The Post that Fitted
A young man, engaged to a charming girl, faces financial constraints that complicate his romantic aspirations. To secure a better future, he proposes to the daughter of a local judge, despite his modest income as a subaltern. The judge's family, recognizing the potential for a match, facilitates the engagement by securing a better-paying position for him. However, the protagonist suffers from sudden epileptic fits, which he cleverly uses to extricate himself from the engagement. His affliction becomes a source of distress, particularly in the presence of his fiancée's family, leading to the eventual dissolution of the engagement. With newfound freedom, he wires his original love, expressing his intent to marry her. Meanwhile, the jilted fiancée's mother remains bitter, anticipating that the protagonist's future children will inherit his condition. The narrative explores themes of love, social expectations, and the lengths one might go to escape undesirable situations, all while maintaining a satirical tone.
By Rudyard Kipling · First published 1892 · Genre: Poetry, Humor, Satire · 437 words
First lines
Though tangled and twisted the course of true love This ditty explains, No tangle's so tangled it cannot improve If the Lover has brains.
Ere the steamer bore him Eastward, Sleary was engaged to marry An attractive girl at Tunbridge, whom he called "my little Carrie."
What this Textopian page supports
The Post that Fitted is listed on Textopian as a short story by Rudyard Kipling, dated 1892 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Short story
- Author: Rudyard Kipling
- Date: 1892 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Poetry, Humor, Satire, Romance, Fiction
- Length: 437 words
- Structure: 1 section, 14 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Fairly Easy (7th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for The Post that Fitted by Rudyard Kipling
- Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
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Discussion starters
- What should a reader notice first when entering The Post that Fitted?
- How does this short story by Rudyard Kipling fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Poetry first become important in the reading?
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Genres
- Poetry — The work is written in verse, employing rhyme and meter typical of poetry.
- Humor — The narrative employs wit and irony, particularly in the portrayal of the protagonist's misadventures and societal expectations.
- Satire — The story critiques social norms and the absurdities of love and marriage through exaggerated situations.
- Romance — The central theme revolves around love and relationships, particularly the protagonist's engagement.
Tags
Rudyard Kipling · poetry · love · humor · satire · marriage · social commentary · British literature · epilepsy · romantic entanglement · class differences · character study