Short Fiction · Theme

Human Ambition and Folly

How Short Fiction develops Human Ambition and Folly.

Characters driven by curiosity, profit, or scientific glory often face setbacks due to their own flaws (e.g., tardiness, recklessness) or the limitations of their technology, reflecting on the hubris and resilience inherent in human endeavor.

Where it surfaces

Valley of Dreams
Jarvis and Leroy's curiosity leads them into danger, highlighting the risks of unchecked ambition.
The Worlds of If
Dixon's guilt and desire to know the 'if' world reflect human folly in seeking to alter or understand the unchangeable past; van Manderpootz's grandiose autobiography plans also illustrate ambition.