Ques-3 Discuss in detail the element of irony in the story Proof of the pudding by O.Henry.
Answers
In "Proof of the Pudding" by O. Henry, two men who were once close friends have now become estranged (separated) by a difference in lifestyles.
Editor Westbrook has just received honors for having a successful magazine. He is walking through the park and runs into his old friend, Dawe. Dawe looks like a beggar. He has not been published lately, and he has very little money. In fact, he is behind on his rent.
Westbrook and Dawe used to live near each other in a nice neighborhood. After Dawe stopped getting anything he had written published, he fell into a beggar state and had to move away from Westbrook and the nice neighborhood.
On this day when Westbrook just so happened to run into Dawe, Dawe asked Westbrook why he wouldn't publish his written fiction. Westbrook said the resolution was not rich enough.
Dawe stated that people reacted in ordinary, everyday-type expressions or mannerisms in the face of tragedy or at the end of the story. Westbrook disagreed, believing people reacted more eloquently in the face of tragedy. Dawe challenged Westbrook and received a classic ending. Dawe's plan was to leave his wife a note stating that he had run away with another woman. Dawe and Westbrook would hide behind closed doors and wait for Dawe's wife's reaction in the face of tragedy. This is a way Dawe could prove his point. He expected his wife to react in an ordinary manner or ordinary way of expressing her sorrow.
Ironically, when Dawe and Westbrook arrived to write the note, there was a note for Dawe from his wife. Dawe's wife had run away to join the Opera with Editor Westbrook's wife. Dawe began to react in an eloquent manner expressing his brokeness at the thought of his wife being gone forever:
Answer:
Element of irony in 'Proof of the pudding'
Two men who were formerly close friends have become alienated (separated) due to a difference in lifestyles in O. Henry's "Proof of the Pudding."
Editor Westbrook has garnered recognition for his magazine's achievements. He's walking around the park when he bumps across Dawe, an old buddy. Dawe has the appearance of a beggar. He hasn't been published in a long time, and he's broke. He is, in fact, late on his rent.
With the face of catastrophe or at the conclusion of the story, people reacted in typical, everyday-type faces or mannerisms, according to Dawe. Westbrook disagreed, feeling that in the face of catastrophe, individuals replied more eloquently.
Dawe took on Westbrook and got a fantastic result. Dawe intended to leave a message for his wife claiming that he had run away with another woman.
Dawe and Westbrook would hide behind locked doors, waiting for Dawe's wife's reaction when disaster struck. This is a technique for Dawe to demonstrate his point. He expected his wife to respond in a normal way or express her grief in a normal way.
When Dawe and Westbrook arrived to write the note, they discovered a note from Dawe's wife. Dawe's wife had ran away with Editor Westbrook's wife to join the Opera. Dawe began to speak eloquently, expressing his bewilderment at the prospect of his wife being gone for good.