In “hearts and hands” in what way does O.henry’s choice to use a surprise ending allow readers to see story details in a new light finishing the story ?
Answers
Hearts and hands by O Henry is a beautiful and interesting short story.
The story is set in a train carriage. There are two men handcuffed together, one younger and the other older. Miss Fairchild, young women recognize the young man to be Mr Easton whom she had once loved. The older man informs Miss Fairchild that Mr Easton was a Marshall and was taking him to prison for counterfeiting.
The surprise ending:
Only, in the end, O Henry reveals the truth that the older man is the Marshall actually and Mr Easton is the prisoner.
The view of the story based on the ending
With this ending, the readers are compelled to read the story once again in this point of view.
The readers would have seen Mr Easton as a hero initially but after reading the ending, the view changes and the old Marshall becomes the hero for acting so intelligently and saving Mr Easton from the shame in front of the young woman.