A pugilist met the Moral Sentiment of the Community, who was carrying a hat-box.
"What do you have in the hat-box, my friend?" inquired the pugilist.
"A new frown," was the answer. "I am bringing it from the frownery—the one over there with the gilded steeple."
"And what are you going to do with the nice new frown?" the pugilist asked.
"Put down pugilism—if I have to wear it night and day," said the Moral Sentiment of the Community, sternly.
"That's right," said the pugilist. "That is right, my good friend. If pugilism had been put down yesterday, I wouldn't have this kind of nose today. I had a rattling hot fight last evening with—"
"Is that so?" cried the Moral Sentiment of the Community, with sudden animation. "Which one licked? Sit down here on the hat-box and tell me all about it!"
Societal norms and moral judgments can often be hypocritical, as the very individuals who criticize others may be drawn to the excitement or drama they seek to condemn.
Discussion questions
- What does the pugilist symbolize in the context of the story?
- How does the interaction between the pugilist and the Moral Sentiment illustrate hypocrisy?
- Can you think of a modern example where societal norms clash with individual behavior?
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Read it in another language
- المشاعر الأخلاقية · العربية
- Das moralische Gefühl · Deutsch
- El Sentimiento Moral · Español
- احساس اخلاقی · فارسی
- Le Sentiment Moral · Français
- नैतिक भावना। · हिन्दी
- Il Sentimento Morale. · Italiano
- O Sentimento Moral · Português
- Моральное чувство · Русский
- నైతిక భావన · తెలుగు
- Ang Sentimiyentong Moral. · Tagalog
- Моральний почуття. · Українська
- 道德情操 · 中文
Good night.
Tomorrow night: The Fox and the Crane
