The Foolish Woman by Ambrose Bierce
The Foolish Woman by Ambrose Bierce is a short story that explores the themes of foolishness and regret. The protagonist, a woman named Mrs. Sands, is described as a "foolish" person who makes poor decisions throughout the story. Despite her husband's warnings and advice, she insists on pursuing a risky business venture that ultimately leads to financial ruin. As the story progresses, Mrs. Sands becomes increasingly regretful of her actions, realizing too late the consequences of her foolishness. The story ends with her reflecting on her mistakes and lamenting the lost opportunities in life. Overall, The Foolish Woman is a cautionary tale that highlights the importance of wisdom and prudence in decision-making. It serves as a reminder that foolish actions can have severe consequences and that it is essential to learn from one's mistakes.
By Ambrose Bierce · First published 1890 · Genre: Horror, Short Stories, Gothic Fiction · 94 words
First lines
A Married Woman, whose lover was about to reform by running away, procured a pistol and shot him dead.
"Why did you do that, Madam?" inquired a Policeman, sauntering by.
"Because," replied the Married Woman, "he was a wicked man, and had purchased a ticket to Chicago."
"My sister," said an adjacent Man of God, solemnly, "you cannot stop the wicked from going to Chicago by killing them."
What this Textopian page supports
The Foolish Woman is listed on Textopian as a fable by Ambrose Bierce, dated 1890 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: 1890 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Horror, Short Stories, Gothic Fiction, Psychological Fiction
- Length: 94 words
- Structure: 1 section, 4 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Standard (8th-9th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for The Foolish Woman 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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Discussion starters
- What should a reader notice first when entering The Foolish Woman?
- How does this fable by Ambrose Bierce fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Horror first become important in the reading?
Similar titles
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- The Empty House by Algernon Blackwood
- Mr Sheets by Ambrose Bierce
- The Spirit Of A Sponge by Ambrose Bierce
- A Guest by Ambrose Bierce
- Disavowal by Ambrose Bierce
Genres
- Horror — Ambrose Bierce is a well-known Horror writer, and this work imparts chilling themes and thrills typical of the genre.
- Short Stories — The Foolish Woman is a part of a collection of Bierce's short stories, and therefore falls under the Short Stories genre.
- Gothic Fiction — The book maintains a dark, eerie atmosphere and explores themes of horror and death, which are typical of Gothic Fiction.
- Psychological Fiction — The protagonist's psyche and emotions are heavily focused on, making this work an element of Psychological Fiction.
Tags
gothic · horror · thriller · mystery · female protagonist · psychological · suspense · supernatural · dark · twist ending · unreliable narrator · historical fiction