The Weaker Veseel by W. W. Jacobs
The Weaker Vessel is a classic short story by W. W. Jacobs. It tells the story of a young couple, Tom and Mary, who are newly married and living in a small cottage. Tom is a hardworking fisherman, while Mary is a stay-at-home wife. One day, Tom goes out to sea and is gone for several days. When he returns, he finds that Mary has been entertaining a sailor in his absence. Tom is furious and demands to know why she has done this. Mary explains that the sailor was a friend of her father's and had come to visit her. Tom is still angry and accuses Mary of being unfaithful. The couple argue and Tom eventually storms out of the house. Mary is left alone and heartbroken. She realizes that she has been wrong and that she should have been more understanding of Tom's feelings. The story ends with Mary realizing that she is the weaker vessel in the relationship and that she must be more understanding and supportive of her husband.
By W. W. Jacobs · First published 1843 · Genre: Horror, Mystery, Fantasy · 4,328 words
First lines
Mr. Gribble sat in his small front parlour in a state of angry amazement. It was half-past six and there was no Mrs. Gribble; worse still, there was no tea. It was a state of things that had only happened once before. That was three weeks after marriage, and on that occasion Mr. Gribble had put his foot down with a bang that had echoed down the corridors of thirty years.
What this Textopian page supports
The Weaker Veseel is listed on Textopian as a novel by W. W. Jacobs, dated 1843 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Novel
- Author: W. W. Jacobs
- Date: 1843 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Horror, Mystery, Fantasy, Gothic, Romance
- Length: 4,328 words
- Structure: 1 section, 138 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Easy (6th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for The Weaker Veseel by W. W. Jacobs
- 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 Weaker Veseel?
- How does this novel by W. W. Jacobs fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Horror first become important in the reading?
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Genres
- Horror — The Weaker Vessel is a horror story by W. W. Jacobs, featuring a supernatural element and a suspenseful atmosphere.
- Mystery — The Weaker Vessel is a mystery story by W. W. Jacobs, featuring a mysterious element and a suspenseful atmosphere.
- Fantasy — The Weaker Vessel is a fantasy story by W. W. Jacobs, featuring a supernatural element and a magical atmosphere.
- Gothic — The Weaker Vessel is a gothic story by W. W. Jacobs, featuring a dark and mysterious atmosphere.
Tags
humor · short stories · British literature · 19th century · satire · character study · social commentary · irony · maritime · adventure · dialogue · relationships