Cope has a Distressful Christmas
The story revolves around the life of Cope, a middle-aged man who has become increasingly isolated and disillusioned with society. He spends Christmas alone in his apartment, surrounded by reminders of past Christmases that have brought him little joy. As he navigates the holiday season, Cope's thoughts turn to his own mortality and the emptiness of modern life. His interactions with others are strained and superficial, highlighting the disconnect between people in a rapidly changing world. Through Cope's experiences, the novel critiques the social conventions and materialism that have come to define Christmas celebrations. The story is a commentary on the human condition, exploring themes of loneliness, disconnection, and the search for meaning in a seemingly meaningless world.
By Henry Blake Fuller · First published 1894 · Genre: Literary Fiction, Psychological Fiction, Coming-of-Age · 3,158 words
First lines
Cope awakened at seven. After an early interval of happy lightness, there came suddenly and heavily the crushing sense of his predicament. How monstrous it was that one instant of time, one ill-considered action, one poorly-chosen word could clamp a repellent burden on a man for the rest of his life!
Well, he must expect telephone messages and letters. They came. That afternoon Mrs. Peck had "a lady's voice" to report: "It sounded like a young lady's voice," she added. And she looked at Cope with some curiosity: a "young lady" asking for him over the wire was the rarest thing in the world.
Similar titles
- Extradited From Bohemia by O. Henry
- Bruvver Jims Baby by Philip Verrill Mighels
- Cope Entertains Several Ladies by Henry Blake Fuller
- Past One At Rooneys by O. Henry
- The Mcwilliamses And The Burglar Alarm by Mark Twain
- Springtime A La Carte by O. Henry
Genres
- Literary Fiction — The narrative focuses on character development, emotional depth, and the complexities of human relationships, typical of literary fiction.
- Psychological Fiction — The story delves into the protagonist's internal struggles, anxieties, and emotional turmoil, highlighting psychological themes.
- Coming-of-Age — The protagonist navigates personal growth and the challenges of adulthood, reflecting the coming-of-age genre.
- Romance — The plot involves romantic entanglements and emotional connections, central to the narrative.
Tags
Satire · Social Commentary · Humor · Christmas Story · American Literature · Late 19th Century Fiction · Novella · Comedy of Manners · Upper Class Satire · Gilded Age Fiction · Critique of Social Hierarchy · Commentary on Marriage
What this Textopian page supports
Cope has a Distressful Christmas is listed on Textopian as a short story by Henry Blake Fuller, dated 1894 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Short story
- Author: Henry Blake Fuller
- Date: 1894 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Literary Fiction, Psychological Fiction, Coming-of-Age, Romance, Drama
- Length: 3,158 words
- Structure: 1 section, 39 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Fairly Easy (7th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for Cope has a Distressful Christmas by Henry Blake Fuller
- Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
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