Sredni Vashtar by Saki (1912)
A ten-year-old boy named Conradin lives under the oppressive guardianship of his cousin, Mrs. de Ropp, who embodies the mundane and restrictive aspects of life that he detests. Diagnosed with a terminal illness, Conradin finds solace in his imagination and a secret tool-shed where he worships a ferret he names Sredni Vashtar, treating it as a god. His rituals involve offerings of stolen nutmeg and red flowers, contrasting sharply with Mrs. de Ropp's conventional religious practices. As Conradin's attachment to Sredni Vashtar deepens, Mrs. de Ropp grows suspicious of his secretive behavior. She eventually discovers the ferret and decides to remove it, believing it is harmful for Conradin. In a moment of desperation, Conradin prays to Sredni Vashtar for intervention, feeling the weight of impending loss and defeat. When Mrs. de Ropp enters the shed, Conradin anxiously watches from a distance, fearing the worst. However, Sredni Vashtar emerges from the shed, having killed Mrs. de Ropp, fulfilling Conradin's unspoken wish for liberation from her tyranny. As chaos ensues in the household following her death, Conradin calmly prepares and enjoys toast, reveling in the unexpected turn of events and the newfound freedom from his oppressive guardian.
By Saki · First published 1912 · Genre: Short Story, Fantasy, Gothic Fiction · 2,027 words
First lines
Conradin was ten years old, and the doctor had pronounced his professional opinion that the boy would not live another five years. The doctor was silky and effete, and counted for little, but his opinion was endorsed by Mrs. de Ropp, who counted for nearly everything. Mrs. de Ropp was Conradin's cousin and guardian, and in his eyes she represented those three-fifths of the world that are necessary and disagreeable and real; the other two-fifths, in perpetual antagonism to the foregoing, were summed up in himself and his imagination. One of these days Conradin supposed he would succumb to the mastering pressure of wearisome necessary things -- such as illnesses and coddling restrictions and drawn-out dullness. Without his imagination, which was rampant under the spur of loneliness, he would have succumbed long ago.
What this Textopian page supports
Sredni Vashtar is listed on Textopian as a short story by Saki, dated 1912 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Short story
- Author: Saki
- Date: 1912 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Short Story, Fantasy, Gothic Fiction, Psychological Fiction, Satire
- Length: 2,027 words
- Structure: 1 section, 22 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Standard (8th-9th Grade)
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- Work identity for Sredni Vashtar by Saki
- Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
- Readability and classroom-planning context
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- The Lumber Room by Saki
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- The Dreamer by Saki
- A Little Hero A Story by Fyodor Dostoevsky
- The Fall Of The House Of Usher By Edgar Allan Poe by Charles Dickens
Genres
- Short Story — The work is a concise narrative focusing on a single plot and character development, typical of the short story format.
- Fantasy — The story incorporates elements of imagination and the supernatural, particularly through the character of Sredni Vashtar as a god-like figure.
- Gothic Fiction — The themes of isolation, fear, and the dark aspects of human nature align with Gothic elements.
- Psychological Fiction — The internal struggles of Conradin and his complex relationship with his guardian reflect psychological themes.
Tags
imagination · childhood · rebellion · fantasy · death · victory · animal · religion · gothic · dark humor · family · power dynamics