Short Fiction · Chapter
She Laughs Too Much explained
The princess, now seventeen, continues to laugh at everything, including serious matters like war and her parents' distress.
What happens
The princess, now seventeen, continues to laugh at everything, including serious matters like war and her parents' distress. Her peculiar bounding run and lack of gravity lead to an awkward incident where she kisses a page and slaps him with a toad, causing her father great indignation.
Free preview opens on this chapter — companions, themes, and character notes appear beside the text.
Narrative arc
Story tension across the book — this chapter sits in Falling action.
- Setup
- Escalation
- Breaking point
- Aftermath
- Closing
This is the story's dramatic climax because it represents the psychological peak where Photogen confronts the…
Full beat labels and climax notes unlock in the reader.
Follow the arc while readingThemes in this chapter
- Reality vs. Illusion
The princess's inability to perceive the seriousness of events, such as war and her parents' sorrow, highlights a disconnect between her perception and reality.
- Vanity and Self-Conceit
The princess's self-absorbed laughter and lack of concern for others' feelings reflect a form of vanity.
Characters to notice
- The Princess
Now seventeen, she laughs at everything, including war and her parents' grief, and has a peculiar bounding run.
- Rosamond
Mentioned as the princess's name; she is the subject of the chapter.
- King Ralph
The princess's father, who is hurt and indignant when she kisses a page.
Key passages
“She never could be brought to see the serious side of anything.”
She was incapable of recognizing the gravity of any situation.
Illustrates her persistent frivolity.
“When her mother cried, she said— 'What queer faces mamma makes! And she squeezes water out of her cheeks? Funny mamma!'”
When her mother wept, the princess mocked her tears as amusing facial contortions.
Shows her lack of empathy.
