Consequences is a short story by
Willa Cather
Willa Sibert Cather (; born Wilella Sibert Cather; December 7, 1873 – April 24, 1947) was an American writer known for her novels of life on the Great Plains, including '' O Pioneers!'', '' The Song of the Lark'', and '' My Ántonia''. In 19 ...
. It was first published in ''
McClure's
''McClure's'' or ''McClure's Magazine'' (1893–1929) was an American illustrated monthly periodical popular at the turn of the 20th century. The magazine is credited with having started the tradition of muckraking journalism ( investigative, wa ...
'' in November 1915.
[''Uncle Valentine and Other Stories: Willa Cather's Uncollected Short Fiction, 1915-29'', University of Nebraska Press; Dec 1973, page 84]
Plot summary
Kier Cavenaugh picks up his neighbour Henry Eastman on his way back to their apartment building in
New York City
New York, often called New York City or NYC, is the most populous city in the United States. With a 2020 population of 8,804,190 distributed over , New York City is also the most densely populated major city in the U ...
. Back in his flat, Eastman needs a
German language
German ( ) is a West Germanic language mainly spoken in Central Europe. It is the most widely spoken and official or co-official language in Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Liechtenstein, and the Italian province of South Tyrol. It is als ...
dictionary to prepare a case. He goes down to his neighbour's to ask if he can borrow his, and there a man seems to have just left his apartment through the window. Eastman leaves unfazed, too busy with work.
On
New Year's Eve
In the Gregorian calendar, New Year's Eve, also known as Old Year's Day or Saint Sylvester's Day in many countries, is the evening or the entire day of the December 31, last day of the year, on 31 December. The last day of the year is commonly ...
Eastman decides to stay in, and Cavenaugh comes along. They talk about
suicide
Suicide is the act of intentionally causing one's own death. Mental disorders (including depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, personality disorders, anxiety disorders), physical disorders (such as chronic fatigue syndrome), and ...
, especially bachelors like them who have committed suicide. Cavenaugh explains how he first met the man who is stalking him. His car had broken down and the man was supposed to help him tow him home. The man was delirious but seemed to know everything about him, every single detail even from schooldays, any memory likely to put him down. Eastman suggests moving to
Montana
Montana () is a U.S. state, state in the Mountain states, Mountain West List of regions of the United States#Census Bureau-designated regions and divisions, division of the Western United States. It is bordered by Idaho to the west, North ...
for a while - that way the stalker would get bored and leave him alone.
A couple of days later, Cavenaugh tells Eastman he shall follow his counsel. However, the next day he is found to have killed himself in his apartment.
Characters
*Henry Eastman, a lawyer in his forties.
*Kier Cavenaugh, Eastman's neighbour.
*Rollins, Eastman's servant.
*the stalker
*Dudley, a late friend of Eastman's.
*Rosina, Dudley's wife.
*Dr Johnson
*Wyatt, a rich bachelor who decided to spend all his money and commit suicide.
*Anna Karenina, a woman who attempted to commit suicide.
*Captain Jack Purden, a married man who decided to commit suicide.
*Charley Burke
*Brian, Cavenaugh's late twin brother. He died when he was sixteen years old.
*Harry, Cavenaugh's driver.
Major themes
*Suicide
References to other works
*
Lancelot
Lancelot du Lac (French for Lancelot of the Lake), also written as Launcelot and other variants (such as early German ''Lanzelet'', early French ''Lanselos'', early Welsh ''Lanslod Lak'', Italian ''Lancillotto'', Spanish ''Lanzarote del Lago' ...
is mentioned in passing.
References
External links
''Full Text''at th
''Willa Cather Archive''
{{DEFAULTSORT:Consequences (Cather Story)
1915 short stories
Short stories by Willa Cather
Works originally published in McClure's