Mistress Merciless by Eugene Field
The poem tells the story of a mistress who is merciless and cruel to her lover. She toys with his emotions, playing on his affections, and ultimately destroys him. The speaker describes her beauty and charm, but also her ruthless nature, implying that she is aware of the pain she causes.
By Eugene Field · First published 1890 · Genre: Fantasy, Children's Literature, Allegory · 3,912 words
First lines
This is to tell of our little Mistress Merciless, who for a season abided with us, but is now and forever gone from us unto the far-off land of Ever-Plaisance. The tale is soon told; for it were not seemly to speak all the things that are in one's heart when one hath to say of a much-beloved child, whose life here hath been shortened so that, in God's wisdom and kindness, her life shall be longer in that garden that bloometh far away.
What this Textopian page supports
Mistress Merciless is listed on Textopian as a short story by Eugene Field, dated 1890 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Short story
- Author: Eugene Field
- Date: 1890 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Fantasy, Children's Literature, Allegory, Literary Fiction, Adventure
- Length: 3,912 words
- Structure: 1 section, 55 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Standard (8th-9th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for Mistress Merciless by Eugene Field
- 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 Mistress Merciless?
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- Where does Fantasy first become important in the reading?
Similar titles
- The Wooing Of Miss Woppit by Eugene Field
- The Tea Gown by Eugene Field
- The Old Love And The New by Thomas Anstey Guthrie
- Bricks Without Straw by Thomas Anstey Guthrie
- Love Among The Lions by F. Anstey
- A Parting by Edith Nesbit
Genres
- Fantasy — The narrative includes elements of a fantastical garden, talking animals, and a mythical land called Ever-Plaisance, which are characteristic of the fantasy genre.
- Children's Literature — The story revolves around child characters and themes of innocence, friendship, and adventure, making it suitable for a young audience.
- Allegory — The characters and events symbolize deeper moral and philosophical themes, particularly regarding life, death, and the innocence of childhood.
- Literary Fiction — The writing style is reflective and poetic, focusing on emotional depth and character development, typical of literary fiction.
Tags
Humor · Satire · Social commentary · Marriage · Infidelity · Adultery · Morality · Ethics · Relationships · Gender roles · Women's rights · Feminism