Short Fiction · Chapter
A Disagreement explained
A Houston citizen complains about Mr.
What happens
A Houston citizen complains about Mr. Bergman, the opera house manager, who refused to give him a half-price ticket despite the man's deafness in one ear, instead insisting he should pay double because it would take him twice as long to hear the performance.
Themes in this chapter
Humor and Irony
The manager's absurd logic that a deaf person should pay double for a ticket because they would take twice as long to hear the performance is a humorous and ironic twist on fairness.
Key passages
“Dat Mr. Bergman, vot run de obera house, not dread me right”
That Mr. Bergman, who runs the opera house, did not treat me fairly.
The citizen's complaint about unfair treatment by the opera house manager.
“I asg him dot he let me in mit half brice, for I was teaf py von ear, and can not but one half of dot performance hear; und he dell me I should bay double brice, as it would dake me dwice as long to hear de berformance as anypody else.”
I asked him to let me in at half price, because I am deaf in one ear and can only hear half of the performance; but he told me I should pay double price, since it would take me twice as long to hear the performance as anyone else.
The citizen explains his request for a discount due to his deafness and the manager's unexpected response demanding double payment.