Ambition and Failure

Where it surfaces

• No Help for It

  John's reluctance to accept the promotion highlights the tension between ambition and the fear of failure or increased responsibility.

• A Valedictory

  The narrator's ambition to sustain a long-lasting literary light is thwarted, leading to a humorous but poignant reflection on failure and the fleeting nature of success.

• A Houston Romance

  His pursuit of perfect fashion ultimately fails to bring happiness, driving him to seek fulfillment in monastic simplicity.

• Nothing New Under the Sun

  The protagonist's intense ambition to create an original work leads to a devastating failure when he discovers his idea was not unique.

• City Perils

  Dilworthy's failed promise to his wife and his subsequent downfall illustrate the theme of personal ambition undermined by weakness.

• Binkley's Practical School of Journalism

  Binkley's ambitious scheme to profit from a journalism school ends in financial ruin and personal disgrace.

• The Apple

  The youth's relentless pursuit of success leads to a bitter, rotten outcome, illustrating the failure inherent in ambition divorced from life's simple joys.

• How Willie Saved Father

  Mr. Flint's relentless work ethic and ambition to provide for his family ultimately contribute to his illness and ironic demise.

• Fox-in-the-Morning

  Goodwin and Keogh's ambition to seize power and wealth contrasts with the president's failed escape, reflecting the precarious nature of political success.

• Cupid's Exile Number Two

  Johnny's romantic failure leads him to a political appointment, but he shows no ambition to work, only to escape.

• The Admiral

  Felipe Carrera, though given the grand title of Admiral, receives no salary, crew, or orders, illustrating the gap between official ambition and practical reality.

• The Flag Paramount

  Sabas's revolutionary ambitions fail, but his collector's passion triumphs; the admiral's deluded loyalty ends in death.

• The Remnants of the Code

  Blythe's failed attempts to maintain his respectable facade and his ultimate descent into blackmail illustrate the theme of ambition leading to failure.

• Ships

  Keogh's pursuit of 'graft' and Johnny's eventual rejection of the lotus life for domesticity highlight the tension between ambition and contentment.

• Masters of Arts

  White's ambition to create transcendent art clashes with the commercial scheme, leading to the destruction of both the painting and the payment.

• Rouge Et Noir

  President Losada's ambition to squeeze the Vesuvius Fruit Company leads to his downfall, while the Vesuvius Company's ambition to remove the banana duty succeeds through a carefully orchestrated coup.

• Bulger's Friend

  Bulger's internal struggle to give up his 'friend' represents a failed attempt at spiritual peace until he finally succeeds through his donation.

• A Blackjack Bargainer

  Yancey Goree's ambition has led to ruin, while the Garveys' ambition for social climbing drives the plot.

• The Passing of Black Eagle

  Black Eagle's rise to fame within the gang leads to Bud King's waning authority and internal conflict, foreshadowing the band's potential downfall.

• A Call Loan

  Longley's ambition as a cattleman and banker leads to a risky loan that nearly results in legal failure, but his trust in Merwin's word ultimately averts disaster.

• The Cactus

  Trysdale's ambition to appear superior and his subsequent failure to recognize the true meaning of the cactus symbolize his downfall.

• Art and the Bronco

  Lonny Briscoe's artistic ambition culminates in the destruction of his painting and his renunciation of art, symbolizing the failure of his aspirations.

• Roads of Destiny

  David's ambition to become a famous poet drives him to leave Vernoy, risking failure and loss.

• The Right Branch

  David's ambition to become a poet leads him to Paris, but his naivety and trust in the lady nearly result in his unwitting participation in treason.

• The Main Road

  David's poetic ambition leads to the neglect of his flock and family, and his failure as a poet is confirmed by Monsieur Bril's critique, culminating in his suicide.

• Out of Nazareth

  The Blaylocks' hopeful ambition to start anew in Skyland is undercut by the reality of the scam, yet Bloom's intervention offers a chance for redemption.

• The Atavism of John Tom Little Bear

  John Tom's education and ambition to bridge racial divides ultimately fail, leading to a reversion to tribal ways.

• II

  Jimmy's desire to fit in as a ranger fails when he is perceived as a coward, tarnishing the company's honor.

• Confessions of a Humorist

  The narrator's ambition to succeed as a humorist results in creative burnout and rejection, forcing a reevaluation of his life.

• The Social Triangle

  Each character aspires to connect with someone of higher status, achieving a momentary triumph that ultimately underscores their social limitations and the futility of their ambitions.

• On Behalf of the Management

  Denver Galloway's ambition to manage something grand like a railroad or diamond trust contrasts with the dubious reality of a South American campaign.

• The Sparrows in Madison Square

  The narrator's literary ambition is crushed by rejection, leading to a bitter, ironic outcome.

• The Romance of a Busy Broker

  Maxwell's relentless ambition in finance causes a personal failure—forgetting his own wedding—yet his love ultimately prevails.

• A Matter of Mean Elevation

  Armstrong's ambition to acquire a coffee plantation drives his trading venture, while the opera manager's greed nearly leads to disaster when the star vanishes.

• Ulysses and the Dogman

  Sam's failed attempt to maintain his former identity in the face of domestic obligations, culminating in a rebellious act that reclaims his agency.

• The Complete Life of John Hopkins

  Hopkins's attempt to play the hero fails comically when he is easily overpowered and ejected, returning to his mundane life.

• The Emancipation of Billy

  Billy's ambition to be recognized in his own right is thwarted by his father's overshadowing legacy, leading him to abandon his pursuit of external honors.

• The Rubber Plant's Story

  Bess's failed singing career is highlighted when a vocal coach tells her 'the voice is not there,' leading to her emotional breakdown and eventual decision to leave with Dick.

• The Roads We Take

  Shark Dodson's ambition for wealth leads to betrayal and murder, yet his dream reveals a parallel ruthless ambition in the financial world.

• A Sacrifice Hit

  Slayton's desperate ambition to achieve literary fame leads him to sacrifice his integrity, resulting in ironic failure.

• Hearts and Crosses

  Webb's desire to be 'king' of the ranch contrasts with his perceived failure to assert authority.

• Christmas by Injunction

  Cherokee's ambitious plan to bring Christmas joy is undermined by the town's lack of children, and the canvassers face repeated rejections.

• The Unknown Quantity

  Dan's ambition to make restitution is met with Kenwitz's argument that the consequences of his father's actions are irreversible, highlighting the failure of good intentions.

• The Shocks of Doom

  Both characters face the failure of their expectations: Vallance loses his fortune, and Ide's hope of inheritance is dashed.

• The Girl and the Graft

  Vaucross's ambition for fame and Pogue's greed for money both fail when the scheme unravels due to unexpected love.

• According to Their Lights

  Both Murray and the Captain have fallen from high positions, illustrating the failure of their ambitions.

• The Lost Blend

  Riley and McQuirk's relentless but failed attempts to recreate the lost blend, wasting much liquor.

• The Skylight Room

  Miss Leeson's failed job search and eventual collapse highlight the struggle for success in the city.

• The Assessor of Success

  Morley's ambition to live by his wits leads to material gain but ultimately fails to provide genuine fulfillment, as shown by his wish to die.

• The Plutonian Fire

  Pettit's ambition to succeed as a writer is thwarted by his inability to write convincingly until he experiences love, but he ultimately chooses integrity over success.

• The Last Leaf

  Behrman is a failed artist who finally creates his masterpiece through a selfless act, not through conventional artistic success.

• The Duel

  Both William and Jack came to New York with ambitions, but their outcomes differ: William succeeds materially but is seen as having lost his identity, while Jack resists but remains unfulfilled.

• The Rubaiyat of a Scotch Highball

  Bob's attempt at reform initially fails to bring happiness, highlighting the struggle between personal ambition and marital harmony.

• The Handbook of Hymen

  Pratt's ambition to win Mrs. Sampson through statistics and Idaho's poetic courtship both face obstacles, with the fire testing their efforts.

• A Ruler of Men

  O'Connor's grand ambitions to rule and lead a revolution ultimately fail as the entire plot is a joke, yet he remains undeterred.

• The Higher Abdication

  Ranse's ambitious project to reform Curly faces repeated setbacks, highlighting the tension between aspiration and the stubbornness of human nature.

• Calloway's Code

  Calloway's ambition to get the story past the censor succeeds, while the London paper's false account fails.

• The Man Higher Up

  Alfred E. Ricks's failed schemes and Bill Bassett's inability to succeed in business illustrate the theme of ambition leading to failure.

• Phoebe

  Kearny's repeated failures in gold hunting, shipping, and revolution, despite his efforts, underscore the theme of ambition thwarted by misfortune.

• The Octopus Marooned

  Jeff and Andy's ambitious trust fails due to internal self-destruction, as Andy's speech inadvertently ruins their monopoly.

• Jeff Peters as a Personal Magnet

  Jeff's ambition to make money through his schemes leads him to Fisher Hill, where he initially fails due to local politics, but ultimately succeeds through a clever con.

• The Chair of Philanthromathematics

  The mine owner's failed mansion becomes the site of the university; the scheme ultimately succeeds as a graft, not genuine education.

• The Moment of Victory

  Willie Robbins's relentless pursuit of military glory and fame is central, though the narrator questions the ultimate value of such ambition, highlighting the cost in lives and the absurdity of war.

• Buried Treasure

  The narrator's quest for buried treasure ultimately fails, but his true ambition—winning May Martha—succeeds, highlighting the contrast between material and emotional goals.

• Strictly Business

  Hart's ambition to produce his sketch and the near-fatal accident that threatens their success, balanced by the revelation of personal commitment.

• What You Want

  James Turner's contentment with his simple life contrasts with the caliph's attempt to impose his own idea of success, exploring the theme of personal ambition versus external expectations.

• II

  Wainwright's ambition to instruct President Gomez and redeem a nation contrasts with his own personal failures and alcoholism.

• III

  Wainwright's rise from beachcomber to presidential advisor is undone by his relapse into alcoholism, illustrating the theme of personal failure despite external success.

• IV

  The narrator rejects a secure, high-paying job to pursue writing, highlighting the tension between ambition and practical success.

• II

  Mack's story of his boxing career illustrates the theme of ambition thwarted by psychological barriers, paralleling the narrator's fear of romantic rejection.

• Bestseller

  Characters' ambitions to create a bestseller are undercut by the absurdity of the process, highlighting the gap between aspiration and literary merit.

• The Venturers

  Both Ives and Forster are driven by a restless ambition for unpredictable experiences, yet they struggle with the failure of conventional life to provide true adventure.

• The Snow Man

  Etienne Girod's failed career as an opera singer and palmist exemplifies the theme of ambition thwarted by circumstance.

• The Unprofitable Servant

  The chapter contrasts the potential success of Mac McGowan's talent with the risk of wasting it, echoing the parable's warning about the unprofitable servant.

• A Fog in Santone

  The invalids' failed quest for health and life in San Antonio, and their resort to self-destructive measures, reflect the theme of ambition thwarted by inevitable failure.