A Presentiment by William Dean Howells
The work is structured as a series of interlaced recollections and dialogues among a small group of acquaintances who explore the nature and decline of a pervasive, old-fashioned belief in premonitions. Through conversational exchanges in an intimate setting, the characters contrast a nostalgic acceptance of eerie, familial forebodings with a modern skepticism rooted in scientific rationalism. The narrative centers on recollections of childhood and family traditions that were steeped in superstitions and occult experiences. The characters recall how earlier generations, despite their rational attributes, participated in a rich tapestry of psychic and supernatural beliefs. They discuss various manifestations of these premonitions—from subtle inner depressions and vague forebodings to dramatic, life-altering events—and they debate the credibility and interpretation of such experiences. One central anecdote involves a tragic series of events experienced by a relative. This character, tormented by an inexplicable and crushing sense of impending doom during a journey, experiences a profound internal crisis marked by an unnameable anxiety. His premonition is so intense that it colors his entire trip, driving him to attempt rationalizations which fail to dispel the persistent sense of fate. In a climactic moment of eerie reversal, just when his foreboding appears to be the harbinger of disaster, an unexpected twist occurs at his homecoming—a brief, almost imperceptible psychological shift that signals the true, tragic cost of his premonition. The work also touches on the evolution of cultural attitudes toward these supernatural experiences. Once widely accepted and richly interwoven into social and familial life, the beliefs in premonitions and related phenomena have gradually given way to a more disenchanted, mechanistic view imposed by the rise of scientific inquiry. The characters note that as the certainties of personal immortality and spiritual continuation faded in the collective mindset, so did the intensity and prevalence of premonitional experiences. Throughout the dialogue, there is a persistent tension between the sentimental value of remembering past beliefs and the ironic realization that those ancient intimations of fate might have been as much self-delusions as they were genuine warnings. The conversational tone is both critical and wistful: while the characters mock the absurdities and contradictions inherent in past superstitions, they also convey a sense of loss for the richer, albeit darker, fabric of experience those superstitions once provided. In summary, the work uses a rich interplay of narrative memory, personal anecdotes, and philosophical debate to examine the decline of premonitions in a rapidly modernizing world. It presents a world where the inner life—filled with inexplicable shadows and silent warnings—once held sway over human experience, but where the advent of scientific rationality gradually expelled these mysterious, if unsettling, beliefs. The tension between instinct and reason, between the ghostly remnants of a lost cultural past and the cold certainties of modern life, is at the heart of the narrative.
By William Dean Howells · First published 1887 · Genre: Literary Realism, Psychological Fiction, Supernatural Fiction · 5,949 words
First lines
Over our coffee in the Turkish room Minver was usually a censor of our / several foibles rather than a sharer in our philosophic speculations / and metaphysical conjectures. He liked to disable me as one / professionally vowed to the fabulous, and he had unfailing fun with / the romantic sentimentality of Rulledge, which was in fact so little / in keeping with the gross super-abundance of his person, his habitual / gluttony, and his ridiculous indolence. Minver knew very well that / Rulledge was a good fellow withal, and would willingly do any kind / action that did not seriously interfere with his comfort, or make too / heavy a draft upon his pocket. His self-indulgence, which was quite / blameless, unless surfeit is a fault, was the basis of an interest in / occult themes, which was the means of even higher diversion to Minver. / He liked to have Rulledge approach Wanhope from this side, in the / invincible persuasion that the psychologist would be interested in / these themes by the law of his science, though he had been assured / again and again that in spite of its misleading name psychology did / not deal with the soul as Rulledge supposed the soul; and Minver's / eyes lighted up with a prescience of uncommon pleasure when, late one / night, after we had vainly tried to hit it off in talk, now of this, / now of that, Rulledge asked Wanhope, abruptly as if it followed from / something before:
What this Textopian page supports
A Presentiment is listed on Textopian as a short story by William Dean Howells, dated 1887 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Short story
- Author: William Dean Howells
- Date: 1887 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Literary Realism, Psychological Fiction, Supernatural Fiction, Gothic Fiction, Paranormal Suspense
- Length: 5,949 words
- Structure: 1 section, 62 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Standard (8th-9th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for A Presentiment by William Dean Howells
- 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
Genres
- Literary Realism — The narrative employs detailed character studies and social observations characteristic of Howells' realist style.
- Psychological Fiction — The work delves into inner states, premonitions, and the nuanced sensations of dread and introspection.
- Supernatural Fiction — The recurring theme of forebodings and occult references introduces elements beyond the ordinary, engaging with the supernatural.
- Gothic Fiction — Atmospheric gloom, eerie coincidences, and a sense of impending doom contribute to a mild gothic tone.
Tags
realism · introspection · intuition · fate · foreshadowing · philosophical · psychological · social commentary · class conflict · family dynamics · life choices · emotional depth