The Bottle Imp by Robert Louis Stevenson

His unavoidable desire leads him to navigate the other events of the story.) (+Note: This is because Stevenson portrays Keawe’s desire as a constant from the story’s beginning. Love can deliver from the curse but cannot escape from the curse. One can avoid the curse but not uncertainty.+ Reward is tarnished without the curse (by uncertainty) or with the curse (by destruction). Curse will destroy (Someone must bear imp’s damnation.) Love absorbs curse (Kokua buys imp from Keawe.) Reward brings uncertainty (Banishment threatens all Keawe’s gains.) Desire can curse (In his quest, Keawe uses the imp.) Desire can reward (Keawe seeks prosperity and love and is satisfied.) The story’s specifics (ownership and motivation) stage these events: The first reward: obtaining prosperity the second reward: preserving prosperity (including Kokua). Observe also the twin kinds of reward compelling the early purchases. Reward drives Keawe’s first two purchases (rising action, crisis), but love drives the third (before resolution). Note the relationship between these motives and the story arc. Old man, Keawe (first), Keawe’s friend, others – reward The full progression of ownership follows: The story centers on possession of the imp (primarily by Keawe, as noted above). Resolution – a sailor buys the imp from Keawe Crisis – Keawe again buys the imp although he doubts he can sell it Rising action – Keawe buys the imp and later sells it

The Bottle Imp by Robert Louis Stevenson