There Was an Old Woman by Robert Silverberg
The story revolves around Miss Donna Mitchell, a former biochemistry professor who, after being dismissed from her university, embarks on an ambitious experiment to prove her theory that environment shapes personality. She creates thirty-one identical sons from a single zygote, each intended for a different profession, to demonstrate that upbringing, not genetics, determines one's path in life. Raised in isolation on a Wisconsin farm, each son is meticulously groomed for his assigned career. However, as they reach adulthood, many of the sons find themselves disillusioned with their predetermined paths, realizing they have no passion for the careers chosen for them. Despite their mother's unwavering belief in her experiment, the sons grapple with their own desires and the burden of fulfilling her expectations. Ultimately, they decide to end their mother's life to free themselves from her control and pursue their true interests. The narrative concludes with the sons scattering to live their own lives, acknowledging the failure of their mother's experiment and the flawed premise that environment alone can dictate one's destiny.
By Robert Silverberg · First published 1970 · Genre: Science Fiction, Speculative Fiction, Dark Comedy · 5,722 words
First lines
_Miss Mitchell had ideas -- and 31 identical sons! _
Since I was raised from earliest infancy to undertake the historian's calling, and since it is now certain that I shall never claim that profession as my own, it seems fitting that I perform my first and last act as an historian.
I shall write the history of that strange and unique woman, the mother of my thirty brothers and myself, Miss Donna Mitchell.
What this Textopian page supports
There Was an Old Woman is listed on Textopian as a short story by Robert Silverberg, dated 1970 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 Silverberg
- Date: 1970 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Science Fiction, Speculative Fiction, Dark Comedy, Psychological Fiction, Satire
- Length: 5,722 words
- Structure: 1 section, 121 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Standard (8th-9th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for There Was an Old Woman by Robert Silverberg
- Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
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Genres
- Science Fiction — The narrative centers on experimental genetics and cloning, making the speculative scientific premise the primary driver of the plot.
- Speculative Fiction — It explores hypothetical scenarios in human reproduction and social engineering that push beyond current scientific norms.
- Dark Comedy — The macabre humor in the portrayal of a family raised as an experiment and the ironic twist of fate imbue the work with dark comedic elements.
- Psychological Fiction — The internal conflicts, identity crises, and the burden of familial expectations deeply explore the human psyche.
Tags
science fiction · speculative fiction · short story · allegory · fairy tale · satire · social commentary · modern myth · dark humor · surreal · existential · psychological