Sorrow by Carmen Sylva (1985)
A slender, dark-haired child named Sorrow wanders through various homes, bringing grief to those who encounter her. Despite her silent and sad demeanor, she is welcomed everywhere, yet her presence results in misfortune for the inhabitants. As she travels, she witnesses the sorrow she inflicts, particularly on children, who become ill or orphaned in her company. Longing for acceptance, she seeks beauty and joy from nature, but is told that her sorrowful essence must remain unchanged to prevent greater suffering for others. Eventually, Sorrow discovers a serene lake and a house nearby, where she meets a wise woman named Mother Patience. This woman explains that she has awaited Sorrow's arrival, emphasizing the importance of patience in life. Sorrow feels comforted and refreshed by their encounter, but understands that she must continue her journey. As she moves forward, she meets Work, a vibrant maiden who embodies strength and joy. Work encourages Sorrow to embrace her role, promising to support her in bringing happiness to others. Together with Patience and Work, Sorrow learns to navigate her existence, finding solace in their companionship while continuing to fulfill her purpose in the world.
By Carmen Sylva · First published 1985 · Genre: Tragedy, Drama, Romance · 1,880 words
First lines
Sorrow was a lovely slender child, with dark hair that framed her pale face. Her delicate lips were nearly always closed, her black eyes looked deadly weary, so that none could behold her without weeping. The poor child had no home, and wandered restlessly from place to place. Now she entered the hut of the poor, now the palace of the rich. She was so silent and sad that all received her, but, strange to tell, all who looked at her were attacked with a great woe. One lost his only child, another his honor, his property, a third was pursued by enemies without a cause. Again, another knew but grief from his children, so that he grew gray before his time. Or strife arose between married folk, or one of the family fell prone upon a sick bed and did not arise thence for years. People looked at one another astounded whence came so much affliction, and knew not that they themselves opened the doors to pale, silent Sorrow, and called her to their table.
What this Textopian page supports
Sorrow is listed on Textopian as a novella by Carmen Sylva, dated 1985 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Novella
- Author: Carmen Sylva
- Date: 1985 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Tragedy, Drama, Romance, Psychological
- Length: 1,880 words
- Structure: 1 section, 39 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Easy (6th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for Sorrow by Carmen Sylva
- 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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Genres
- Tragedy — The title of the book, 'Sorrow', implies heartache, misfortune and disastrous events, which is a characteristic of the tragedy genre.
- Drama — Expressive and emotional experiences hinted by the title suggest elements typically found in the drama genre.
- Romance — Considering the author's common themes, the sadness indicated by the title could stem from romantic relationship issues, thus linking it to the romance genre.
- Psychological — The title 'Sorrow' may be exploring emotional and mental states of the characters, suggesting a psychological genre.
Tags
grief · loss · heartbreak · emotional · drama · relationships · identity · self-discovery · mental health · family · love · pain