On the Last Infirmity
The narrative revolves around a young man who suffers from a debilitating illness that gradually erodes his physical and mental faculties. As he succumbs to the disease, he becomes increasingly detached from reality, struggling to maintain a sense of identity and connection with those around him. Throughout the story, the protagonist's relationships with others are strained due to his growing dependence on them for basic care. His family members and caregivers are torn between their love and frustration as they watch him decline. The narrative explores themes of mortality, suffering, and the human condition, raising questions about the nature of existence and the meaning of life in the face of impending death.
By Hilaire Belloc · First published 1929 · Genre: Essay, Philosophy, Satire · 1,712 words
First lines
If you were to seek for the most irrational of all appetites, the one appetite for which you could not give any sort of reason, you would find it to be the strongest appetite of all: the appetite for posthumous fame.
What this Textopian page supports
On the Last Infirmity is listed on Textopian as a short story by Hilaire Belloc, dated 1929 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Short story
- Author: Hilaire Belloc
- Date: 1929 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Essay, Philosophy, Satire, Literary Criticism
- Length: 1,712 words
- Structure: 1 section, 19 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Easy (6th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for On the Last Infirmity by Hilaire Belloc
- Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
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Discussion starters
- What should a reader notice first when entering On the Last Infirmity?
- How does this short story by Hilaire Belloc fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
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Similar titles
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- Epitaphs by Oliver Herford
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- Killing Time by Oliver Herford
- On A Tag Provider by Hilaire Belloc
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Genres
- Essay — The work is a reflective and analytical piece discussing the concept of posthumous fame, characteristic of an essay.
- Philosophy — The text explores philosophical themes such as the irrationality of the desire for fame and the nature of immortality.
- Satire — The writing style includes irony and humor, particularly in its critique of the pursuit of fame and the literary world.
- Literary Criticism — The work references and critiques other literary figures and works, engaging in a form of literary analysis.
Tags
Poetry · Satire · Social Commentary · Critique of Society · Dark Humor · Mortality · Aging · Infirmity · Decline · Futility · Human Condition · Existential Crisis