Question

“the discontented stonecutter” by bayard taylor. 1 there was once a man who worked from early morning till late at night cutting building - stones out of solid rock. his pay was small and hardly enough to keep his wife and children from starving. so the poor stonecutter grew discontented and sighed and moaned bitterly over his hard lot. 2 one day when his work seemed harder than usual and his troubles more than he could bear, he cried out in despair: 3 “oh, i wish i could be rich and lie at ease on a soft couch with curtain of red silk!” 4 just then a beautiful angel floated down, and said softly, “thy wish is granted thee.” at once the poor stonecutter found himself rich and powerful and resting easily on his silken couch with its red curtain. as he gazed out, however, he saw the king of the country ride by with many horsemen before and behind him, and with a great golden sunshade held over his head. it irritated the rich man to have no parasol over his head and to see another more powerful than himself, and in his discontentment he exclaimed, “would that i were a king such as that one!” 5 again his guardian angel appeared, waved his wand, and said, “it shall be as thou desirest.” immediately the man was a king. and before him and behind him rode his men - at - arms, and over his head was a golden sunshade. but elsewhere the sun shone fiercely down and dried up the vegetation with its terrible heat. it was reflected into the face of the king so that even the golden sunshade did not keep him from suffering. once more he sighed discontentedly, “if i could only be the sun!” 6 almost before he spoke he found himself to be the sun, and he began joyously to send his fiery rays abroad, hither, and everywhere round about him. he scorched the grass of the earth, and burned the faces of its rulers and felt his power unlimited until a little cloud placed itself between him and the earth and threw back his scorching rays. it still angered him to find something more powerful than himself, and he wished aloud that he might be the cloud. 7 again his wish was granted, and he found himself floating where he wished through the sky. he ran between the sun and the earth and sheltered the latter so that the grass grew green, the trees leafed out again, and everything rejoiced in a new growth. then he sent great floods of rain upon the earth, filled the rivers till they overflowed, swept homes and herds into the sea, and destroyed the works of man. which choice states a theme of the passage? happiness can only be found at home. power can be obtained through hard work. unhappiness is a season of life that will pass. acceptance of oneself brings true satisfaction.

Explanation:

The stone - cutter is constantly dissatisfied with his situation, wishing to be something more powerful each time. He goes from being a poor stone - cutter to rich, then a king, the sun, the cloud, and each time he is unhappy. This shows that acceptance of oneself brings true satisfaction. He never finds contentment in the constant pursuit of more power or status.

Answer:

Acceptance of oneself brings true satisfaction.