An Invitation
by Ambrose Bierce
Mr. Greedy and King Turkey
Once, there was a man named Mr. Greedy. He loved to eat, eat, eat! Mr. Greedy eats much food. He eats at a big party. His tummy is very full. He feels very sleepy. Mr. Greedy falls asleep at the table. He starts to dream.
Mr. Greedy is in a new place. Big turkeys live here. They are the bosses. The sun shines bright. Green trees grow tall. The turkeys walk with pride. They are strong and loud. The turkeys have many parties. They eat much food too. They are happy to be alive. They make big feasts.
Mr. Greedy sees King Turkey. King Turkey is very big. He is very important. His feathers are shiny. He wears a small crown. His voice is deep. King Turkey talks to Mr. Greedy. "Come to my dinner," he says. "It is a special dinner."
Mr. Greedy feels very happy. "Yes!" he says to King Turkey. He thinks of yummy food. He thinks of big cakes. He thinks of tasty pies. He smiles a big smile. He is a happy guest.
King Turkey looks at Mr. Greedy. He speaks very slowly. "You come to dinner," King Turkey says. "This is true. You do not eat." Mr. Greedy looks confused. Mr. Greedy frowns. He does not know. He tilts his head. King Turkey says, "Guest is one. Meal is another." "You are the meal for us." "We will eat you."
Mr. Greedy feels a big surprise. His eyes open wide. He understands King Turkey's words. He is not a guest at the dinner. He is the food for the dinner. Mr. Greedy feels a little scared now. He does not feel happy.
Suddenly, Mr. Greedy wakes up. He sits up very fast. He is not in the turkey land. He is at his table. He remembers his dream clearly. King Turkey's words come back to him. "You are the dinner." Mr. Greedy thinks about this. He feels a little silly now. He ate so much food. He thinks about the turkeys. He thinks about how they feel. He remembers King Turkey's words. He understands a new thing. It is a big lesson for him.
And from that day, Mr. Greedy thought of others, even turkeys. He learned to be kind.
Original Story
An Invitation
A Pious Person who had overcharged his paunch with dead bird by way of attesting his gratitude for escaping the many calamities which Heaven had sent upon others, fell asleep at table and dreamed. He thought he lived in a country where turkeys were the ruling class, and every year they held a feast to manifest their sense of Heaven’s goodness in sparing their lives to kill them later. One day, about a week before one of these feasts, he met the Supreme Gobbler, who said:
“You will please get yourself into good condition for the Thanksgiving dinner.”
“Yes, your Excellency,” replied the Pious Person, delighted, “I shall come hungry, I assure you. It is no small privilege to dine with your Excellency.”
The Supreme Gobbler eyed him for a moment in silence; then he said:
“As one of the lower domestic animals, you cannot be expected to know much, but you might know something. Since you do not, you will permit me to point out that being asked to dinner is one thing; being asked to dine is another and a different thing.”
With this significant remark the Supreme Gobbler left him, and thenceforward the Pious Person dreamed of himself as white meat and dark until rudely awakened by decapitation.
Moral of the Story
One's own traditions and celebrations can be another's demise.
Characters
The Pious Person ★ protagonist
A man of indeterminate height and build, but notably corpulent, with a distended belly suggesting a fondness for rich food. His complexion might be ruddy from overindulgence.
Attire: Given the context of a Thanksgiving feast and his 'pious' nature, he would likely wear formal, perhaps slightly old-fashioned, European attire suitable for a prosperous, religious man of the late 19th century. This could include a dark wool frock coat, a starched white shirt, a waistcoat, and dark trousers, possibly with a cravat or bow tie. The fabric would be sturdy and well-maintained, but perhaps a bit strained over his ample figure.
Wants: To enjoy a grand feast and maintain his self-perception as a favored individual.
Flaw: His gluttony and self-centered naivety prevent him from understanding the true nature of the 'invitation'.
Starts as a self-satisfied, gluttonous man, then experiences a terrifying dream where he realizes he is the prey, not the guest. He learns a brutal lesson about perspective, though only in his subconscious.
Self-righteous, gluttonous, naive, initially delighted, later terrified.
The Supreme Gobbler ⚔ antagonist
A large, imposing male turkey, significantly larger and more regal than an ordinary farm turkey. Its feathers would be iridescent bronze and black, meticulously preened. It would stand tall and proud, exuding authority.
Attire: No clothing, but its natural plumage would be exceptionally rich and well-maintained, perhaps with a particularly impressive fan of tail feathers. It might have a metaphorical 'crown' or 'regalia' implied by its bearing, but not actual garments.
Wants: To maintain the established order where turkeys are the ruling class and humans are livestock, and to deliver a chilling lesson in perspective.
Flaw: None apparent within the dream context; it holds all the power.
Remains consistent as the powerful, insightful figure who delivers the story's central irony.
Authoritative, intelligent, subtly menacing, ironic, patient, disdainful.
Locations
The Pious Person's Dining Table
A dining table laden with the remains of a feast, specifically a 'dead bird' (turkey), where the Pious Person has overeaten and fallen asleep.
Mood: Heavy, somnolent, post-feast indulgence, slightly oppressive
The Pious Person falls asleep and begins his dream.
Dream Countryside Path
A generic countryside path in a dream world where turkeys are the ruling class, serving as the setting for the Pious Person's encounter with the Supreme Gobbler.
Mood: Surreal, slightly unsettling, formal yet absurd
The Pious Person meets the Supreme Gobbler and receives the 'invitation'.
Story DNA
Moral
One's own traditions and celebrations can be another's demise.
Plot Summary
A Pious Person, after a gluttonous Thanksgiving meal, dreams he lives in a world ruled by turkeys. The Supreme Gobbler invites him to Thanksgiving dinner, which the Pious Person naively accepts, believing he will be a guest. The Gobbler then clarifies that he is invited to 'be dined upon,' revealing the horrifying truth. The Pious Person dreams of being carved until he is abruptly awakened by decapitation, implying his own demise.
Themes
Emotional Arc
complacency to terror
Writing Style
Narrative Elements
Cultural Context
Ambrose Bierce was known for his dark humor, cynicism, and satirical critiques of human nature and societal conventions, often employing irony and grim endings.
Plot Beats (7)
- A Pious Person, full from a Thanksgiving meal, falls asleep and dreams.
- In his dream, he lives in a land ruled by turkeys who hold feasts to celebrate their survival.
- He encounters the Supreme Gobbler, who invites him to the upcoming Thanksgiving dinner.
- The Pious Person, delighted, accepts, believing he will be a guest.
- The Supreme Gobbler clarifies that being 'asked to dinner' (as a guest) is different from 'being asked to dine' (as the meal).
- The Pious Person understands he is to be the main course.
- He continues to dream of himself as turkey meat until he is awakened by decapitation, implying his own death.
