The Politicians
by Ambrose Bierce
The Two Friends and the Special Palace
Two friends walked a dusty road. One friend was old. One friend was young. They walked a long, long way. The road was very dusty. Dust went up. The road was not pretty. It was just brown dirt.
The Young Friend looked all around. He looked left. He looked right. He saw a different path. This path had green trees. The trees were tall. Pretty flowers grew there. The flowers were red. The flowers were blue. Far away, he saw shiny, tall buildings. The buildings were bright. They looked nice. He thought this new path was much better. It looked very nice. It looked so much better.
The Young Friend pointed to a sign. He pointed with his hand. The sign was new. The sign said 'Special Palace'. 'Let's go!' He smiled big. He wanted to turn off the road. He wanted to go to the palace. He wanted to see the shiny buildings.
The Old Friend looked at the path. He looked for a long time. He saw the green trees. He saw the pretty flowers. He said, "It looks nice." But he shook his head. He said, "A big problem for the Palace." This problem was for the people there. It was a big, big problem.
The Young Friend looked at him. He asked, "What is the problem?" The Old Friend looked ahead. He said, "Finding it is hard!" He meant the Special Palace. He meant the path. He meant the way there. The Young Friend looked sad. He looked confused. But the Old Friend did not stop. Then, the Old Friend kept walking. He walked on their old road. He walked slowly. He walked steadily. He did not look back. He kept going straight. He knew his way. He knew the road. He kept walking on the dusty road.
Original Story
The Politicians
An Old Politician and a Young Politician were travelling through a beautiful country, by the dusty highway which leads to the City of Prosperous Obscurity. Lured by the flowers and the shade and charmed by the songs of birds which invited to woodland paths and green fields, his imagination fired by glimpses of golden domes and glittering palaces in the distance on either hand, the Young Politician said:
“Let us, I beseech thee, turn aside from this comfortless road leading, thou knowest whither, but not I. Let us turn our backs upon duty and abandon ourselves to the delights and advantages which beckon from every grove and call to us from every shining hill. Let us, if so thou wilt, follow this beautiful path, which, as thou seest, hath a guide-board saying, ‘Turn in here all ye who seek the Palace of Political Distinction.’”
“It is a beautiful path, my son,” said the Old Politician, without either slackening his pace or turning his head, “and it leadeth among pleasant scenes. But the search for the Palace of Political Distinction is beset with one mighty peril.”
“What is that?” said the Young Politician.
“The peril of finding it,” the Old Politician replied, pushing on.
Moral of the Story
The pursuit of political distinction often leads to an undesirable or dangerous outcome.
Characters
Old Politician ◆ supporting
A man of advanced age, likely of average height but with a slightly stooped posture from years of travel and experience. His build is probably lean, suggesting a life of constant movement rather than physical labor. His skin would show the effects of sun and wind from his travels on dusty roads.
Attire: Practical, well-worn but still respectable attire suitable for a traveler on a dusty highway in the late 19th or early 20th century American context. Perhaps a dark, slightly dusty wool suit (frock coat and trousers), a waistcoat, and a plain white shirt, possibly with a simple tie. Sturdy, polished leather boots would complete the ensemble. The fabric would be durable, not luxurious.
Wants: To continue on the known, albeit comfortless, path, having learned the dangers of seeking superficial 'distinction'. He aims to impart this hard-won wisdom.
Flaw: His cynicism might prevent him from appreciating genuine beauty or new opportunities, or he might be too set in his ways.
He serves as a static mentor figure, embodying the wisdom gained from a long political career. He does not change but offers a lesson.
Wise, cynical, pragmatic, experienced, focused.
Young Politician ★ protagonist
A man in the prime of his youth, likely of average height and a healthy, perhaps slightly eager, build. His complexion would be less weathered than his elder companion, showing a more recent entry into the rigors of political travel.
Attire: Newer, perhaps slightly more fashionable attire than the Old Politician, but still practical for travel. A well-fitted, dark wool suit (frock coat and trousers), a crisp white shirt, and a more decorative tie. His boots would be polished and less worn, indicating his relative inexperience on the 'dusty highway'.
Wants: To find 'Political Distinction' and the 'delights and advantages' he perceives in the beautiful, seemingly easier paths.
Flaw: His naivety and susceptibility to superficial charm, leading him to overlook potential dangers or the true nature of his goals.
He is at the beginning of his political journey, presented with a choice between the comfortless but known path and the alluring but perilous one. His arc is implied to be one of learning from the Old Politician's wisdom, or potentially falling prey to the perils.
Idealistic, impressionable, ambitious, easily distracted by superficial allure, curious.
Locations
Dusty Highway to the City of Prosperous Obscurity
A well-trodden, dusty road cutting through a beautiful country, flanked by inviting woodland paths and green fields. In the distance, glimpses of golden domes and glittering palaces can be seen.
Mood: Initially pleasant and inviting, but with an underlying sense of relentless, unyielding progress.
The setting for the entire dialogue between the Old and Young Politician, representing the conventional, difficult path.
Path to the Palace of Political Distinction
A beautiful, inviting path branching off the main highway, leading among pleasant scenes. It features a guide-board explicitly pointing towards the 'Palace of Political Distinction'.
Mood: Alluring, promising, and seemingly less arduous than the main highway, yet subtly ominous due to the Old Politician's warning.
The Young Politician's proposed alternative route, symbolizing the temptation of a seemingly easier, more direct path to power.
Story DNA
Moral
The pursuit of political distinction often leads to an undesirable or dangerous outcome.
Plot Summary
A Young Politician, traveling with an Old Politician towards the City of Prosperous Obscurity, is enchanted by a beautiful path promising 'Political Distinction'. He urges them to take it, but the Old Politician warns of a 'mighty peril' in seeking such a place. When pressed, the Old Politician reveals the peril is actually finding the Palace of Political Distinction itself, implying that achieving such power is undesirable or dangerous, and continues on the original, less glamorous road.
Themes
Emotional Arc
naivety to cynical wisdom
Writing Style
Narrative Elements
Cultural Context
Ambrose Bierce was known for his cynical and often dark view of human nature and institutions, particularly politics, reflecting a late 19th/early 20th-century American perspective.
Plot Beats (5)
- An Old Politician and a Young Politician are traveling together on a dusty highway.
- The Young Politician is captivated by the beautiful scenery, woodland paths, and distant golden domes, contrasting with their comfortless road.
- He suggests they turn off the main road to follow a beautiful path marked 'Palace of Political Distinction'.
- The Old Politician agrees the path is beautiful but warns of a 'mighty peril' associated with the search for the Palace.
- When asked, the Old Politician reveals the peril is 'finding it', and continues on the original road.
