Macabre in Macaws by Hervey Allen
The novel explores the darker aspects of human nature through a series of interconnected stories that take place in a small town. The narrative delves into themes of violence, cruelty, and the breakdown of social norms. A group of wealthy individuals, including a family with a troubled past, are drawn together by their fascination with death and the macabre. As they engage in increasingly disturbing activities, the lines between reality and fantasy begin to blur. Throughout the novel, the author critiques societal expectations and the ways in which people can be driven to madness by the pressures of conformity. The narrative is characterized by a sense of foreboding and unease, as the characters' actions become more and more erratic. Ultimately, the novel builds towards a tragic conclusion that highlights the destructive power of unchecked human impulses.
By Hervey Allen · First published 1926 · Genre: Gothic, Horror, Surrealism · 125 words
First lines
After the hurricane of the late forties, / Peter Polite says, in the live-oak trees / Were weird, macabre macaws / And ash-colored cockatoos, blown overseas / From Nassau and the West Indies.
These hopped about like dead men's thoughts / Among the draggled Spanish moss, / Preening themselves, all at a loss, / Preening faint _caws_, / And shrieking from nostalgia -- / With dull screams like a child / Born with neuralgia -- / And this seems true to me, / Fitting the landscape's drab grotesquery.
What this Textopian page supports
Macabre in Macaws is listed on Textopian as a short story by Hervey Allen, dated 1926 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Short story
- Author: Hervey Allen
- Date: 1926 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Gothic, Horror, Surrealism, Nature, Post-Apocalyptic
- Length: 125 words
- Structure: 1 section, 2 paragraphs
Good citation fit
- Work identity for Macabre in Macaws by Hervey Allen
- 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
Similar titles
- The Child In The Grave by Hans Christian Andersen
- The Haunted Room by Madison Cawein
- The Demon Lover by Madison Cawein
- Caverns by Madison Cawein
- The End Of All by Madison Cawein
- In A Glass Darkly by J. Sheridan Le Fanu
Genres
- Gothic — The poem's atmosphere is dark and eerie, with themes of decay and the supernatural, typical of Gothic literature.
- Horror — The use of macabre imagery and unsettling descriptions evokes a sense of horror.
- Surrealism — The bizarre and dream-like imagery of macaws and cockatoos in an unnatural setting aligns with surrealist themes.
- Nature — The poem features elements of nature, such as trees and birds, though presented in a distorted manner.
Tags
Dark Fantasy · Gothic Fiction · Macabre · Paranormal · Supernatural · Horror · Mystery · Thriller · Suspense · Psychological Thriller · Literary Fiction · Magical Realism