The Watches by Tomás de Iriarte
A narrative satirizes the human penchant for disputing facts by showcasing a gathering of friends embroiled in a timekeeping controversy. When one late-arriving guest defends his tardiness by holding up his watch—asserting that it is not he who is late but that time itself is misrepresented—his claim incites a challenge among the group. Each friend produces his own timepiece, yet their readings conflict wildly, illustrating the inherent unreliability and subjectivity of relying on individual or traditional measures. The ensuing chaos highlights the problem of basing truth on the flawed authority of personal instruments, rather than on objective evidence. The dispute is eventually resolved when a knowledgeable guest, proficient in astronomy, intervenes. Using a chronometer calibrated by precise astronomical observations, he determines the accurate time, thereby demonstrating that, despite the plethora of opinions, only one factual reality exists. The work uses the disagreement over time as an allegory for a broader intellectual issue: the tension between subjective authority and objective truth. It critiques those who rely on tradition, personal opinion, or arbitrary sources to declare truths, instead advocating for verification through rigorous, empirical methods. In doing so, the narrative emphasizes that, amid many conflicting viewpoints, the truth remains singular and must be established by a sound, demonstrable authority. Furthermore, the text implicitly condemns writers and scholars who, in their eagerness to support a preconceived stance, quote authority without proper substantiation. The humorous dialogue exposes the absurdity of such practices and warns against the dangers of accepting multiple, inconsistent testimonies as equivalent evidence. Through wit and irony, the story delivers a philosophical lesson: while numerous opinions may coexist, they must eventually be measured against objective standards, lest they lead to confusion and error. The precise determination of time by astronomical means serves as a metaphor for the pursuit of truth in intellectual debates—a call for clarity, precision, and adherence to facts rather than to convenient or fashionable assertions. In essence, the narrative functions as a critique of the misuse of authority in establishing truth, advocating the supremacy of reason and empirical evidence over the cacophony of unsupported opinions.
By Tomás de Iriarte · First published 1756 · Genre: Satirical Poetry, Didactic Literature, Humorous Fiction · 414 words
First lines
A knot of friends, invited to a feast, At table sat -- a loitering guest, Who came long after all the rest, Sought for his tardiness to make excuse: And, by his comrades for a reason pressed, Drew out his Watch, and, holding it on high, Replied -- "Tis you are out of time, not I. 'Tis two precisely -- wherefore this abuse?"
"Absurd! " they answered. "Friend, your Watch is slow.
What this Textopian page supports
The Watches is listed on Textopian as a fable by Tomás de Iriarte, dated 1756 CE.
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- Work type: Fable
- Author: Tomás de Iriarte
- Date: 1756 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Satirical Poetry, Didactic Literature, Humorous Fiction, Allegory, Parody
- Length: 414 words
- Structure: 1 section, 14 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Standard (8th-9th Grade)
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Genres
- Satirical Poetry — The work employs verse to humorously critique reliance on subjective timekeeping and the authority of opinions.
- Didactic Literature — The poem instructs on the folly of depending on unreliable measures and emphasizes a singular objective truth.
- Humorous Fiction — Its playful narrative and witty dialogue underscore the absurdity of disputing time through petty comparisons.
- Allegory — The contrasting timepieces serve as metaphors for the broader conflict between subjective views and objective reality.
Tags
allegorical · satirical · didactic · fable · poetic · enlightenment · social commentary · humorous · metaphorical · moral · baroque · classical