Homo 1909

"Homo" by Francis Hopkinson Smith is a fictional tale set in the early 1900s, it uses a conversational tone to look at the complex topics of love, morality, and the raw nature of humanity. Friends gathered in Paris listen as Bayard tells of a Belgian officer's tragic story, a man haunted by a lost love and the guilt that consumes him. Seeking escape in the wilds of Africa, he instead faces the brutal realities of nature. In the jungle, far removed from the rules of society, his inner turmoil climaxes and leads to his demise, bringing sorrow to those left behind and prompting reflections on desire's consequences and the power of forgiveness. The story argues that emotions like love and loss can have a much bigger impact than getting even.