Born of Man and Woman
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| "Born of Man and Woman" | |
| Author | Richard Matheson |
|---|---|
| Country |  USA |
| Language | English |
| Genre(s) | Science fiction short story |
| Media type | Print (Magazine) |
| Publication date | 1950 |
Born of Man and Woman is a science fiction short story by Richard Matheson originally published in 1950.
[edit] Plot summary
This extremely short story is written in the form of a diary by a deformed eight year old boy, locked in the basement by his parents, chained to the wall, and sometimes beaten. Repeatedly over the course of the period covered by the diary entries, he pulls his chain out of the wall and is able to observe outside society. Once he listens in to a dinner party, but makes noise and is punished by his parents. On another occasion he climbs to a small window and observes his siblings outside, playing with friends. Some of the normal children spot him, and he is again beaten, and bleeds green blood. In a final incident, his young sister (to whom he refers as "little mother") comes into the basement with her pet dog. The boy hides from them in the coal pile, but is forced to crush the dog to death when it scents him and attacks.
The story ends with the boy threatening violence against his parents if they beat him further; the description of his revenge makes clear that, physically, he may resemble an insect or arachnid as much as a man.
Born of Man and Woman was among the stories selected in 1970 by the Science Fiction Writers of America as one the best science fiction short stories of all time. As such, it was published in The Science Fiction Hall of Fame Volume One, 1929-1964.
