The Man and his Friend by Robert Louis Stevenson
A man and his friend have a falling out, leading to a confrontation where the man expresses his disappointment, claiming he has been deceived. The friend reacts dismissively and departs. Shortly after, both men die and find themselves before a celestial Justice of the Peace. The justice reviews their past and discovers a record of their quarrel. When asked who was at fault, the man accuses his friend of speaking ill of him behind his back. The justice probes further, inquiring about the friend's behavior towards others. The man reveals that the friend had a reputation for being malicious. The justice questions the man's judgment in choosing such a friend, implying that he bears responsibility for his own choices. Ultimately, the justice declares the man a fool for his poor selection of companionship, resulting in his condemnation. Meanwhile, the friend remains unpunished, laughing in the darkness as he awaits his own trial for other offenses. The narrative explores themes of accountability, the nature of friendship, and the consequences of one's choices.
By Robert Louis Stevenson · First published 1890 · Genre: Philosophical Fiction, Allegory, Satire · 221 words
First lines
A man quarrelled with his friend.
"I have been much deceived in you," said the man.
And the friend made a face at him and went away.
A little after, they both died, and came together before the great white Justice of the Peace. It began to look black for the friend, but the man for a while had a clear character and was getting in good spirits.
What this Textopian page supports
The Man and his Friend is listed on Textopian as a fable by Robert Louis Stevenson, dated 1890 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Fable
- Author: Robert Louis Stevenson
- Date: 1890 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Philosophical Fiction, Allegory, Satire, Short Story, Drama
- Length: 221 words
- Structure: 1 section, 10 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Very Easy (5th Grade or below)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for The Man and his Friend 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
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Genres
- Philosophical Fiction — The story explores themes of friendship, deception, and moral judgment, prompting reflection on human relationships and ethics.
- Allegory — The narrative serves as an allegorical tale about the consequences of one's choices in friendships and the nature of justice.
- Satire — The story critiques human folly and the absurdity of social relationships through the interactions between the man and his friend.
- Short Story — The work is a concise narrative that encapsulates a complete story arc within a brief format.
Tags
friendship · quarrel · justice · deception · character · morality · consequences · judgment · humor · afterlife · conflict · truth
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