This investigation of Miss Porter's short fiction demonstrates that reality and revelation are predominant ideas in most of her writing. Reality for most of the characters differs from reality as the protagonist eventually perceives it. Through revelation of delusions-- both his own and others'--the protagonist may better deal with life's difficulties. These difficulties are represented, as secondary themes in the stores, by three repeated human experiences: initiation, subjugation, and alienation. Subsequent chapters of this investigation explore reality and revelation in relation to each secondary theme. Discussion follows the development of increasing extremity in one's difficulties in life, from the initiatory childhood encounters with human nature and society, to the subjugating troubles incurred through continuing maturity, to alienation and the encounter of death's possibility and actuality.