The Feast of Nemesis by Saki (1911)
The narrative unfolds during a conversation between Mrs. Thackenbury and her nephew Clovis, who critiques the superficiality of traditional holidays that compel people to express goodwill towards those they may not genuinely care for. Clovis proposes the idea of a day dedicated to enacting revenge on those they dislike, which he dubs "Nemesis Day." He argues that such a day would allow individuals to express their true feelings towards others, particularly those they loathe, in a socially acceptable manner. Mrs. Thackenbury initially resists the idea, suggesting that it would be inappropriate to act on such negative feelings. However, Clovis elaborates on various humorous and vindictive scenarios that could be executed on this day, such as sabotaging a picnic for disliked acquaintances or playing tricks on annoying neighbors. He describes how these acts of revenge could be both satisfying and entertaining, contrasting them with the obligatory niceties of holiday gift-giving. As the conversation progresses, Mrs. Thackenbury begins to entertain the notion of Nemesis Day, contemplating the potential enjoyment of plotting against those she finds insufferable. Clovis continues to provide increasingly elaborate and absurd ideas for revenge, showcasing his wit and the absurdity of social conventions. The dialogue highlights the tension between societal expectations of civility and the more primal instincts of human nature. Ultimately, the work satirizes the constraints of polite society and the often hypocritical nature of social interactions, suggesting that the desire for revenge is a natural human impulse that deserves recognition. The story concludes with Mrs. Thackenbury considering the implications of such a day, leaving the reader to ponder the balance between civility and the darker aspects of human relationships.
By Saki · First published 1911 · Genre: Satire, Humor, Social Commentary · 1,748 words
First lines
"It's a good thing that Saint Valentine's Day has dropped out of vogue," said Mrs. Thackenbury; "what with Christmas and New Year and Easter, not to speak of birthdays, there are quite enough remembrance days as it is. I tried to save myself trouble at Christmas by just sending flowers to all my friends, but it wouldn't work; Gertrude has eleven hothouses and about thirty gardeners, so it would have been ridiculous to send flowers to her, and Milly has just started a florist's shop, so it was equally out of the question there. The stress of having to decide in a hurry what to give to Gertrude and Milly just when I thought I'd got the whole question nicely off my mind completely ruined my Christmas, and then the awful monotony of the letters of thanks: ‘Thank you so much for your lovely flowers. It was so good of you to think of me. ' Of course in the majority of cases I hadn't thought about the recipients at all; their names were down in my list of ‘people who must not be left out. ' If I trusted to remembering them there would be some awful sins of omission."
What this Textopian page supports
The Feast of Nemesis is listed on Textopian as a short story by Saki, dated 1911 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: 1911 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Satire, Humor, Social Commentary, Fiction, Short Story
- Length: 1,748 words
- Structure: 1 section, 20 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Standard (8th-9th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for The Feast of Nemesis by Saki
- 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
Discussion starters
- What should a reader notice first when entering The Feast of Nemesis?
- How does this short story by Saki fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Satire first become important in the reading?
Similar titles
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Genres
- Satire — The work critiques social conventions and the absurdity of human behavior, particularly around holidays and gift-giving.
- Humor — The dialogue and scenarios presented are comedic, showcasing wit and irony in the characters' discussions about revenge and social niceties.
- Social Commentary — The narrative reflects on societal norms and the superficiality of social interactions, particularly in the context of holidays.
- Fiction — The story is a work of fiction that explores fictional characters and their interactions.
Tags
mystery · suspense · dark humor · irony · social commentary · Victorian era · short story · character study · revenge · morality · human nature · plot twist