I Am a Hunchback, Yellow Faced
Three voices speak in succession. The first belongs to a hunchback with a yellowed face, who describes himself as a repulsive figure that people can barely tolerate, simply passing him by without engagement or compassion. The second voice belongs to an elderly white-haired woman who reveals she was the daughter of a drunkard, left with the lasting damage of alcoholism, stumbling through life in a fog. The third voice belongs to a man who declares himself as God originally made him, though corrupted or damaged by those who sought to teach him. Despite this, he reaches out with warmth and inclusion to both the hunchback and the old woman, offering his hand and his arm, embracing them both in fellowship and human solidarity.
By Robert Louis Stevenson · First published 1882 · Genre: Literary Fiction, Gothic Fiction, Psychological Fiction · 102 words
First lines
I am a hunchback, yellow faced --
A hateful sight to see --
‘T is all that other men can do / To pass and let me be.
I am a woman -- my hair is white --
What this Textopian page supports
I Am a Hunchback, Yellow Faced is listed on Textopian as a short story by Robert Louis Stevenson, dated 1882 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Short story
- Author: Robert Louis Stevenson
- Date: 1882 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Literary Fiction, Gothic Fiction, Psychological Fiction, Social Commentary, Character Study
- Length: 102 words
- Structure: 1 section, 8 paragraphs
Good citation fit
- Work identity for I Am a Hunchback, Yellow Faced by Robert Louis Stevenson
- 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
Genres
- Literary Fiction — This work exemplifies Stevenson's sophisticated narrative style and psychological exploration of character, which are central to literary fiction.
- Gothic Fiction — The title's focus on physical deformity and alienation aligns with Gothic tradition's exploration of the grotesque and marginalized figures.
- Psychological Fiction — The work examines the internal experience of a protagonist defined by physical difference, exploring themes of identity and perception.
- Social Commentary — The narrative critiques societal prejudice and discrimination based on physical appearance and racial characteristics.
Tags
classic literature · Victorian era · short prose · literary fiction · psychological portrait · social observation · identity · physical difference · alienation · self-perception · marginalization · melancholy
More by Robert Louis Stevenson
- Treasure Island (1883)
- The Pavilion on the Links (1909)
- Olalla (1885)
- A Child's Garden of Verses (1885)
- Father Damien, An Open Letter To The Reverend Doctor Hyde Of Honolulu (1914)
- A Lowden Sabbath Morn (1916)
- Songs of Travel and Other Verses (1908)
- Prayers Written At Vailima (1916)
- All works by Robert Louis Stevenson