The Sphinx in Thebes (Massachusetts)
In a steel-built city, a wealthy woman, despite her riches and possessions, longs for a sphinx. Her desire leads her to send others on a quest to find one, but their search proves fruitless as they scour menageries, forests, and deserts. Eventually, they discover a sphinx in a desolate area, guarding a ruined temple. They capture her and bring her back to the city. The woman revels in her newfound possession, but the sphinx, with her enigmatic presence, gazes into the woman's eyes and poses a riddle. The woman, unable to solve it, succumbs to the challenge and dies. The sphinx returns to her silence, leaving her fate and intentions shrouded in mystery. The narrative explores themes of desire, the limits of human understanding, and the consequences of confronting the unknown.
By Lord Dunsany · First published 1926 · Genre: Fantasy, Literary Fiction, Allegory · 253 words
First lines
There was a woman in a steel-built city who had all that money could buy, she had gold and dividends and trains and houses, and she had pets to play with, but she had no sphinx.
So she besought them to bring her a live sphinx; and therefore they went to the menageries, and then to the forests and the desert places, and yet could find no sphinx.
And she would have been content with a little lion but that one was already owned by a woman she knew; so they had to search the world again for a sphinx.
And still there was none.
What this Textopian page supports
The Sphinx in Thebes (Massachusetts) is listed on Textopian as a short story by Lord Dunsany, 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: Lord Dunsany
- Date: 1926 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Fantasy, Literary Fiction, Allegory, Mythology, Philosophical Fiction
- Length: 253 words
- Structure: 1 section, 9 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Easy (6th Grade)
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- Work identity for The Sphinx in Thebes (Massachusetts) by Lord Dunsany
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Discussion starters
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Similar titles
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- The Revolt Of The Home Gods by Lord Dunsany
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- The City by Lord Dunsany
- The Unpasturable Fields by Lord Dunsany
Genres
- Fantasy — The narrative involves mythical elements, such as the sphinx, and explores themes of desire and the supernatural.
- Literary Fiction — The story delves into complex themes of ownership, existentialism, and the human condition, characteristic of literary fiction.
- Allegory — The plot serves as an allegorical exploration of the consequences of materialism and the search for meaning.
- Mythology — The presence of the sphinx ties the narrative to mythological traditions and symbols.
Tags
Fantasy · Mythology · Egyptian Mythology · Greek Mythology · Sphinx · Mystery · Adventure · Fiction · Literary Fiction · Classic Literature · Symbolism · Allegory