The Poetess of Reform
by Ambrose Bierce
The Proud Poet and the Sky King's Lesson
Once, in a very happy place. Many old tale folk lived high in the sky. They lived in a special, happy land. The Sky King made them hear their words. Other tale folk said their words. This made them very happy. They smiled all day. They felt great joy. It was a good life.
A new lady came to this land. She walked in with a big smile. She looked very proud. She thought she was the best. No one knew her name. She had short hair. Her walk was strong. She felt special.
She sat down with the old tale folk. "I am the Proud Poet," she said. "I worked very hard." "I wrote many stories." "My stories are very good." "I deserve to be here." "I am the best writer." She smiled big. She felt very special. She felt very clever.
She thought all would praise her. All would clap for her stories. They would say her stories are great. She thought this would last always. She felt very happy. She felt very grand. She liked this idea.
But the Sky King did not help her ears. So, she heard other tale folk talk. It was very boring! And worse, she could not know her stories. The Sky King made her forget them.
The Proud Poet became the saddest lady there. She wished she could go back to Earth, far away from all the talking.
It is not good to only think about yourself and your own stories. It is better to listen to others too.
Original Story
The Poetess of Reform
One pleasant day in the latter part of eternity, as the Shades of all the great writers were reposing upon beds of asphodel and moly in the Elysian fields, each happy in hearing from the lips of the others nothing but copious quotation from his own works (for so Jove had kindly bedeviled their ears), there came in among them with triumphant mien a Shade whom none knew. She (for the newcomer showed such evidences of sex as cropped hair and a manly stride) took a seat in their midst, and smiling a superior smile explained:
“After centuries of oppression I have wrested my rights from the grasp of the jealous gods. On earth I was the Poetess of Reform, and sang to inattentive ears. Now for an eternity of honour and glory.”
But it was not to be so, and soon she was the unhappiest of mortals, vainly desirous to wander again in gloom by the infernal lakes. For Jove had not bedeviled her ears, and she heard from the lips of each blessed Shade an incessant flow of quotation from his own works. Moreover, she was denied the happiness of repeating her poems. She could not recall a line of them, for Jove had decreed that the memory of them abide in Pluto’s painful domain, as a part of the apparatus.
Moral of the Story
Those who seek only self-glorification may find their greatest desires turned into their worst torments.
Characters
The Poetess of Reform ★ protagonist
A shade, appearing as a woman with a somewhat masculine presentation. Her build is not explicitly stated but her stride suggests a certain robustness or confidence. As a shade, her form is ethereal but distinct.
Attire: As a shade in the Elysian Fields, she likely wears ethereal, flowing garments typical of classical depictions of the afterlife, though no specific details are given. Her focus is on her identity and achievements, not her attire.
Wants: To achieve eternal honor and glory for her earthly work as a poetess and reformer, and to have her works recognized and celebrated.
Flaw: Her overwhelming vanity and self-importance, coupled with her inability to tolerate the self-absorption of others. Her pride makes her vulnerable to Jove's ironic punishment.
She begins in triumph and self-satisfaction, believing she has achieved her just reward. She quickly descends into misery as she experiences the ironic punishment of hearing only others' works and being unable to recall her own.
Triumphant, self-important, proud, initially superior, later miserable, vain. She believes herself worthy of great honor.
Jove ⚔ antagonist
As a supreme deity, Jove's physical form is not described, but his presence is felt through his decrees and actions. He embodies immense power and a sense of divine justice or irony.
Attire: Not described, as he does not physically appear.
Wants: To maintain order in the Elysian Fields and to deliver a fitting, ironic punishment to the vain Poetess.
Flaw: Not applicable; as a god, he is presented as omnipotent within the story's context.
He remains a constant, unseen force, orchestrating the events without changing himself.
Mischievous, ironic, powerful, just (in his own divine way), somewhat cruel in his humor. He enjoys orchestrating poetic justice.
Shades of all the great writers ◆ supporting
Ethereal forms, reposing on beds of asphodel and moly. As shades, their forms are likely translucent or shimmering, representing their past human selves.
Attire: Ethereal, flowing garments typical of classical depictions of the afterlife, likely simple and unadorned.
Wants: To eternally enjoy hearing their own works quoted.
Flaw: Their complete self-absorption and inability to engage with anything outside their own literary creations.
They remain unchanged throughout the story, serving as a static backdrop and the instrument of the Poetess's torment.
Self-absorbed, content, blissful, oblivious to anything beyond their own works.
Locations
Elysian Fields
A serene, eternal meadow where the Shades of great writers repose on beds of asphodel and moly.
Mood: Initially blissful and self-congratulatory for the established Shades, but becomes torturous for the Poetess of Reform.
The Poetess of Reform arrives, expecting honor, but instead finds eternal torment by listening to others' self-quotations.
Pluto's Painful Domain (The Underworld)
The infernal realm where Pluto rules, characterized by gloom and lakes of suffering.
Mood: Painful, desolate, and oppressive, yet paradoxically desired by the Poetess as an escape from the Elysian Fields.
Jove decrees that the Poetess's memories of her poems reside here, making it a place of both punishment and a longed-for escape.
Story DNA
Moral
Those who seek only self-glorification may find their greatest desires turned into their worst torments.
Plot Summary
In the Elysian Fields, the Shades of great writers enjoy eternal bliss, each hearing only their own works quoted by others, thanks to Jove's enchantment. A new Shade, the self-proclaimed 'Poetess of Reform,' arrives, boasting of her earthly struggles and expecting eternal honor. However, Jove has not enchanted her ears, forcing her to listen to the incessant self-quotations of others. Furthermore, she cannot recall her own poems, their memory confined to Pluto's domain. She quickly becomes the unhappiest Shade, longing to return to the infernal lakes.
Themes
Emotional Arc
triumph to torment
Writing Style
Narrative Elements
Cultural Context
Ambrose Bierce was known for his cynical and satirical writing, often targeting human folly and hypocrisy. This story reflects a critique of self-important, perhaps overly earnest, 'reformers' or artists of his time.
Plot Beats (8)
- The Shades of great writers reside in Elysium, perpetually happy because Jove has enchanted their ears to hear only their own works quoted by others.
- A new, unknown female Shade arrives in Elysium with a triumphant and superior air.
- She introduces herself as the 'Poetess of Reform,' claiming to have overcome centuries of oppression to earn her place.
- She anticipates an eternity of honor and glory for her past efforts.
- However, it is revealed that Jove did not enchant her ears like the others.
- Consequently, she is forced to listen to the incessant self-quotations of all the other Shades.
- Adding to her torment, she cannot recall any of her own poems, as Jove decreed their memory reside in Pluto's painful domain.
- She quickly becomes the unhappiest Shade, wishing she could return to the gloom of the infernal lakes.
