The Night Came Slowly

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The Night Came Slowly (1895) is a lyrical prose poem in which the narrator surrenders to the sensuous beauty of a summer night and rejects the world of books and human wisdom. "The night came slowly, softly, as I lay out there under the maple tree."
The Night Came Slowly by Kate Chopin

I am losing my interest in human beings; in the significance of their lives and their actions. Some one has said it is better to study one man than ten books. I want neither books nor men; they make me suffer. Can one of them talk to me like the night – the Summer night? Like the stars or the caressing wind?

The night came slowly, softly, as I lay out there under the maple tree. It came creeping, creeping stealthily out of the valley, thinking I did not notice. And the outlines of trees and foliage nearby blended in one black mass and the night came stealing out from them, too, and from the east and west, until the only light was in the sky, filtering through the maple leaves and a star looking down through every cranny.

The night is solemn and it means mystery.

Human shapes flitted by like intangible things. Some stole up like little mice to peep at me. I did not mind. My whole being was abandoned to the soothing and penetrating charm of the night.

The katydids began their slumber song: they are at it yet. How wise they are. They do not chatter like people. They tell me only: “sleep, sleep, sleep.” The wind rippled the maple leaves like little warm love thrills.

Why do fools cumber the Earth! It was a man’s voice that broke the necromancer’s spell. A man came to-day with his “Bible Class.” He is detestable with his red cheeks and bold eyes and coarse manner and speech. What does he know of Christ? Shall I ask a young fool who was born yesterday and will die tomorrow to tell me things of Christ? I would rather ask the stars: they have seen him.

The Night Came Slowly was featured as The Short Story of the Day on Mon, Oct 17, 2016

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Frequently Asked Questions about The Night Came Slowly

What is "The Night Came Slowly" by Kate Chopin about?
"The Night Came Slowly" by Kate Chopin is a brief prose poem in which an unnamed narrator lies beneath a maple tree at dusk and watches the night arrive. Disillusioned with human beings and the knowledge found in books, the narrator surrenders entirely to the beauty and mystery of the natural world. The piece contrasts the soothing power of the summer night with the coarseness of a man who arrives to preach about his Bible class, whom the narrator dismisses as unworthy of speaking about Christ.

What are the main themes of "The Night Came Slowly"?
The central themes of "The Night Came Slowly" are the healing power of nature versus the disappointment of human society, alienation and disillusionment, and the contrast between institutional religion and spiritual experience found in nature. Kate Chopin uses the narrator's rejection of books and people to argue that genuine spiritual insight comes from direct contact with the natural world rather than from human intermediaries or organized religion.

What literary devices does Kate Chopin use in "The Night Came Slowly"?
Kate Chopin relies heavily on personification throughout "The Night Came Slowly," giving the night human qualities as it comes "creeping, creeping stealthily out of the valley." She also personifies the katydids, who tell the narrator to "sleep, sleep, sleep," and uses simile when the wind "rippled the maple leaves like little warm love thrills." The lyrical, stream-of-consciousness style blurs the line between short story and prose poetry, creating an intimate and meditative tone.

What does the narrator mean by "I would rather ask the stars: they have seen him"?
In the final lines of "The Night Came Slowly," the narrator rejects the Bible class man's authority to speak about Christ, arguing that the stars, which are eternal and have witnessed all of history, hold more spiritual truth than any human preacher. This line encapsulates Chopin's broader theme that nature itself is a more authentic source of divine knowledge than organized religion or self-appointed teachers.

Is "The Night Came Slowly" a short story or a prose poem?
"The Night Came Slowly" occupies a space between short story and prose poem. At fewer than 300 words, it lacks a traditional plot arc and instead reads as a lyrical meditation on nature and solitude. Kate Chopin originally published it in 1895 as part of "A Scrap and a Sketch," pairing it with another brief piece. Its poetic imagery, rhythm, and introspective tone place it firmly in the prose poetry tradition.

Where can I read more short stories by Kate Chopin?
Kate Chopin wrote over 100 short stories, many of which explore themes of independence, desire, and Southern life. Her most widely read works include "The Story of an Hour," a powerful tale of a woman's reaction to news of her husband's death, "Desiree's Baby," a devastating story about race and identity in Louisiana, and "The Storm," a frank exploration of passion and infidelity. All of these stories are available to read for free on American Literature.

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