The Idiot

"The Idiot" by John Kendrick Bangs is a funny book from the 1800s about a man known as the Idiot, who lives at a boarding house run by Mrs. Pedagog where single men stay. The story is mostly conversations, and the Idiot uses funny arguments to talk about all kinds of things with the other people who live there. He likes to question the way society works and make jokes about the people he's with, leading to discussions that can be silly and make you think. The book begins in the dining room of Mrs. Pedagog's house, where the Idiot starts a big discussion about living on a canal boat instead of in a house. The way the other men, like Mr. Pedagog, react to the Idiot shows their personalities. He defends the way he thinks and makes fun of regular ideas, giving a fun look at life and showing how silly the people around him can be.