The Garotters by William Dean Howells

"The Garotters" by William Dean Howells is a comedic novel written in the late 19th century. It explores the themes of mistaken identity and social morality in the context of a robbery and the ensuing chaos that follows. The story revolves around the character of Mr. Roberts, who believes he has been robbed, only to realize he mistakenly took the watch of another man, Mr. Bemis. The plot begins with Mr. Roberts being accosted by an individual in a dark spot in the park, prompting him to pursue and tackle the supposed thief, leading to an ironic twist when he later discovers that the watch he recovered was not his own. The narrative humorously unfolds as Roberts navigates the complexities of his assault on Bemis, revealing themes of honor, societal expectations, and the absurdity of human behavior. His wife, Agnes, and their circle of friends react with a mix of concern, pride, and disbelief at the unfolding events. The novel culminates in a dinner party where the truth of the situation is slowly unraveled, providing both comedic relief and a moral reflection on the consequences of violence and misunderstanding among gentlefolk in society. (This is an automatically generated summary.)

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About this eBook

Author Howells, William Dean, 1837-1920
Title The Garotters
Credits Transcribed from the 1897 David Douglas edition by David Price
Reading Level Reading ease score: 85.6 (6th grade). Easy to read.
Language English
LoC Class PS: Language and Literatures: American and Canadian literature
Subject American drama -- 19th century
Category Text
eBook-No. 3237
Release Date
Last Update Sep 24, 2014
Copyright Public domain in the USA.
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