The Nightside of Character
by Ambrose Bierce · from Fantastic Fables
Adapted Version
Once there was a man named Mr. Smith. He wanted to marry a girl. Mr. Smith was a man. He was a rich man. He had much money. He liked to write books. He was important in town. He saw Lily. Lily was very pretty. He liked Lily very much. He wanted her for his wife. He asked her father. The Father was Lily's dad. Mr. Smith wanted to marry Lily.
The Father was happy. He liked Mr. Smith. He said, "Yes, marry Lily." He felt happy. He shook Mr. Smith's hand. He smiled a big smile.
Mr. Smith smiled. He had a book. It was a scrap-book. He held the book. He showed it to The Father. "I must show you this," he said. The book had bad things. Many people wrote them. They wrote bad things about Mr. Smith. They wrote bad words. He wanted The Father to know. He wanted The Father to see.
Mr. Smith was very happy. He felt very good. He left the house. He went to plan the wedding. He thought of Lily. He thought of his wedding day. He thought The Father understood. He thought The Father still liked him. Mr. Smith felt good. He felt very good.
Three days passed. A boy came to Mr. Smith's door. The boy gave him the book. He gave Mr. Smith a note. The note was from The Father. It said, "No Lily." It said, "Go away."
Mr. Smith was very sad. He felt very bad. He did not marry Lily. He was alone. He felt so alone. The Father did not trust him. The Father saw the book. He showed the bad book. The Father saw the bad words. He thought Mr. Smith was not good. Mr. Smith lost his chance. He felt very bad. He cried a little.
Mr. Smith learned a sad lesson. Do not show bad things about you. People might not trust you then.
Original Story
The Nightside of Character
A Gifted and Honourable Editor, who by practice of his profession had acquired wealth and distinction, applied to an Old Friend for the hand of his daughter in marriage.
“With all my heart, and God bless you!” said the Old Friend, grasping him by both hands. “It is a greater honour than I had dared to hope for.”
“I knew what your answer would be,” replied the Gifted and Honourable Editor. “And yet,” he added, with a sly smile, “I feel that I ought to give you as much knowledge of my character as I possess. In this scrap-book is such testimony relating to my shady side, as I have within the past ten years been able to cut from the columns of my competitors in the business of elevating humanity to a higher plane of mind and morals—my ‘loathsome contemporaries.’”
Laying the book on a table, he withdrew in high spirits to make arrangements for the wedding. Three days later he received the scrap-book from a messenger, with a note warning him never again to darken his Old Friend’s door.
“See!” the Gifted and Honourable Editor exclaimed, pointing to that injunction—“I am a painter and grainer!”
And he was led away to the Asylum for the Indiscreet.
Story DNA
Moral
Revealing one's perceived flaws, even if intended ironically, can have unintended and disastrous consequences.
Plot Summary
A successful editor proposes marriage to his old friend's daughter, who readily accepts. The editor, in a misguided attempt at transparency and irony, presents a scrapbook of negative press from his competitors, believing his friend will understand it as mere slander. However, the friend takes the contents literally and rejects the editor. The editor, in a final moment of delusional pride, misinterprets his rejection and is subsequently committed to an asylum.
Themes
Emotional Arc
confidence to shock to madness
Writing Style
Narrative Elements
Cultural Context
Ambrose Bierce was known for his cynical and dark humor, often satirizing human folly and societal norms of his era.
Plot Beats (7)
- A wealthy and distinguished editor proposes marriage to his old friend's daughter.
- The old friend enthusiastically accepts, expressing honor at the proposal.
- The editor, with a sly smile, insists on revealing his 'shady side' by presenting a scrapbook of negative articles from his competitors.
- The editor, in high spirits, leaves to make wedding arrangements, confident his friend will understand the context of the negative press.
- Three days later, the editor receives the scrapbook back via messenger, along with a note from his friend forbidding him from darkening his door again.
- The editor, pointing to the injunction, declares, 'I am a painter and grainer!' (implying he can make anything look good or bad, or perhaps that he exposed the 'grain' of truth).
- The editor is subsequently committed to an asylum for his indiscretion.
Characters
The Gifted and Honourable Editor ★ protagonist
A man of average height and build, likely well-groomed and presenting a respectable, perhaps slightly portly, appearance befitting a successful professional of the late 19th century. His features would suggest intelligence and a certain self-satisfaction.
Attire: A dark, well-tailored suit of the late 19th century, likely wool or tweed, with a crisp white shirt, a dark cravat or tie, and a waistcoat. His attire would convey professionalism and prosperity.
Wants: To secure a prestigious marriage and to demonstrate his perceived cleverness and mastery over his own reputation, even the 'shady side'.
Flaw: His fatal flaw is his overwhelming arrogance and indiscretion. He believes he can control perception and reveal his 'shady side' without consequence, underestimating the impact of negative information.
Begins as a confident, successful man seeking marriage, but his arrogance leads him to reveal too much, resulting in the loss of his intended marriage and his eventual committal to an asylum.
Arrogant, self-assured, cunning, somewhat deluded, and ultimately indiscreet. He believes himself clever and above reproach.
Image Prompt & Upload
An adult man of average height and build, standing upright, facing forward, full body visible from head to toe. He has a clean-shaven face with a neatly trimmed dark mustache, keen dark eyes, and dark, conservatively styled hair, slightly receding. He wears a dark, well-tailored wool suit, a crisp white shirt, a dark cravat, and a waistcoat. He holds a leather-bound scrap-book in his left hand, open to reveal newspaper clippings. He has a self-satisfied, sly smile on his face. Plain white background, full body visible head to toe, single figure, no watermark, no text, no signature.
The Old Friend ◆ supporting
A man of mature years, likely with a kind and trusting demeanor. His build might be robust or slightly stooped with age, but he would appear respectable and established.
Attire: Respectable, comfortable attire suitable for a man of means in the late 19th century, perhaps a dark frock coat or a more relaxed smoking jacket, depending on the setting, over a shirt and trousers.
Wants: To ensure his daughter's happiness and well-being, and to uphold his own sense of honor and propriety.
Flaw: His initial trusting nature, which makes him vulnerable to the Editor's indiscretion.
Begins as a welcoming and approving father, but upon learning the true character of the Editor, he transforms into a protective and rejecting figure.
Trusting, honorable, protective of his daughter, and decisive when faced with unacceptable information.
Image Prompt & Upload
An elderly man of respectable build, standing upright, facing forward, full body visible from head to toe. He has a kindly face with a full grey beard and mustache, warm brown eyes, and neatly kept grey hair. He wears a dark, well-tailored frock coat over a white shirt and dark trousers. His expression is initially welcoming, then shifts to one of firm disapproval. Plain white background, full body visible head to toe, single figure, no watermark, no text, no signature.
The Daughter ○ minor
Likely a young woman of marriageable age, probably presented as attractive and virtuous, fitting the expectations of a desirable bride in the late 19th century.
Attire: A modest but elegant dress of the late 19th century, perhaps a day dress in a light color, made of cotton or silk, with a fitted bodice and a full skirt.
Wants: To marry a suitable partner, though her specific desires are not detailed.
Flaw: Not applicable, as she is not an active participant in the plot.
Her potential marriage is proposed and then swiftly cancelled, without her direct involvement.
Implied to be virtuous and desirable, as she is the object of the Editor's marital ambition.
Image Prompt & Upload
A young adult woman of slender build, standing upright, facing forward, full body visible from head to toe. She has a pleasant, oval face with soft features, light eyes, and her light brown hair is styled in an elegant updo typical of the late 19th century. She wears a modest but elegant light blue cotton day dress with a fitted bodice, long sleeves, and a full skirt. She has a demure expression. Plain white background, full body visible head to toe, single figure, no watermark, no text, no signature.
Locations
The Old Friend's Study/Drawing Room
A private room within the Old Friend's residence, likely furnished for receiving guests or for quiet contemplation. It would have a table suitable for placing a book.
Mood: Initially warm and welcoming, transitioning to shocked and condemnatory.
The Gifted and Honourable Editor proposes marriage and presents his 'scrap-book' of negative press to the Old Friend.
Image Prompt & Upload
An elegant Victorian-era study, dimly lit by a gas lamp, with rich mahogany paneling and a large, leather-bound scrap-book lying open on a polished oak table. Heavy velvet drapes frame a tall window, and a Persian rug covers the floor. The air is still and heavy with unspoken tension. no border, no frame, no watermark, no text, no signature, edge-to-edge illustration.
The Asylum for the Indiscreet
An institutional setting, likely stark and utilitarian, designed for the confinement and care of the mentally unwell.
Mood: Bleak, confined, sterile, and melancholic.
The Gifted and Honourable Editor is committed to the asylum after his peculiar outburst.
Image Prompt & Upload
A stark, high-ceilinged room within a late 19th-century asylum, with pale, peeling plaster walls and a single, tall window covered by a heavy iron grate. A narrow, unadorned cot sits against one wall. The light filtering in is cold and diffuse, casting long, faint shadows across the worn wooden floorboards. The atmosphere is one of quiet, desolate confinement. no border, no frame, no watermark, no text, no signature, edge-to-edge illustration.
