The style and technique used in O. Henry’s selected short stories Essay Example

intends to use this money to purchase a $21 chain as a gift for Jim. After returning home and beginning to cook dinner, Della anxiously awaits Jim's arrival, feeling nervous about his potential reaction to her new haircut. When Jim sees her with shorter hair, he appears surprised and his peculiar gaze scares her. Nevertheless, she clarifies that she sold her hair in order to obtain a special Christmas present for him. Jim reassures her that his love for her remains unchanged and advises her not to worry.

Jim is surprised to see Della without her long hair because he wanted to buy a beautiful Christmas gift for her. He gives her a wrapped present, and when she opens it, she finds a set of exquisite combs for her hair. Della had seen these combs in a store before but thought they were too expensive. She wonders how Jim was able to afford them and then remembers his gift. In return, she gives him a gold chain. When Della asks Jim to attach the chain to his watch, he surprises her by revealing that he sold the watch to buy the combs.

The Last Leaf is about two young women who live together in a New York City apartment. They are artists who make drawings for magazine ads and aspire to create a masterpiece. Sadly, one of the girls becomes sick with pneumonia, and instead of going to the hospital like people usually do now, her roommate takes care of her. The doctor comes to their apartment and tells the healthy girl that her ill friend can recover only if she has the

determination to survive.

The sick girl in bed gazes out the window, watching leaves fall on a rainy November day. She declares that her life will end when the last leaf drops from a vine on the opposite building wall. The nurse is frantic, struggling to uplift her friend's spirits and encourage her to fight for survival. However, the sick girl stubbornly refuses to get better. In an attempt to find a solution, the healthy girl pays a visit to a neighboring artist who is known for his drunkenness. She explains that their friend desperately needs a purpose to continue living. The artist dismisses this notion, leaving the nurse feeling hopeless as she returns home.

On the following day, the final leaf on the vine remains and stays intact. This leads to an improvement in our patient's condition. When visited by the doctor, her chances of survival are significantly higher. However, it is also revealed that the elderly man living downstairs now has pneumonia. He was found in his room, sick, wet, and cold. A ladder and his set of paints were discovered outside his room. On the wall, he had painted a solitary leaf - which happened to be the last one that had given hope to the sick girl and inspired her determination to survive.

The story "The Ransom of Red Chief" takes place in rural Alabama and follows two criminals, Bill Driscoll and Sam (whose last name is unknown). They have a combined total of about $600 but need an additional $2000 for their deceptive town-lot scheme. Interestingly, the opening paragraph reveals that these two individuals are self-taught and

believe that using sophisticated vocabulary shows intelligence. However, despite their supposedly well-thought-out plan, their use of incorrect or made-up words adds humor to the story. This highlights the ignorance of the uneducated protagonist who thinks he has a perfect strategy.

Bill and Sam have a plan to kidnap a child from a small town. Their target is little Johnny Dorset, who is nine years old and the only child of Ebenezer Dorset. However, they encounter difficulties while trying to convince Johnny to get into their car. In an act of self-defense, Johnny throws a brick at Bill's eye. As a result, Bill and Sam leave the vehicle and forcibly place Johnny inside the car. They eventually drive to a cave in the hills. While Sam goes back to return the car, he comes back to find that Johnny has transformed into Red Chief. Furthermore, Bill has bruises on his legs.

In the following day, life doesn't improve for Bill. His son, little Johnny, who despises school, dislikes girls and is generally mischievous, takes pleasure in tormenting his captors during a camping trip. He nearly scalps Bill in the morning, places a hot potato down his shirt and crushes it with his foot, and even rides him like a horse. These experiences make Bill exclaim that his preferred figure from the Bible is King Herod, who ordered the execution of young boys around Jesus' birth.

And even Sam threatens the boy with taking him back home if he doesn’t behave. Sam and Bill then create their ransom letter and send it to Ebenezer Dorset, demanding $1500 (Bill insists that no one will pay

$2000 to have Johnny returned). Mr. Dorset responds with his own letter, telling "Two Desperate Men" that for $250 he will accept Johnny back, but they should do it at night because the neighbors think Johnny is gone for good and he cannot be held responsible for the neighbors' reactions if they see Johnny being returned.

Bill begs Sam to take Johnny home and he eventually relents. Upon arriving home, Johnny desperately clings to Bill's leg in order to avoid being returned. Johnny's father manages to separate him from Bill. Curious about the duration he can hold Johnny, Bill asks Ebenezer who admits he is not as strong as before, suggesting about ten minutes. Bill decides that he could be close to Canada by then and starts running.

In the American Midwest during the early 1900s, "A Retrieved Reformation" takes place. It revolves around the unexpected destiny of Jimmy Valentine, a talented young safecracker who is released from prison and reintegrates into society. The story begins in prison shortly before Jimmy Valentine's release, and most of the events take place in Elmore, a small town in Arkansas where he decides to settle. The key characters are Jimmy Valentine, his partner in crime Mike Dolan, detective Ben Price who is Jimmy's rival, and Annabel Adams who Jimmy falls in love with.

The story introduces several minor characters, including Cronin, the prison warden who serves as a guard. There is also Mr. Adams, Annabel's father, Annabel's sister, and her two young nieces named May and Agatha. Additionally, there is a hotel clerk and a young boy from Elmore.

At the beginning of the

story, Jimmy is called to the warden's office where he receives a pardon from the governor. The warden advises Jimmy to stay out of trouble and lead an honest life by telling him "You're not a bad fellow deep down." In response, Jimmy laughs and acts surprised while denying any involvement in safe cracking or bank robbery that led to his imprisonment.

The following day, Jimmy is released from prison and boards a train to meet his friend and accomplice, Mike Dolan, in another town. Upon receiving the key from Mike, Jimmy goes back to his previous residence above Mike's restaurant. This is where he lived before being apprehended by detective Ben Price. To his surprise, Jimmy discovers his safe cracking tools still concealed in the wall where he had left them. A week later, Ben Price becomes aware of a series of bank safes being burglarized in the Midwest. He deduces that Jimmy Valentine is once again operating and begins his pursuit to apprehend him.

Jimmy arrives in Elmore, Arkansas with his burglar tools packed in a suitcase, intending to rob the local bank. However, on his way to the hotel, he unexpectedly encounters Annabel Adams, a stunning young woman. Their eyes meet and this encounter brings about a profound change in Jimmy's character. "Jimmy Valentine looked into her eyes, forgot who he really was, and emerged as an entirely different individual." After talking with a young boy on the street, Jimmy learns that Annabel Adams is the daughter of the owner of the very bank he plans to steal from. Despite this newfound knowledge, Jimmy proceeds to check into the hotel

using the alias "Ralph D. Spencer."

During a conversation with the hotel clerk, Jimmy discovers that Elmore lacks a shoe store and that the town's business is thriving. Instead of robbing the bank, Jimmy Valentine adopts the identity of "Ralph Spencer," settles in Elmore, opens a profitable shoe store, gains popularity in society, and befriends Annabel Adams. A year passes by with Jimmy still using his alias, "Ralph Spencer." He achieves immense success in his business, prepares to marry Annabel, and is fully accepted by her father and sister as one of their own.

To completely cut ties with his past, Jimmy chooses to communicate with a former acquaintance from Little Rock via letter, requesting a meeting. The purpose of this gathering is for Jimmy to hand over the various tools he utilized for safe cracking. However, just before Jimmy is set to travel to Little Rock, Ben Price unexpectedly arrives in Elmore and spots him. Ben learns about Jimmy's intention to marry a banker's daughter, causing him to alter his plans. On the following day, right before departing town, Jimmy packs his burglary equipment into his suitcase and accompanies Annabel, her sister, and two young nieces named May and Agatha on a bank trip.

Annabel’s father has recently installed a new burglar-proof safe and wants to show it off. As everyone is admiring the safe, Ben Price enters the bank and observes the scene. He informs a bank teller that he was waiting for someone he knows. Jimmy is oblivious to the presence of the detective. Suddenly, May mischievously locks Agatha in the bank vault by throwing the bolts and spinning

the combination lock, imitating her grandfather's actions. To their horror, Mr. Adams realizes that the safe cannot be opened as the timer and combination have not been set. Additionally, Agatha will soon run out of air inside the vault.

Agatha is crying out in panic, and Jimmy and the others can hear her. Annabel pleads with Jimmy to do something, even just to try. Jimmy looks at Annabel with a “soft smile” and asks her for the rose she has on. Annabel hands him the rose, confused. Jimmy takes the rose and puts it in his vest pocket. He takes off his coat and rolls up his sleeves, symbolizing that he is now taking on a new identity as Jimmy Valentine. Using his tools, Jimmy easily opens the safe and frees the sobbing child, Agatha. Once Agatha is safe, Jimmy puts his coat back on and walks away. Annabel calls out to him, but he doesn't stop.

When Jimmy encounters Ben Price, who has witnessed the dramatic scene, he tells the detective, "Well, let’s go. I don’t know that it makes much difference, now." However, Price, who seems to be acting rather oddly, replies, "Guess you’re mistaken, Mr. Spencer Don’t believe I recognize you." With that, the detective leaves. "A Retrieved Reformation" was published in 1909 in O. Henry’s book of short stories, Roads of Destiny. The story incorporates several narrative elements that O. Henry’s short stories are famous for, including a surprise ending and numerous gentle ironies.

Jimmy Valentine is released from prison and has no intention of living a normal life. He arrives in Elmore with the intention of

robbing a bank. However, he unexpectedly falls in love with the daughter of the banker and creates a new family for himself. He learns to make shoes while in prison and opens a successful shoe store, becoming an important member of the community. Additionally, his criminal skills enable him to save a young girl's life. The detective who is determined to arrest Jimmy is the one who ultimately helps him turn his life around.