| Author |
Herman, William (Author of The dance of death) |
| Title |
The Dance of Death
|
| Note |
Supposed authors are Ambrose Bierce and Thomas A. Harcourt, writing under joint pseudonym.
|
| Note |
Reading ease score: 61.4 (8th & 9th grade). Neither easy nor difficult to read.
|
| Credits |
Produced by David Widger from page images generously
provided by the Internet Archive
|
| Summary |
"The Dance of Death" by William Herman is a provocative critique written in the late 19th century. The text delves into the moral implications of contemporary dance, particularly focusing on the waltz, which the author associates with a range of societal vices, including lust and degradation. With a critical eye, Herman explores the entanglement of innocent social gatherings with the darker approaches of sexual temptation, using vivid descriptions and a scathing tone to challenge readers' perceptions of decorum and morality. The opening portion introduces the author's perspective through an engaging narrative that takes the reader into a luxurious ballroom filled with beautiful dancers and the alluring atmosphere of a social event. As the festivities unfold, Herman juxtaposes the apparent innocence of the gathering with the underlying sexual motives and questionable interactions among attendees. He highlights specific characters, such as a naive young maiden and her predatory male counterparts, illustrating how innocence is often compromised within the seductive embrace of the waltz. The author’s intent to expose the societal masks that hide moral decay becomes apparent, raising questions about the implications of modern social practices on personal integrity and public virtue. (This is an automatically generated summary.)
|
| Language |
English |
| LoC Class |
PS: Language and Literatures: American and Canadian literature
|
| Subject |
Satire
|
| Subject |
Waltz -- Social aspects
|
| Category |
Text |
| EBook-No. |
47427 |
| Release Date |
Nov 22, 2014 |
| Copyright Status |
Public domain in the USA. |
| Downloads |
95 downloads in the last 30 days. |
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