate Object by Ambrose Bierce is a short story that explores the themes of desperation and the human condition. The narrator, a man who has lost his job and his home, is driven to madness by his inability to find work and provide for himself. He becomes obsessed with finding a mysterious object that he believes will solve all of his problems, but ultimately discovers that it is nothing more than a hollow shell. The story is a powerful commentary on the struggles of everyday life and the search for meaning and purpose in a seemingly meaningless world.
By Ambrose Bierce · First published 1896 · Genre: Fiction, Mystery, Thriller · 145 words
First lines
A Dishonest Gain was driving in its luxurious carriage through its private park, when it saw something which frantically and repeatedly ran against a stone wall, endeavouring to butt out its brains.
"Hold. Hold! thou desperate Object," cried the Dishonest Gain; "these beautiful private grounds are no place for such work as thine."
"True," said the Object, pausing; "I have other and better grounds for it."
"Then thou art a happy man," said the Dishonest Gain, "and thy bleeding head is but mere dissembling. Who art thou, great actor?"
What this Textopian page supports
The Desperate Object is listed on Textopian as a fable by Ambrose Bierce, dated 1896 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: 1896 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Fiction, Mystery, Thriller, Horror, Historical Fiction
- Length: 145 words
- Structure: 1 section, 5 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Fairly Easy (7th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for The Desperate Object 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 Desperate Object?
- How does this fable by Ambrose Bierce fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Fiction first become important in the reading?
Similar titles
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- A Hasty Settlement by Ambrose Bierce
- A Revivalist Revived by Ambrose Bierce
- The Night Of Election by Ambrose Bierce
- A Guest by Ambrose Bierce
- An Example by Ambrose Bierce
Genres
- Fiction — Given that Ambrose Bierce is a known fiction author, it is most probable that 'The Desperate Object' falls under the fiction genre.
- Mystery — The title suggests a mysterious premise revolving around a 'desperate object', potentially implying a mystery genre.
- Thriller — The title's indication of desperation might point towards thrilling or suspenseful elements within the book.
- Horror — Ambrose Bierce is known for writing horror stories, so this could potentially be a genre for 'The Desperate Object'.
Tags
horror · gothic · supernatural · mystery · thriller · fiction · short story · literary fiction · classic · american literature · 19th century literature · psychological horror