Mrs. Bullfrog by Nathaniel Hawthorne
The narrative follows a man who reflects on the absurdity of overly scrutinizing potential wives based on superficial qualities. He recounts his own past as a fastidious bachelor, nearly missing the chance for happiness due to his unrealistic expectations. His perspective shifts when he unexpectedly marries Mrs. Bullfrog, a woman he initially perceives as perfect. On their journey home, an accident occurs when their stagecoach overturns. In the chaos, he momentarily forgets about his wife, only to witness a strange figure, resembling her, attacking the coachman. This figure vanishes, and Mrs. Bullfrog reappears, seemingly unharmed. The protagonist grapples with confusion and fear, questioning the nature of his wife and whether she might transform into something monstrous. As they continue their journey, he discovers a newspaper article detailing a breach of promise lawsuit involving his wife. This revelation shatters his idealized image of her, leading him to despair over her past. However, Mrs. Bullfrog reassures him, arguing that imperfections are natural and that her lawsuit was a justified defense of her honor. She emphasizes the financial gain from the lawsuit, which she intends to use for their future together. Ultimately, the protagonist reconciles his feelings, realizing that the foundation of their marriage is secure despite her flaws. He embraces her, celebrating their union and the unexpected fortune that arose from her past struggles. The story concludes with a sense of acceptance and joy in their partnership, highlighting the complexities of love and the importance of looking beyond superficial imperfections.
By Nathaniel Hawthorne · First published 1864 · Genre: Satire, Romantic Comedy, Fiction · 3,309 words
First lines
It makes me melancholy to see how like fools some very sensible people act in the matter of choosing wives. They perplex their judgments by a most undue attention to little niceties of personal appearance, habits, disposition, and other trifles which concern nobody but the lady herself. An unhappy gentleman, resolving to wed nothing short of perfection, keeps his heart and hand till both get so old and withered that no tolerable woman will accept them. Now this is the very height of absurdity. A kind Providence has so skilfully adapted sex to sex and the mass of individuals to each other, that, with certain obvious exceptions, any male and female may be moderately happy in the married state. The true rule is to ascertain that the match is fundamentally a good one, and then to take it for granted that all minor objections, should there be such, will vanish, if you let them alone. Only put yourself beyond hazard as to the real basis of matrimonial bliss, and it is scarcely to be imagined what miracles, in the way of recognizing smaller incongruities, connubial love will effect.
What this Textopian page supports
Mrs. Bullfrog is listed on Textopian as a short story by Nathaniel Hawthorne, dated 1864 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Short story
- Author: Nathaniel Hawthorne
- Date: 1864 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Satire, Romantic Comedy, Fiction, Social Commentary, Humor
- Length: 3,309 words
- Structure: 1 section, 37 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Fairly Easy (7th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for Mrs. Bullfrog by Nathaniel Hawthorne
- 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 Mrs. Bullfrog?
- How does this short story by Nathaniel Hawthorne fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Satire first become important in the reading?
Similar titles
- After Jenkins by Mark Twain
- The Power Of Reputation by O. Henry
- The Indian Summer Of Dry Valley Johnson by O. Henry
- The White Bees by Henry Van Dyke
- The Chair Of Philanthromathematics by O. Henry
- Thanksgiving Remarks by O. Henry
Genres
- Satire — The narrative critiques societal norms regarding marriage and personal expectations, using humor and irony.
- Romantic Comedy — The story revolves around the romantic relationship between Mr. and Mrs. Bullfrog, filled with humorous situations and misunderstandings.
- Fiction — The work is a fictional narrative exploring themes of love, marriage, and personal flaws.
- Social Commentary — The text comments on societal expectations and the absurdities of human behavior in the context of relationships.
Tags
Fiction · Novel · American Literature · 19th Century · Realism · Symbolism · Nature · Environment · Social Commentary · Morality · Ethics · Human Nature