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The Yellow Paint

In a certain city there lived a physician who sold yellow paint. This was of so singular a virtue that whoso was bedaubed with it from head to heel was set free from the dangers of life, and the bondage of sin, and the fear of death for ever. So the physician said in his prospectus; and so said all the citizens in the city; and there was nothing more urgent in men's hearts than to be properly painted themselves, and nothing they took more delight in than to see others painted. There was in the same city a young man of a very good family but of a somewhat reckless life, who had reached the age of manhood, and would have nothing to say to the paint: "Tomorrow was soon enough," said he; and when the morrow came he would still put it off. She might have continued to do until his death; only, he had a friend of about his own age and much of his own manners; and this youth, taking a walk in the public street, with not one fleck of paint upon his body, was suddenly run down by a water-cart and cut off in the heyday of his nakedness. This shook the other to the soul; so that I never beheld a man more earnest to be painted; and on the very same evening, in the presence of all his family, to appropriate music, and himself weeping aloud, he received three complete coats and a touch of varnish on the top. The physician (who was himself affected even to tears) protested he had never done a job so thorough.

Some two months afterwards, the young man was carried on a stretcher to the physician's house.

"What is the meaning of this?" he cried, as soon as the door was opened. "I was to be set free from all the dangers of life; and here have I been run down by that self-same water-cart, and my leg is broken."

"Dear me!" said the physician. "This is very sad. But I perceive I must explain to you the action of my paint. A broken bone is a mighty small affair at the worst of it; and it belongs to a class of accident to which my paint is quite inapplicable. Sin, my dear young friend, sin is the sole calamity that a wise man should apprehend; it is against sin that I have fitted you out; and when you come to be tempted, you will give me news of my paint."

"Oh!" said the young man, "I did not understand that, and it seems rather disappointing. But I have no doubt all is for the best; and in the meanwhile, I shall be obliged to you if you will set my leg."

"That is none of my business," said the physician; "but if your bearers will carry you round the corner to the surgeon's, I feel sure he will afford relief."

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Some three years later, the young man came running to the physician's house in a great perturbation. "What is the meaning of this?" he cried. "Here was I to be set free from the bondage of sin; and I have just committed forgery, arson and murder."

"Dear me," said the physician. "This is very serious. Off with your clothes at once." And as soon as the young man had stripped, he examined him from head to foot. "No," he cried with great relief, "there is not a flake broken. Cheer up, my young friend, your paint is as good as new."

"Good God!" cried the young man, "and what then can be the use of it?"

"Why," said the physician, "I perceive I must explain to you the nature of the action of my paint. It does not exactly prevent sin; it extenuates instead the painful consequences. It is not so much for this world, as for the next; it is not against life; in short, it is against death that I have fitted you out. And when you come to die, you will give me news of my paint."

"Oh!" cried the young man, "I had not understood that, and it seems a little disappointing. But there is no doubt all is for the best: and in the meanwhile, I shall be obliged if you will help me to undo the evil I have brought on innocent persons."

"That is none of my business," said the physician; "but if you will go round the corner to the police office, I feel sure it will afford you relief to give yourself up."

Six weeks later, the physician was called to the town gaol.

"What is the meaning of this?" cried the young man. "Here am I literally crusted with your paint; and I have broken my leg, and committed all the crimes in the calendar, and must be hanged tomorrow; and am in the meanwhile in a fear so extreme that I lack words to picture it."

"Dear me," said the physician. "This is really amazing. Well, well; perhaps, if you had not been painted, you would have been more frightened still."

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Comments

Submitted by admin on Mon, 01/05/2004 - 23:35

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Stevensons yellow paint seems to represent religious salvation. Jesus will bring you peace (Oops, your thumb just got caught in a meat grinder). Well, Jesus will keep you from temptation (Oops, you just cheated on your wife). Jesus will save you in the next life. Cans disprove that until youre dead, so there.

Submitted by admin on Mon, 10/11/2004 - 23:10

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Incredible.

Submitted by admin on Fri, 11/19/2004 - 13:53

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I liked this a lot. I thought it was obvious that the author was referring to the idea of salvation... that while we may suffer in this life and even do wrong, we will still stand forgiven at the the final day. Interesting. I like it.

Submitted by admin on Thu, 01/26/2006 - 16:19

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I too think that this has some religious background to it. I think the symbolism of the paint is what people believe "salvation" to be. They think that if they get this paint on them theyll be saved from the sin and guilt. Its also how some might percieve God to be. A lot of people think that since its said that "His love will save you" then that means you can do whatever, when ultimatly, you must also help save youself from those things.

Submitted by admin on Wed, 05/31/2006 - 08:44

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This story was very interesting.I did not really get it at first, but I read it again and I kind of understood it better. I dont know if it has any religious meaning. Its all how you view the story. Every choice ends with a consiquence, being covered in yellow paint does not affect that.

Submitted by admin on Wed, 05/31/2006 - 08:58

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I thought the story was very interesting. I didnt really get it at first but it took some time and I finally got it a little more than I did at the beginning. I dont think it has any religious meaning though. It is all in how you view it. I think the story is more about your choices and their consiquences. You cant get yellow paint to get rid of the consiquences your choices made.

Submitted by admin on Mon, 06/26/2006 - 21:29

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First Id like to say that the unique use of language here was very interesting in and of itself. As to the extended metaphor of salvation, it was well done, even if I do not share the authors view. Yes, it is very important never to blindly accept things, but there still is a role for faith in life. Nice take on the god-of-the-gaps criticism.

Submitted by admin on Wed, 06/28/2006 - 10:00

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It was difficult for me to understand plot about this story. I dont know about this religious background. But I could only few understand after read thier comments. I knew rather about salvation. But it is very difficlt for me. However, I feel it is a good instructive story for beginner.

Submitted by admin on Wed, 06/28/2006 - 18:15

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It is a bit taugh for me to understand a euphemism. But one thing that I got from this short story was `Keep trying`. I really think so too. To keep up something always leads us to next step. I think it is never getting worse.I thought from this moral that I have to be more positive and do something with much more confident.

Submitted by admin on Tue, 08/22/2006 - 12:26

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It seems to me that it is obvious the story is a metaphor for religion and its actual usefulness. I am under the ipression that there is a reason why the author picked his paint yellow, and not say... blue...

Submitted by admin on Thu, 09/21/2006 - 14:08

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At first, I could not understand this story exactly. After I considered it more carefully, I realized that it has
kind of a symbol and a metaphor. And reflecting on my conduct(or a sin)first is more important than looking on the others one. Also, having a disturbance when we get in trouble with something, it is not a good manner to live in a right way, I think.

Submitted by admin on Tue, 09/26/2006 - 16:36

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I liked this story. I thought the end was very fitting. It just goes to show that nothing, not even a magic yellow paint, can better you if you put forth no effort to be good in the first place. the story was nicely written and the moral was very easy to understand.

Submitted by admin on Sat, 12/02/2006 - 15:02

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It is, no doubt, a useful satire on certain, mainstream forms of religion -particularly those concerned so much with death and salvation and a heaven envisioned far away from this place. But it is further, in my opinion, also jest aimed at modern day science trying to explain away loose ends in regard to laws of nature. And so, the physician has replaced the priest, yet they still make extenuations about thier salvaging product when it does not fit the mold so snug.

Submitted by admin on Fri, 12/08/2006 - 10:37

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A well crafted story. I am mostly interested in truth vs. truth portrayed in the story. The author rightly shows that nothing one does on earth affects the efficacy of the paint, or salvation, that is eternal. He also shows that being painted or saved does not remove one from suffering consequences for sin in this life or from suffering in general. Sadly, he does not understand the Painter, Lord God, who DOES indeed choose to relieve us miraculously and ordinarily from suffering, lighten consequences and dispel fear when it will be for our benefit and His glory. And what is for His glory is always for our benefit. The author speaks of a god who is removed from our lives. I do not know this god; I worship a God who is intimately concerned with my good and is always right there. He has proven Himself more times than I can count. May you know the depth of His love.

Submitted by admin on Sun, 12/30/2007 - 20:04

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That was a most wonderful story! The metaphors towards religeon and salvation as well as towards the Medical field practice are well-timed and quite accurate under those circumstances.

If you didnt understand it, you should try thinking outside the box a little...stfu newb.

Submitted by admin on Sun, 08/17/2008 - 13:43

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Well, the tittle isnt appropriate to this interesting story, I believe that the correct name is "the paint of soul" because the content is more religious. Its true that people should believe in something to can face the life, but is more important believe in one, because god is into our heart and we are responsible for our destination.

Submitted by admin on Wed, 09/24/2008 - 00:52

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Ana

Being sincere to you, i didn´t get it because at the
beginning was so confuse to me. But i know i would
like to give my opinion about this fabl. I can say that
the physician wanted transmit to the citizens that life
is about make decisions every day and after you
already taken, you won´t be able to change it once
that you took it. If your decision has regrettable
consequences nothing is going to change and you will
need to accept it because that was your decision. And
you can´t pain the reality.

Submitted by admin on Tue, 10/07/2008 - 16:05

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Ive found an online review that states: "The Yellow Paint" is a scathing satire, as a doctor promises that his yellow paint will shield a man from pain and suffering, and when it doesnt work comes up with ingenious rationalizations for its failure.

Submitted by admin on Wed, 10/29/2008 - 00:07

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I liked this story. I thought the end was very fitting. It just goes to show that nothing, not even a magic yellow paint, can better you if you put forth no effort to be good in the first place. the story was nicely written and the moral was very easy to understand.

Submitted by admin on Mon, 11/17/2008 - 16:58

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it is the frisrt time i read the story.this story is very interesting and educational story.in the story the physician use his way to teach the young man how to paint his life by himself.I can learn in the story that sometime we want to face many difficulty,also we have many different choices.so we should know how to do which is good for us.

Submitted by admin on Tue, 11/18/2008 - 11:11

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The yellow paint does not work as the physician said. On the contrary, the young man meet all the troubles which he is told to be free if he buy the yellow paint.In my opinion, what I learned in this story is whatever you do, you have responsibliy for it because it is your decision. Do not blame your false for anything. Nothing can make you stay away from sin but yourself. In this story, I think the physician look like a quack. He is good at making excuses for the young mans problems.

Submitted by admin on Fri, 01/09/2009 - 12:36

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In this story I learned many thing especially if you or I have responsibility to do something that I have to then you have to do it. Also I think that if I make any mistake dont blame anyone that around me. It is my fault that I make the mistake not other people.

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