Two Politicians by Ambrose Bierce
"Two Politicians" is a short story by Ambrose Bierce, first published in 1879. The story follows two politicians, John and William, who are running for the same seat in Congress. Despite their similarities, they have vastly different views on how to govern the country, with John advocating for progressive reforms and William pushing for a more conservative approach. As the election approaches, the two men engage in a heated campaign, each trying to outmaneuver the other and win over the voters. However, as the story unfolds, it becomes clear that neither man is truly committed to their cause, and they are more interested in winning than in serving the people. In the end, John and William are elected, but their victory is hollow, as they have lost sight of their original goals and are now more concerned with maintaining their power than with doing what is right for the country.
By Ambrose Bierce · First published 1879 · Genre: Political Fiction, Satire, Historical Fiction · 127 words
First lines
Two Politicians were exchanging ideas regarding the rewards for public service.
"The reward which I most desire," said the First Politician, "is the gratitude of my fellow-citizens."
"That would be very gratifying, no doubt," said the Second Politician,
"but, alas! in order to obtain it one has to retire from politics."
What this Textopian page supports
Two Politicians is listed on Textopian as a fable 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: Fable
- Author: Ambrose Bierce
- Date: 1879 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Political Fiction, Satire, Historical Fiction
- Length: 127 words
- Structure: 1 section, 6 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Fairly Difficult (10th-12th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for Two Politicians 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 Two Politicians?
- How does this fable by Ambrose Bierce fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Political Fiction first become important in the reading?
Similar titles
- The Politicians And The Plunder by Ambrose Bierce
- One President by Ambrose Bierce
- A Political Violet by Ambrose Bierce
- A Statesman by Ambrose Bierce
- The Politicians by Ambrose Bierce
- The City Of Political Distinction by Ambrose Bierce
Genres
- Political Fiction — The title refers to two politicians, indicating political themes will likely be prominent in the book.
- Satire — Ambrose Bierce is known for his satirical works, suggesting this book may contain elements of satire, particularly targeted towards politicians.
- Historical Fiction — Bierce's works often reflect his own historic context, potentially placing this book within the historical fiction genre.
Tags
political satire · humor · fiction · short story · American literature · 19th century literature · satirical fiction · politics · government · corruption · ambition · power