what does the text conclude regarding O. henry
Answers
Answer:
A mere reading of the story After Twenty Years establishes beyond doubt that O'Henry is indeed a master storyteller, in terms of settings, plot, characterisation and themes.
Explanation:
To begin with, there is nothing extraordinary about the settings. It is night time and most businesses have closed for the day. The busy street in New York, is now quiet with few people around. This setting is universal and could be in any part of the world.
Similarly the plot is not an unrealistic one. The story is about two friends, who decide to meet according to a promise made years ago. Again, reunions are common and so are promises between friends. However, the author very subtly weaves in suspense into the story when the cop talks to Bob and leaves the reader wondering if Bob’s friend would turn up or not. O’Henry takes the reader on an emotional roller-coaster when the friend does turn up, but instead of the expected happy ending, the ending leaves the reader feeling overwhelmed. Yet, the twist in the plot is not unbelievable.
The story has only three characters- Jimmy Wells, ‘Silky’ Bob and another cop who is not named. None of the characters have any superpowers and seem to be normal human beings. Bob is the only one who is present throughout the story, while the other two have short appearances. Yet, it is Jimmy’s absence that gives body to the story. The author thus, is able to create an impact not just with the presence, but also with the absence of a seemingly ordinary character.
The themes that the story deals with, include friendship, crime and loyalty. The fact that the two men were at the chosen spot shows that they did not forget the promise made to a friend two decades ago. Their friendship survived the test of time. When Jimmy discovered that Bob was a criminal, he could not bring himself to arrest his friend. Jimmy thus was sincere in his friendship too, yet duty called. He had to make a difficult decision and finally demonstrated his loyalty towards his profession. All these themes are commonplace too, but O’Henry’s skill lies in how he put them together and brought the story to a plausible end.
Answer:
The upper one is good
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