Eumenides in the Fourth Floor Lavatory
Encyclopedia
"Eumenides in the Fourth Floor Lavatory" is a short story by Orson Scott Card
. It appears in his short story collections Unaccompanied Sonata and Other Stories
as well as Maps in a Mirror
.
in the form of a baby-like creature that haunts his waking hours. As mentioned in the title, this creature (who first appears in a lavatory on the fourth floor) is one of the Eumenides
of Greek mythology
: beings who dole out vengeance for violence against one's own family or for violating "natural" laws.
Orson Scott Card
Orson Scott Card is an American author, critic, public speaker, essayist, columnist, and political activist. He writes in several genres, but is primarily known for his science fiction. His novel Ender's Game and its sequel Speaker for the Dead both won Hugo and Nebula Awards, making Card the...
. It appears in his short story collections Unaccompanied Sonata and Other Stories
Unaccompanied Sonata and Other Stories
Unaccompanied Sonata and Other Stories is a collection of short stories by Orson Scott Card. Although not purely science fiction and definitely not hard science fiction, the book contains stories that have a futuristic angle or are purely works of fantasy set in current times...
as well as Maps in a Mirror
Maps in a Mirror
Maps in a Mirror is a collection of short stories by Orson Scott Card. Like Card's novels, most of the stories have a science fiction or fantasy theme...
.
Plot summary
It deals with a sinful man who finally faces his conscienceConscience
Conscience is an aptitude, faculty, intuition or judgment of the intellect that distinguishes right from wrong. Moral judgement may derive from values or norms...
in the form of a baby-like creature that haunts his waking hours. As mentioned in the title, this creature (who first appears in a lavatory on the fourth floor) is one of the Eumenides
Eumenides
Eumenides may refer to:* Another name for the Erinyes, Greek deities of vengeance* The Eumenides, the third part of Aeschylus' Greek tragedy, the Oresteia...
of Greek mythology
Greek mythology
Greek mythology is the body of myths and legends belonging to the ancient Greeks, concerning their gods and heroes, the nature of the world, and the origins and significance of their own cult and ritual practices. They were a part of religion in ancient Greece...
: beings who dole out vengeance for violence against one's own family or for violating "natural" laws.