Alberto Moravia's Competition Summary

The story begins with the narrator recalling a conversation he had once had with his grandfather. His grandfather was a business owner and was teaching his grandson about the "law of competition." The law of competition means that someone else can set up shop near his business and sell the same goods at a lower price. If he doesn't lower prices, too, then he will go bankrupt. The narrator was appalled and rejected this law. He thought it was cruel and mean for someone to try to bankrupt him. His grandfather agreed but said there was nothing that could be done about it.

As an adult, the narrator sets up a business of his own, selling fruit and other goods in a cart. At first, business is very prosperous and he easily sells his entire inventory each day. However...