Tales and Fantasies

"Tales and Fantasies" by Robert Louis Stevenson is a collection of stories where readers first meet John Varey Nicholson, a young man wrestling with his shortcomings and the heavy weight of his family's hopes for him. The story shows his inner battles and the stress he feels from society, hinting at bigger themes of growing up and facing tough moral choices that are coming up. We learn about John Nicholson, a happy but not-so-bright guy, who feels like he's always in the shadow of his dad's big dreams and strict rules. One Saturday, instead of doing what he’s supposed to do—taking a lot of money to the bank—he goofs off. This bad choice drags him into a mess, involving pawning his mom's watch and hanging out with friends who aren't good influences. The beginning grabs John's innocence and the conflicting things he wants, suggesting a string of unlucky events that might happen as he deals with the results of his mistakes, all while trying to live up to what his family and society expect of him.