Poetry · Character
Beauty John
A charismatic young man who swaps souls with a reformer and becomes the amphibious king of Prohibition, all in Bierce's gleefully savage political farce.
supporting
Also known as Beauty, John, professional Beauty . St. John, St. John
First appearance: poetry
As a supporting figure in Poetry, Beauty John is not background color—the story leans on what they do once the chapter opens.
The narrator's beloved Angora cat, now deceased, remembered for her boldness and affection.
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Beauty John, also called St. John, is the beautiful young man at the center of Bierce's dramatic satire on temperance politics and soul-trading. He agrees to exchange immortal parts with a former president, then is…
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See Beauty John in poetryCharacter Web
19 connectionsA slice of how Beauty John sits in the book — open the reader for the full interactive map.
Relationship types
- Other
Character groups
- Diverse Allegorical and Named Figures
- Protagonist
- Religious and Historical Figures
- Personifications and Named Characters
- Judicial and Descriptive Characters
- Titled and Historical Figures
+14 more in the full Character Web
Open in readerNarrative arc
Story tension across the book.
- Setup
- Escalation
- Breaking point
- Aftermath
- Closing
The emotional and psychological peak occurs when the speaker’s obsessive pursuit of the divine rose fragrance…
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Beauty John appears across 2 companion beats. Open any chapter in the free preview to see the notes beside the text.
Chapter companion notes
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See Beauty John in poetry