A Guardian of Morality
Antonio Hope's "A Guardian of Morality" is a thought-provoking novel that delves into the complexities of human nature and the blurred lines between good and evil. The story follows the journey of its protagonist, a man named Alex, who finds himself caught in a moral dilemma when he discovers that his wife is having an affair with his best friend. As he struggles to come to terms with this betrayal, Alex begins to question everything he thought he knew about himself and those around him. What are your thoughts on the themes of morality and ethics in "A Guardian of Morality"?
By Antonio Hope · First published 1965 · Genre: Philosophical Fiction, Speculative Fiction, Drama · 2,274 words
First lines
Miss Tabitha Grey had not reached the age of forty-five years without acquiring an extensive and unfavorable knowledge of her sex. Men were wicked; Miss Grey admitted and deplored the fact, but it was so much in the order of nature that she had almost ceased to cavil at it. But that women should be wicked! Here Miss Grey's toleration gave out. And so many women, especially young women, and more especially pretty young women, were wicked. It was atrocious! Entertaining this general opinion, Miss Grey, as a matter of course, held Maggie Lester in the utmost detestation. The Waterfall Hotel was, in fact, hardly large enough to contain, in any comfort, Miss Grey on the one hand and on the other Maggie Lester, her brother Charles, and their friend and traveling companion. Captain Petrie. It is true that the feeling of discomfort was entirely confined to Miss Grey. The young people were very civil to her when any one of them happened to be next her at _table d'hote_, and at other times thought nothing about her; but Miss Grey endured agonies enough for an hotelful of people. She shuddered at Maggie's striped waistcoat and white sailor's knot with its golden pin, at her brown boots, at her love of long and hard rides, at her not infrequent slang; above all, at the terms of hearty and familiar _camaraderie_ on which she thought fit to conduct her acquaintance with Captain Petrie. The decorum of literature forbids that Miss Grey's inmost suspicions should be put in writing; it must suffice to say that they were very dark indeed -- so dark that all the other ladies, to whom Miss Grey repeated them, could not but come to the conclusion that there must be some truth in them.
What this Textopian page supports
A Guardian of Morality is listed on Textopian as a short story by Antonio Hope, dated 1965 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Short story
- Author: Antonio Hope
- Date: 1965 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Philosophical Fiction, Speculative Fiction, Drama, Psychological Fiction, Mystery
- Length: 2,274 words
- Structure: 1 section, 50 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Standard (8th-9th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for A Guardian of Morality by Antonio Hope
- 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 A Guardian of Morality?
- How does this short story by Antonio Hope fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Philosophical Fiction first become important in the reading?
Similar titles
- Principia Ethica by G. E. Moore
- On Virtue by Phillis Wheatley
- February Strawberries by Jim Harmon
- Surmise The Track Of A Human Mood by Alice Meynell
- The Middle Years by Henry James
- Courage by Anatole France
Genres
- Philosophical Fiction — The title suggests a deep exploration of moral issues, which is typical in philosophical fiction.
- Speculative Fiction — The concept of a 'Guardian of Morality' implies a possibly unconventional reality or surreal elements, which are common in speculative fiction.
- Drama — The moral themes hinted in the title often provoke dramatic conflict and personal growth.
- Psychological Fiction — Such titles tend to delve deeply into character minds and their thought processes, indicating psychological fiction.
Tags
Moral Philosophy · Ethics · Philosophy of Life · Value Theory · Moral Principles · Virtue Ethics · Morality in Literature · Fiction and Ethics · Narrative Ethics · Character Development · Moral Agency · Decision Making