“The body was carried to Naples in the hold of the same steamer that had brought him to Capri, and there, in a cheap coffin, it was placed in a freight car and sent back to the New World.”
The story follows an unnamed wealthy American gentleman from San Francisco, who embarks on a luxurious European tour with his wife and daughter. Confident in his wealth and status, he expects life to unfold exactly as he has planned it. The family travels aboard the opulent steamship Atlantis, surrounded by other affluent passengers who indulge in fine dining, dancing, and leisure.
Upon arriving in Italy, they settle in Capri, where the Gentleman intends to enjoy the beauty and sophistication of European culture. However, while dressing for dinner one evening, he suddenly collapses and dies from a stroke. The hotel staff, initially shocked, quickly shift to hushed annoyance—his death disrupts their routine and disturbs other guests.
His body is hastily moved to a cheap coffin and stored in a cold, damp room. The once-respected Gentleman is now an inconvenience, stripped of his dignity in death. His family, now irrelevant to the wealthy circles they once mingled with, are forced to leave the hotel discreetly.
The story concludes with the Gentleman’s corpse being transported back to America in the ship’s cargo hold, a stark contrast to the luxurious journey he had taken in life. Meanwhile, the ship continues its voyage, indifferent to his fate, as revelers dance above deck.
Key Ideas
- The futility of wealth and status in the face of mortality.
- The indifference of society to individual suffering.
- The illusion of control over one’s destiny.
- The contrast between outward luxury and inner emptiness.
- The dehumanization of death in modern society.
Who should read this book?
- Readers interested in existential themes and critiques of materialism.
- Fans of Russian literature and early 20th-century prose.
- Those who appreciate short, powerful narratives with deep philosophical undertones.