The Enemy's Portrait by Thomas Hardy
A man encounters a portrait of his deceased enemy at an auction and decides to purchase it, intending to destroy it as a final act of vengeance. He only values the frame, planning to burn the canvas that depicts the face of someone who has wronged him deeply. However, life intervenes, and he becomes distracted by other responsibilities, delaying the destruction of the painting. Days turn into weeks, and the portrait remains untouched, eventually being hung by a servant in a corner of his home. The owner expresses his disdain for the painting, insisting it must be removed, but he continually forgets to act on his intention. Over time, the portrait becomes a fixture in his home, ignored and overlooked. When the man eventually passes away, the portrait remains, unnoticed and unremembered. It is only after his death that the painting is rediscovered, prompting visitors to question the nature of the relationship between the two men. The irony lies in the fact that the portrait, once a symbol of animosity, becomes a part of the man's legacy, leading others to ponder the complexities of human relationships and the passage of time. The work explores themes of memory, enmity, and the unintended consequences of our actions.
By Thomas Hardy · First published 1891 · Genre: Poetry, Literary Fiction, Drama · 503 words
First lines
HE saw the portrait of his enemy, offered / At auction in a street he journeyed nigh, / That enemy, now late dead, who in his life-time / Had injured deeply him the passer-by. / "To get that picture, pleased be God, I'll try, / And utterly destroy it; and no more / Shall be inflicted on man's mortal eye / A countenance so sinister and sore!"
Similar titles
- The Attack by D. H. Lawrence
- The Revenge Of The Adolphus by Stephen Crane
- The Punisher by D. H. Lawrence
- Side By Side by Thomas Hardy
- The Permanent Husband by Fyodor Dostoevsky
- Two Prisoners by Thomas Nelson Page
Genres
- Poetry — The work is written in verse, employing rhyme and meter typical of poetry.
- Literary Fiction — The themes explore complex human emotions and moral dilemmas, characteristic of literary fiction.
- Drama — The narrative involves conflict and character development, akin to dramatic storytelling.
- Satire — The work critiques human nature and societal norms through the protagonist's obsession with his enemy.
Tags
conflict · identity · betrayal · war · psychological · drama · human nature · morality · society · isolation · revenge · courage
What this Textopian page supports
The Enemy's Portrait is listed on Textopian as a poem by Thomas Hardy, dated 1891 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Poem
- Author: Thomas Hardy
- Date: 1891 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Poetry, Literary Fiction, Drama, Satire, Philosophical
- Length: 503 words
- Structure: 1 section, 5 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Fairly Easy (7th Grade)
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- Work identity for The Enemy's Portrait by Thomas Hardy
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