The Discontented, and Divorce Summary and Analysis

The Discontented: A state official had a chance meeting with a friend from his childhood, a janitor in the state building. They had gone in very different directions: the official had a grand living, while the janitor was mired in poverty. The friends went to the janitor's house, and the official was surprised to see that it was a dilapidated shack. The janitor only had meager possessions. The official blamed the janitor's leaving of school for his station in life, but the janitor saw his lot in life as the result of pure bad luck.

Feeling uncomfortable, the official volunteered to find the janitor a better-paying job, and urged the janitor to contact him again. Persuaded by his wife, the janitor visited the official's home. He was awed by the official's impressive luxury house and...