What makes The Whore of Mensa a good read, on the one hand, and why avoid it at all costs, on the other.

As many other stories, „The Whore of Mensa“, a short narrative by Woody Allen has both good and bad sides. It is a story about a man being blackmailed by a non-conventional conception of “escort” services. So, is it profitable to read the story at all?

On the one hand, two advantages stand out: firstly, the author ridicules today’s society for its lack of intellectual vitality. Take Sherry for example – she rattles her ideas with ease, but it was all inattentive and automatic. Secondly, the story also differentiates between two types of less-functional marriages, those with little or no sexual activity and those with little or no intellectual activity; as is in the case of Mr. Babcock.

On the other hand, there are some minuses to it as well – the plot is resolved too quickly and the reader may not get to fully enjoy the content itself. Furthermore, the story is overly bland and monotone - the characters are simple-characterised, the plot is predictable and does not carry any higher significance in its meaning rather than being cleverly entertaining to intellectuals while also making fun of them.

To conclude, Woody Allen’s story is as absurd as it is amusing because it inverses typical reasons why dissatisfied married men seek company in prostitutes. As for me, the story left me indifferent; while I wouldn't typically read parodies and satires like "The Whore of Mensa", I understand why someone might find it enjoyable.