本科生毕业论文题目：O’Henry’sArtisticCharacteristicsinHisShortStories学生姓名：周绍君学号：200607010413专业班级：英语语言文学指导教师：宗乐善完成时间：2010年5月
THESYNTAXOFNOUNPHRASESTHESISSubmittedinpartialfulfillmentoftherequirementsforThedegreeofBachelorofArtsInHunanUniversityofArtsandScienceByZhouShaojunSupervisor:ZongLeshanMay2009HunanUniversityofArtsandScience
摘要欧·亨利(O.Henry,1862-1910)是美国二十世纪著名的短篇小说大师、现代短篇小说的创始人之一。他的作品构思奇巧，文字简练形象，语调风趣幽默。欧·亨利善于捕捉生活中司空见惯的小事来塑造角色，而且创造了悬念突变的“欧·亨利式结尾”，其作品具有独特的艺术魅力。本文试就其作品中生动的人物，出人意料的结尾，简洁凝练的语言和幽默调侃的笔调进行探讨。关键词：欧·亨利；短篇小说；艺术特色；幽默；结尾i
AbstractO.HenryisamasterofshortstoryatthetwentiethcenturyinAmerica,commonlyregardedasoneofthefoundersofmodernshortstory.Hisdistinctiveshortstoriesarecharacterizedbyhisuniqueartisticcharacteristicsandwinimmensepopularityamongthepublicbothathomeandabroad.Thispapertriestoexplorethecommonartisticcharacteristicsembodiedinhisshortstories,includinghislivelycharacters,humorousandwittytoneandthesurprisingending.Keywords:O.Henry;stories;artisticcharacteristics;humor;ending;ii
Contents摘要……………………………………………………………….iAbstract…………………………………………….……….………..iiIntroduction……………………………………...………..1Chapter1LivelyCharacters…..…………….………...………...31.1CharactersandTechniquesofPortrayingThem…..……….31.1.1VariousCharacters..……………………….…………….31.1.2TechniquesofPortrayingThem…………………………….41.2CharactersWorkonDeepeningtheRoleandSignificanceoftheSubject……………………………………………………..........10Chapter2HumorousStyle……….………….………………...142.1HumorousLanguage…....…………………………....................142.2HumorousPlot…………………………………………................17Chapter3OHenryEnding………………………………….......203.1TearfulSmile………………………………………………………213.2SmilesFullofTears………………………………………………..24Conclusion…………………….…………………………………28Bibliography…………………………………..………………………31Acknowledgementsii
IntroductionOHenryiscommonlyassociatedwiththeshortstoryandthemasterfulironic“OHenryTwist”.Aprolificwriter,OHenrywrotemostoftenofNewYorkCity,wherehespenthislateryears,Hehasbeencalled“theAmericanDeMaupassant”.Yearsofhardships,vagrancyandprisonsuppliedOHenrywithabundantmaterialforwriting.Thetragedyinhisownlife—thebadluckthatseemedtoboundhim—hadtaughthimachivalroustendernessfortheunluck,asympatheticunderstandingoftheunderdog,andthiscompassionofhisisevidentinmostofhisshortstories.OHenry’sstoriesaboutNewYorkCity—thebestofwhichareincludedinTheFourMillion—arehismostfamous.HisworksinTheFourMillionarefullofhumor.Hisstoriesareamusing,flippant,flatandfilledwithironyandsentiment.Drawingdirectlyfromhisexperience,hecombinedrealismwithaworldofhisown.CommonlyrecurringthemesinOHenry’sshortstoriesarethoseofdeception,mistakenidentity,theeffectofcoincidence,theinexorablenatureoffate,andtheresolutionofseeminglyinsurmountabledifficultiesseparatingtwolovers.ii
Overrecenthundredsofyears,worksofOHenryhavebeenpublicizedforseveraleditions,andalwaysattractagreatamountofreaders.OHenry’swritingisseenasstraightforwardandsimple,writteninplainlanguage.Hisstoriesmayrelyonasamenessofplot,butthesharp,unexpectedtwistattheendisstillhisdistinctivetrademarktoday.(田2005:5)Asreaders,welikeOHenry’sstoriesverymuchbecausewecangetmuchfunfromthem.Livelycharacters,humorousstyle,andthesurprisingendingwhichleaveusendlessthinking,arethemainfactorstoattractandstrikeus.ii
Chapter1LivelyCharacters1.1CharactersandTechniquesofPortrayingThem1.1.1VariousCharactersOHenry’scomplicatedlivingexperience,whichmakeshimknowthatpeople’slifefromdifferentclassesveryclearly,isreallyalargeamountoffortuneforhiswritinginspiration.Withhispen,hehassuccessfullyportrayedmanydifferentkindsofvividcharacters,suchasHarveyMaxwell,abusybroker;JimandDella,animpecuniousNewYorkcouple;Behrman,aselflessoldpainter;Soapy,anunluckystreetloaferandsoon.Thecharactersandtheshortstoriescomefromhislife,butOHenry’shumorousstyleandsurprisingendingshelptoexplainwhyhisshortstoriesarestillenjoyedthesemanyyearsafterhisdeath.OnthecharacterportrayingartinOHenry’sshortstories,thecharactershavetwodistinctfeatures.First,theideaofportrayingisquitenewtostrikethereaders.Second,hiswritingstyleisquitecalmandhumorousalthoughheisgoingtotellussadstories,whichismixedwithsweetnessandbitterness,smilesandtears,happinessandsadness.Asweknow,OHenrywasfromthelowerrankofsocietyandheii
workedinvariousjobs.Soheknewthecommonpeople’slifestyleverywell.Inhisstory,thecharactersheportrayedareawiderangeofcommonpeople,suchaswhite-collarmenandwomen,artstudents,waiters,factorygirlsandmillionairestocopsandcrooks.HeentitledhissecondbookTheFourMillionwhichwasacollectionofmanyshortstoriesaboutNewYorkCity.Inhiseyes,thefourmillionswarmingmultitudeswerethesocialbasisofNewYorkCityincontradictionto“thefourhundred”ofthecity’saristocraticsocialregisters.HeusedtowanderaboutNewYorkCity,driftingintoconversationwithstrangersonthestreetsorintheparksobservingwithanacuteeyeandear,sightsandsoundsnuancesofdayandnightonBroadway,inGreenwichVillage,oronWattStreet.Hewasveryfamiliarwithordinarypeopleandthewayherepresentstheminhisstoriesgivesthereadertheimpressionthattheymeetthesecharacterseveryday.Theyhavenotanystrikingcharacteristics,norwouldtheybeeasytofindinalargemultitudeofpeople.Andtheyhadasamefeature“common”.1.1.2TechniquesofPortrayingThemOHenryportrayedthese“commonpeople”inanuncommonway.Thetwistofplot,whichturnsonanironicorcoincidentalcircumstance,andthesurprisingendinghelptomakedeepimpressionsonreadersofthetypicalcharacters.TakeTheGiftoftheMagiforanexample,thestoryisaboutaii
youngmarriedcouple,eachofwhomsellsatreasuredpossessiontoobtainmoneytobuyaChristmaspresentfortheother.Theopeningofthestoryisjustlikethedailylifehappeningarounduseveryday.ButthentheplotturnsintoasuddentwistthatDellasellsherbeautifullonghairtobuytheplatinumchainforherhusband,Jim’watch.WefeelsopitythatDellahasherpreciouslonghaircut.Buttooursurprise,Jimhassoldthewatchtobuythejeweledtortoise-shellcombsforhiswife’shair.OHenrybuildsuptohissurprisetwistveryartfully,andwithdefttouchesheelicitsthereader’sadmirationandsympathyfortheyoungcouplewhoseloveforeachothermorethaneverything.What’smore,OHenrydoesnotendonthenoteofironyandsurprise,butgivestowhathecallshisuneventfulchronicleoftwofoolishchildrentheappearanceofalittleparablewithasignificantmeaning.TheMagi,heremindsthereader,werewisemenwhobroughtgiftstotheChristchild,andthusinventedthegivingofChristmaspresent.AsforJimandDella,“theyarethemagi”.(Voss,1973:24)ThisistheendingofthestorywithOHenry’sstyle.Exceptthetwistofplotandthesurprisingending,healsousedavarietyofrhetorictacticstoportraythecharactersinhisshortstories.Withthevariousportrayingmethods,thecharactersaremademorevivid,distinctandlifelike.Soitissaidthatawriterisjustlikeamagicianoflifesincehecanusehispentomakesomanyfictionalcharacterswithfleshii
andblood.OHenryisaskillfulmagiciantoo,whofiguredmanyvisualprotagonistsverysuccessfully.Thekeytothesuccessaretherhetoricdevices,suchascontrast,exaggeration,irony,metaphor,simileandsoon.Theserhetoricdevicesplayanimportantpartintheshortstoriestoimpulsethedevelopmentoftheplot,tofigurethecharacters’feelings.Especiallytheuseofirony,canbeseeneverywhereinhisshortstories,andbeoneofthemostwritingskillinhisstories.Ironyisakindofexpressionofsomethingwhichiscontrarytotheintendedmeaning;thewordssayonethingbutmeananother.(Ross,2007)OHenryisgoodatusingrhetoricalironytoemphasizesomespecialfeaturesofthecharacters,todisclosesomeseriousproblemsandtoembodyhisfeelingstowardssomebodyorsomething.Therhetoricalironycanmakethestoriesmorehumorousandmoresignificant.ItisatypicalwritingskillofOHenry.Wecanrealizethenicetiesofironyinhisshortstories,suchasinTheWhirlingofLife.Thestoryismainlyaboutthedivorceandtheresumptionofthemarriageofacouple.RansieBilbroandhiswife,ArielaBilbrowenttotheJusticeofthePeaceBenajaWiddup’sofficetosuefordivorceoneday.Theydissatisfiedandcomplainedeachotherformanyreasons.ThentheJusticeofthePeacehandledtheirdivorceformalityaccordingtotheso-called“equityandtheConstitutionandthegoldenrule”.Theironyheredisclosesthattheessentialofthelawsintheii
capitalsociety.Thelawsweretoolsforthecapitaliststomakemoremoney.Thefollowingplottellsuswhattheironyreallymeans.Thehusbandhadonlyfivedollarstoaffordthepriceofdivorceandheneededanotherfivedollarstoaffordhidwife’salimony.However,thenextday,thehusbandbroughtthealimony,whichwasheistedfromtheJusticeofthePeacethedaybefore,totheofficetocontinuethematter.“Andthenwithhis(BenajaWiddup’s)nestwordsheachieve(ashisthoughtran)witheithergreatcrowdoftheworld’ssympathizersorthelittlecrowdofitsgretfinanciers.”Thisparagraphistoanalyzethepurposeoftheofficer’sfollowingwords,whicharetheturningpointofthewholestory.Theauthorusestheironytosatiretheofficerthatwhathewantisjustthemoney.Finallythecouplefoundtheystilllovedeachother,sotheyremarriedandgavetheofficerfivedollarsforthepoundage.TheendingofthestoryisquitesatisfactoryforthethreepeoplebecausethecoupledidnotdivorcefinallyandtheJusticeofthePeacegothisfivedollarsback.Thisisanartfulendingandtheironyinthestoryreallymakesagreatefforttosatirizethecharacter,thesocietyandthecapitalism.Metaphorisimpliedcomparisonachievedthroughafigurativeuseofwordsorthewordisusednotinitsliteralsense,butinoneanalogoustoit.(Ross,2007)OHenrycanmakecharacters,environmentandscenerymorevividandimposingbyusinghisownwritingskills.Heoftenusescomparisontojointwodifferentthingswithsimilarfeaturesii
togethertopopoutthecharacteristic.What’smore,hismetaphoralwaysbringssomethingnewandfunnytothereaders.That’sO.Henry’sstyle.TheCopandtheAnthemisastoryaboutastreetloafer’sunluckyencounterofaday.Thearticleisfullofnovelanduniquerhetoricsuchassimile,metaphor,exaggerationandsoon.Thoughashortstory,itisamirrorofthesocietyrealityatthattime,whentherichlivedinluxurywhilethepoorsufferedsevereorevenstarvation.Theprotagonist,Soapy,wasajobless,homelessandpennilessstreetloafer.HewantedtogotoBlackwell’s,anislandwithaprison,tospendthewholewinterasusual.Sohecommittedcrimeforsomanytimesadvisedlytotrytobearrestedbythecop.Butheallfailed.Whenhewasinfluencedbytheanthemfromanoldchurchhepassedbyanddeterminedtobeagoodman,hishopewasagainbrokenintopiecesbytheironarmofthelaw.Inthearticle,theauthorcomparedthenorthwindtothe“footmanofthemansionofalloutdoors”,theislandtothe“winterrefuge”,thepolicementothe“law’sminions”,thethoughtSoapycouldprobablybearrestedtothe“strawof‘disorderlyconduct’”andsoon.Thesarcasticeffectwillbestrengthenedbythemetaphor.Wecanseethatwasanimpersonalworldwheretherewasawidespreaddisorderandchaos,andwherepeoplefeltdisplacedyettrappedandfinallytheysurrendered.(Chen,2002)Theauthor’swordsarefullofsympathyforthefateofSoapy.Simileisanexplicitcomparisonbetweentwothingsusing“like”orii
“as”.(Ross,2007)ItcanbeseeneverywhereinO.Henry’sworks.Variouscharacters,multifarioussceneryandfamiliarthingsandphenomenoninO.Henry’sshortstoriesusuallyweartheovercoatofsimile.(Wang,2006)Whenwetastethelanguageverycarefully,thescenewillcomeupinourmindveryclearly.O.Henry’ssimileiseasyandcasual,butitisthehighrefiningofthelifeexperience,soitsuccessfullygivesthereadersabundantimagination.BecauseO.Henryemphasizescharacterportraying,hemakesthecharacterslifelikeandhisstorieswinthehonorof“theencyclopediaofAmericanlife”.Similetakesakeyroleincharacterportrayingartinhisshortstories.InTheGiftoftheMagi,theauthordescribesthesurprisedhusband“asimmovableasasetteratthescentofquail”whenhesawhiswife,Della’shair.Andthenhedescribesthemovedandastonishedwife“likealittlesingedcatandcried,‘Oh,oh!’”whenshesawthepresentforherandrecalledherpresentforhishusband.Thedescriptionwassovividthatwecanalmostseethetemporalscene.InTheFurnishedRoom,thehousekeeperisdescribedas“anunwholesome,surfeitedwormthathadeatenitsnuttoahollowshellandnowsoughttofillthevacancywithediblelodgers”and“herthroatseemedlinedwithfur”.Wehaveeverseenwormandfur,butwehaveneverseenanunwholesomeandsurfeitedwormandthroatlinedwithfur.Suchanindescribableandfancyappearancemakesusfeelthatthehousekeeperisadisgustingfatwoman.ii
Felicitoussimilecangiveusdifferentfeelingstothecharacters,suchasaverseness,favor,admirationandsoon.O.Henry’srhetoricalsimile,whichisaflarespotinhisshortstories,isquitesuper-eminentbecauseofhisabundantlifeexperiencesandhisexcellentwritingskill.WhatIcitedaboveisjustafew,therearestillmanyotherrhetoricdevicesandcountlessexamples.1.1CharactersWorkonDeepeningtheRoleandSignificanceoftheSubjectOHenry’ssympathyforthepoorsocialunderdogs,arehighlightedasthekeynoteofhisworks.Humanityendowshisworkswithperpetualartisticcharm.Thatiswhyhisworksarefamousallovertheworld.Inhisworks,OHenrypresentsthepanoramaoftheAmericanpeopletoreaderswithironicandhumoroustone.Heenclosestheunfair,unreasonableandabnormalateofthe“smallpotatoes”ofthesociety.Heissympatheticwiththem.Atthesametime,heplaystheroleofspokesmanforthese“smallpotatoes”tostatetheirjoysandsorrowsoflifewiththeyearningforhumanvirtues.ThemostobviousfeatureofOHenry’sshortstoriesisthepainstakingcharacterizationofthese“smallpotatoes”.JohnsyandSueinTheLastLeafpresentsthesincerefriendship,andii
BehrmansacrificeshislifetoencourageandsaveSue,whichshowstheindiscriminateloveofhumans.JimandDellainTheGiftoftheMagi,togetherwithJoeLarrabeeandDeliaCarutherinAServiceofLovecomposealovestorytobeengravedonourbonesandheart.Andtherearesomanygloriousimagesinhisworks.Theyarekind,brave,honest,hard-working,polite,thrifty,generousandhospitableandsoon.Somepeoplepayagreatdealinordertomaintainthesevirtues,theysacrificetheirownhappinessandevenlifefortheloftyloveandfriendship,theyhelpotherswithoutaskingforrewardsandregarditasapleasure;theygiveuptheirowntreasureandchancetoothersetc.Suchpeoplebringloveandfinethingstotheworld;theyaretheoneswhoendowtheworldwithlightandhope.Humanbeingshavemanydefects,too.Sometimestheyarelazy,rapacious,officious,vain,arrogant,shamelessandcowardly,etc.Theybenefitthemselvesattheexpenseofothers,theynevershowmercyandsympathytothepoorinordertomakemoney,theyrealizetheirownaimsbyhookandcrooketc.Theirevildeedsmaketheworldvicious.Byexposingthehumandefectsandthedarksideoftheworld,OHenrywantstoawakenpeople’sconscienceanddeepestdesireforallgoodthings,sothatpeoplecanusetheireffortstosaveandcleansethewholeworld.Infact,thereisnotanydynamicloveorexcitingadventuresinii
Henry’sbook.Theyaresomewarmandcompactstories,whichmovedreaderstolaughterandsometimestears.AndthatiswherethecharmofO.Henry’snovelslies.Withoutdoubt,O.Henryhasadeepinsightintohumandestinyandhumannature.Inhiswriting,alltheseimagesmentionedabovenotonlyshowusawonderfuldescriptionofbeautyofhumannature,butalsoexposethedarknessinthesociety.OHenry,withthehelpofthoserealisticandvividcharacters,observestheworldfromhisownpointofviewonthebasisofhispersonalexperience,describeshumans’livingconditionstomanifesthumanvirtuesanddefectswithhishumorandirony,praisesforthebeautyofhumannatureandcriticizesstronglythedarknessofthecapitalists.Hisworksshowreadersavividdescriptionofhumannatureandhisdeepunderstandingofhumanity,andremindreadersoftheremainingtruth,kindness,andbeautyofhumanityinthesociety.Theselivingandvividcharactersbearlong-livingartisticcharmanddeepenthesocialsignificanceoftheworks,thusmakehisworkstranspireintensehumanglamour.Henryisreallyamasterofshortstory.Hiswritingstyleissouniquethatmanypeoplelikereadinghisstories.Variouscharactersweresuccessfullyfiguredtoreflectthesituationofthesocietyatthattime.Hisstoriescamefromthereallifebutweremoreartfulthanthereallife.O.Henrynotonlywidenedtheexperienceofhisreaders,herestatedtheii
veritieswhichexistwhereverpeoplecontinuetostrivefortruthandbeautyinlife.Hewasneverunsympathetic,exceptwiththosewhosoughttodepriveothersoftheirrightsashumanbeings,andhiswritingshaveinthemfeelingsofcompassionfortheweaknessofman,which,joinedwithhisremarkableabilityofexpression,makehisstoriesattheirbestaninfluenceforthefurtheringofthoseidealswhichstilltendtocommandtheallegianceofcivilizedmen.ii
Chapter2HumorousStyleThemostsignificantcharacteristicofOHenry’slanguageishishumor.WefoundHenryJamesForman,oftheeditorialstaffoftheNorthAmericanReview,declares,“HiswriteswiththeskillofMaupassant,andwithahumorthatMaupassantneverdreamedof.”(Forman,1908:783)HumorisoneofthetraditionsinAmericanliterature.SinceWashingtonIrving,manyauthorshadbeenskilledinwritingthosefunnybutmeaningfulstories.WashingtonIrvingonlyusedlightsatiretoshowhiswell-intentionedirony,whileMarkTwainrevealedthetruthoflifewithlotsofslangwords,funnyandwittyremarksandinflatedlanguage.OHenrywasalittledifferentbecauseofhisowntortuousexperiencesandheinfluencefromtheauthorsofhisage.Heoftenpokedgood-naturedfunathumanfollies,buttherewasnomaliceinhishumor.2.1HumorousLanguageThelanguageusedinhisworksishumorousandexaggerating.Hismannerisusuallythatofgarruloustaleteller,andhisstyleisalmostinvariablybreezy,flippant,andslangy,withpuns,malapropisms,andbigwordsusedforhumorouseffect.Itisclearlyseenwhenreadingoneofhisii
shortstoriesTheCopandtheAnthem.Thestorybeginsasfollows:“OnhisbenchinMadisonSquareSoapymoveduneasily.Whenwildgeesehonkhighofnights,andwhenwomenwithoutsealskincoatsgrowkindtotheirhusbands,andwhenSoapymovesuneasilyonhisbenchinthepark,youmayknowthatwinterisnearathand.”(Henry,1995:32)ThesefewwordstellusnotonlythebackgroundoftheheroSoapybutalsothesettingofthestory,andmostimportant,thesceneofhumorisimpliedbetweenthelines.Inthefollowingparagraphs,when“AdeadleaffellinSoapy’slap”,hethought“ThatwasJackFrost’scard”and“JackiskindtotheregulardenizensofMadisonSquare,andgivesfairwarningofhisannualcall.”Then,“AtthecornersoffourstreetshehandshispasteboardtotheNorthWind,footmanofthemansionofAllOutdoors,sothattheinhabitantsmaymakeready”,soSoapy’smindbecame“cognizantofthefactthatthetimehadcomeforhimtoresolvehimselfintoasingularCommitteeofWaysandMeanstoagainstthecomingrigor”.But,“ThehibernatorialambitionsofSoapywerenotofthehighest,”and“inthemwerenoconsiderationsofMediterraneancruises,ofsoporificSouthernskiesordriftingintheVesuvianBay.ThreemonthsontheIslandwaswhathissoulcraved,”because“ForyearsthehospitableBlackwell’shadbeenhiswinterquarters.”Therehecouldspend“Threemonthsofassuredboardandbedcongenialcompany,safefromBoreasandbluecoats”,which“seemedtoii
Soapyistheessenceofthingsdesirable”.Furthermore,inSoapy’sopinion,comparativelyspeaking,“theLawwasmorebenignthanPhilanthropy”because“tooneofSoapy’sproudspiritthegiftsofcharityareencumbered.Ifnotincoinyoumustpayinhumiliationofspiritforeverybenefitreceivedatthehandsofphilanthropy.”As“CaesarhadhisBrutus,everybedofcharitymusthaveitstollofabath,everyloafofbreaditscompensationofaprivateandpersonalinquisition”,itistobe“aguestofthelaw,whichthough,conductedbyrules,doesnotmeddleundulywithagentleman’sprivateaffairs”.Unfortunately,afterhetriedeverymeanstomaketroubleinordertobearrestedbythepolicetobesentto“theIsland”,hefailedtocausetheattentionofthepolicemenbecause“theyseemedtoregardhimaskingwhocouldnotdowrong.”(Henry,1995:32-36)Suchexamplescanbefoundthroughoutthestory.Thesesentencesseemtobetalkedaboutverydelightedlyandcasuallytomakethestoryapparenttobeacomedy.Butmeanwhile,wecanalsofeelthesadnessandhelplessnessoftheheroSoapy.Therefore,wecannothelplaughing,butwithpitifultears.O.Henrywasaninveteratestoryteller,seeminglypurelyfromthepleasureofit,buthenevertoldavulgarjoke,andasmuchashelovedhumorhewouldnotsacrificedecencyforitssake.Andthat’swhatiscalledO.Henry’shumor.Soapy’smisfortuneisonetypicalstorytoldbyO.Henryinhisuniqueway,andtheeffectisthatwemayii
smilewithtearswhileturninghispages.2.2HumorousPlotThereisanotherwayforOHenrytoshowhisuniquehumour,andthatliesintheplotofhisstories.Enormouslyinterestedinpeople,O.Henryiscapableofswiftandcompassionateinsightsintotheaveragepersons.Heisagoodreporterwithakeeneyeforsignificantdetails.Observingdailywithhisaccurateeyeandearthesurroundingsandthrong’sappearancesandbehaviors,andaccumulatingattentivelyhisexperienceandobservation,O.Henryisadeptincapturingdramaticeventsandincidentsfromeverydaylife.Thecharactersinhisstoriesarefromalltradesandprofessionsheencountered,mostofwhomarethosefromlowsocialclass.O.Henryisatechnicalartistinplotstructure.Hisstoriesalwaysfocusontwoorthreeindividuals,inventingimaginarysituationsandpredicamentsforthem,workingoutingeniouslyunexpectedsolutionsfortheirproblems.Hissuggestivedescriptionaboutthecharactersjustfromonefineviewiscapableofshowingvividlytheirrealfeaturesandawkwardpositions.Evenwhenchoosingplotstoreflectthesocialbackground,O.Henrystillinclinestopickthoseincidentsorfragmentsfromdailylifeofafewpeople,insteadofdirectlydescribingthesignificanteventsinthesociallife.ii
TheplotofTheGiftoftheMagiisakindofbitterhumor.InordertogiveeachotherabestChristmaspresent,theheroJimandtheheroinDellaarenothesitatetogiveuptheirmostpreciouspossessions,resultingintheuselessnessoftheirpresents,whichmakesussmilebitterlyafterreading.TheplotofTheCopandtheAnthembaremuchsimilaritywiththatofTheGiftoftheMagi.TheheroSoapywantstobeputintoprisontolivethroughthefreezingwinter.Thoughhemakeseveryefforttoachievehispurpose,hefailed.Butwhenhedecidestogiveupevilandreturntogood,hebecomesarrested,lettingusnotknowwhethertolaughortocry.InTheRansomoftheRedChief,thebanditintendstokidnapakidforransom.However,heiscontrolledbythekidinreverse.Hemustpaybackthemoneytosettleupthisfarce.Inthisstory,rolesarereversed.Twoadultsaredefeatedbyachildwhichishumorousandsatire.ThehandbookinTheHandbookofHymenisthefountainofallthelaughingstocks.TheprotagonistinthestorysuccessfullydeceivesMrs.Sampsonintobeingfondof“him”withtheaccordancetotheinstructionsinthehandbook.However,onedaytheprotagonistwantstosaveMrs.Sampsonwhogetschokedforcoalgas,butmakeshimselfafoolformisunderstandingtheinformationinthehandbook.Therearefullofhumorousdetails.Thehumoroussignificancecreatedintheplotitselfprovidesusmuchfoodforthought.O.Henryuseshisuniqueskillspresentingthestoryinsuchanii
ingeniouswayandcreatesthecomplicatedplotsfoethereadersnottobeclearataglance.Inhisworkshearrangesaseriesofconflictsthatareunraveledattheend,woveninwiththemainthreadofthestorytodemonstrategreatartistryandpossessstrongartisticcharmandachieveafascinatingresult.Forthisreason,O.Henryintroducestothereadershisunique“twistending”.Subjectivityofdelineationmakesoutauthor’scharactersinterestingchieflyastheyrevealhisviewsoflife,andinterestincharacterisovershadowedbyinterestinplots.Butforbriskness,sympathyandhumorofthecharacterization,OHenryhasfewpeers.Hiswitandverbaltrikery,hisfondnessforpun,wordscoinages,sophistries,slangandmalapropismofallsorts,appropriatelysprinkledinthespeechofallhisromanticizedtypes—eventhedregsofhumanity—makethecharactersseemauthentic,funnyandimportantatthesametime.Justashisplotandhischaractersarehumorousinconceptionandintreatment,sothestrikingtraitofOHenryasastylistishumor.ii
Chapter3OHenryEndingO.Henry-styleending,”usuallyreferstothegreatmastersofshortstories,oftenintheplotattheendofthearticlesothatthepsychologicalsuddenunexpectedchangesoccurringsituations,ormakesharpreversalofthefateofthehero,theunexpectedresults,butwithinreason,inlinewithreallife,resultinginauniqueTheartisticcharm.Theendoftheart,intheO.Henry-styleworksisfullymanifested.O.Henryisageniusatcontrivingthesurprisingbutlogicalending,whichisalsocalledthetwistending.Withthementalstatusorthefateofthecharacterchangedgreatly,thewholepassageissuddenlyendowedwithagreatcharm.Becausethesuddenchangehascausedalonganddeepconsiderationofthesituationorproblemthearticlehasrevealed.InO.Henry’sshortstories,theextraordinarycompressionofdialoguesanddescriptivedetailsoftentripstheunwaryreadersintomakingwrongassumption.Theconclusionisanenigmauntilonereadsthelastsentenceofhisstories.Thereareafewexplanations.Thesurprisecomesquickly,andthestoryisfinished.O.Henryissuchamasterofunexpectedendingii
thatonemustadmirehisskills.Althoughtheseendingsareunexpected,theauthornevermakesanystatementsinthebodyofthestorythatcanbeheldagainsthim.Onthecontrary,thebodyisacarefulpreparationforthesurprisingending.3.1TearfulSmileOHenry’sbest-lovedstoryTheLastLeafisasignificantembodimentoftheauthor’ssuperskillofmakingsurprisingbutlogicalending,whichwascalled“tearfulsmile”.Itisastoryofsomeordinarypeople.In“colony”Washingtonwheresomepoorartistslived,pneumoniawasepidemic.Theyoungartist,Johnsy,“amiteofalittlewomanwithbloodthinnedbyCalifornianzephyrs”wassmotebyepidemic.“Shelay,scarcelymoving”,lookingattheblanksideofthenextbrickhouse,andcountingtheleavesontheivyvineoutsidethewindowwhichwerestrickenbythecoldbreathofautumn.Shethoughtherselfjustlikeawearyleafandsaid“whenthelastleaffalls,Imustgo,too”.Lifewastough,andJohnsywaspessimistic,indulgingintheabyssofdespair,evenhermostsignificantdreamofpaintingtheBayofNaplessomedaycouldn’tarouseherdesireforsurvival.Thedoctor,consequently,thoughtshehadonechanceintentogetwell,“andthatchanceisforhertowanttolive”.Johnsy’sbosomfriend—Sue,gettingtoknowherfriend’sweakness,“criedaJapanesenapkintoapulp”.Buttoconcealhersadness,ii
“sheswaggeredintoJohnsy’sroomwithherdrawing-board,whistlingragtime”.ThinkingJohnsywasasleep,“Suestoppedwhistling”.WhenshefoundthatJohnsywantedtodie,shehadtomakeawhiteliethatJohnsy’schancesforgettingwellwere“tentoone”.However,JohnsywasuntouchedtoSue’spainstakingefforts.Shehadmadeuphermindtogoawaywiththelastleafoftheivyvine.OldBehrman,anoldartist,wholivedonthegroundfloorbeneaththem,knewwhatJohnsythought.“Withhisredeyesplainlystreaming”,heshoutedhiscontemptandderisionforJohnsy’s“idioticimaginings”.He,thoughwas“afailureinart”,hadbeenalwaysabouttopaintamasterpiece,andpromisedtohelpJohnsymoveoutofsuchaterribleplace.“Apersistent,coldrainwasfalling,mingledwithsnow”.Theleavesontheivyvinewentmoreandmore.Wouldthelastleaffall?Whatwouldhappentothepoormite?O.Henrycontinuedthestory.“But,lo!afterthebeatingrainandfiercegustofwindthathadenduredthroughthelivelongnight,therestoodoutagainstthebrickwalloneivyleaf.Itwasthelastonthevine”.Itwasreallyanunbelievablemiracle!ButJohnsybelievedthatitwouldfall,andshewoulddieatthesametime.Whenreadingthestoryhere,readerswillhavethesamethoughtlikeJohnsy’s.But“thedayworeaway,andeventhroughthetwilighttheycouldseetheloneivyleafii
clingingtoitsstemagainstthewall”.Thewholenightpassedwithwindandrain.Can’tthelastleaffall?Readersholdafirmbeliefthatinthenextmorningtheleafmustfall,andthegirlmustdie.However,whenitwaslightenough,whentheshadewasraised,Johnsyfound“theivyleafwasstillthere”.Johnsywastouchedbythelastleaf;shebecameconvincedthat“itisasintowanttodie”.ThedoctorcameandsaidJohnsyhad“evenchances”torecover.However,hecontinued:“nowImustseeanothercaseIhavedownstairs.Behrman…Pneumonia,too.Heisanold,weakman,andtheattackisacute.Thereisnohopeforhim…”.Attheendofthestory,whatSuetoldJohnsymakesagreatimpactonthereaders.“Mr.Behrmandiedofpneumoniatodayinthehospital.Hewasillonlytwodays…Lookoutthewindow,dear,atthelastivyleafonthewall.Didn’tyouwonderwhyitneverflutteredormovedwhenthewindblew?Ah,darling,it’sBehrman’smasterpiece—hepaintedittherethenightthatthelastleaffall”.Therealleaffell,butthefalseleft;Johnsydidn’tdie,buttheoldartistwentaway.Notalittlemoreinkshowssympathy,butreaderscan’thelpbeingmovedbythetenderloveandthetruefriendshipamongthepoorartists.Henrydidn’tdescribehowoldBehrmandrewthelastleafonthewallonsuchadreadfulnight,butreaderscanimagineitthroughtheii
limiteddescriptionofthelastleaf.Inthefirstlargepart,theauthorputsmoreinktodrawthereaders’attentiontowhatJohnsy’sendwasandthecontinuallyfallingleaves,whiletheresultwastheexchangesofthetrueandthefalse,lifeanddeath.Heportraystheplotinundulationandthrillingtone.Readerscan’thelpadmiringsucheffectofconcentratedattackinthestory’sending.Thisisananthemofhumanityandfriendship.Theauthorexposestheoriginalappearanceofpeople’sheartsinthisway.Inthisnon-humannatureofthesoil,alittleblandbutrefreshingflowerprospers.Theflowerrepresentshumanityandhope,allowingpeopletorememberthetruemeaningoflove.WesmileforJohnsy’srebirth,cryforBehrman’sdeathbutmovedbyhisdeathatthesametime.WearepleasedforJohnsy’srebirthwiththesadnessoflosingBehrman.Wesmilewithtears.ManyotherofOHenry’sworkssuchasTheGiftoftheMagiareinthisstyle.3.2SmilesFullofTearsThereisanothertypeofthisending.Thereissomekindofpeoplewhodosomethingthatwefeelfunnyandabsurd,butnecessaryastothem.Theyhavenochoice.Wefeelsympathetictowitnesstheirridiculousdeedswithourtears,butatthesametimewecannothelpsmilingattheirabsurdity.SoapyinTheCopandtheAnthemisjustthisii
kindofperson.Soapy,ahomelesstramp,decidingtobesenttothehospitableBlackwell’sprisonontheIslandwhichhecalledhiswinterquarteragainsttherigorandthehunger,attemptedtopracticeseveralillegalactivitiesforthepurposeof“wooingcapture”;butthecop,whostoodnearlywhenSoapywastryingtoattracthisattentionbyhisan-tilawbehavior,paidnospecialattentiontoSoapyeverytime,even“seemedtoregardhimasabeingwhowoulddonowrong”.(OHenry65)Developinguphere,thestorymustgivethereadertheconclusionthatSoapyhadtogobackdisappointedlytohishome—aparkbench—inMadisonSquare.Onhisway,thesweetmusicofanthemfromthechurchplayedbytheorganistandthebeautifulmoonlightscenery“wroughtasuddenandwonderfulchangeinhissoul”(65),hemadeuphismindto“pullhimselfoutofthemire”(65)and“makeamanofhimselfagain”(65).Movinglikethis,theplotisnotcompletelyunderstandableatonce.Whenthereaderispuzzledabouttheuseandmeaningofgrowingplot,andjustwhileSoapywasplanninghistomorrow’sactionforbeing“somebodyintheworld”,anunforeseenturnofeventloomedabruptly:Hewasarrestedbecauseapolicethoughthimdoubtful,andthenextdayhewassentencedto“threemonthsontheIsland”.SuchabigsurpriseO.Henrygavetothereadersthatreadersmayevencan’tunderstandwhathappenedatonce.Theshortendingcontainedii
toomanyfeelingsandtoomuchsurprise.Canyoucallitatragedywithacomedyoracomedywithatragedy?ShouldreadersfeelhappyforSoapyorsadforhim?It’sreally“smilesfulloftears”.Anthem,atoolforsavingone’ssoulinthecapitalistsociety,happenedtosavealoafer’ssoulinaspecialsituation.Policeman,anationalmachinefordefendingasociety’ssecurity,ruinedthehero’sfuturewhowasjustsavedbyAnthematlast.ThisresultexactlyshowsO.Henry’spurposeofexposingthedarkcapitalistsocietyandthehypocriticalcapitalisticsystemdeeply.WedeeplyadmireOHenry’sastonishingcontrivanceoftrickyendingwhichrevealrigorouslytherealfactsofreversalbetweentruthandfalsehoodinthecapitalistsocietywhichconfusesrightandwrong.OHenry’sshortstorieswhichextolthebeautyofhumanitygiveundueemphasistotragicending,givingrisetosympathyandmeditation,andgivinghopeandbrightnessforpeopleinthemeanwhile.Itshinesofhumanvirtues,makingtheflowerofhumanityprosperousineveryreader’sheart.Moreover,thereisnolackofsarcasmandcriticismtotheunfairnessofthesociety.Humor,shrewdnessandsarcasmoftenleadtoreaders’laughterevenbellylaughter,butafterlaughing,whatcantheyrealize?OHenrydescribesthemillionsofcommonpeople’sfatewithhissympathyforthem,inthepositionofasoldierofhumanitarianism.“Tearfulsmiles”showhispityandpraiseforthecommonpeople;“smilesii
fulloftears”showhisangertothehideoussociety.Unexpectednessofendingisthemoststrikingandconsistentlycommentedonfeatureofhisstories,theunexpectedness,moreover,beingalmostinvariableofthe“happyending”variety.(See,asagoodexampleofthis,theendingofthestoryTheSkylightRoom)ForO.Henrythisqualityofthesurpriseorcontrarytoexpectation,theyappearinasortoflateralway,asifpoppingoutfromaroundthecorner;anditisonlythenthatthereaderrealizesthatcertaindetailshereandtherehadhintedatthepossibilityofsuchanending.Thisisthesurpriseofparody,atricksurprisewhichplaysonthereader’sliteraryexpectations,throwinghimoff-centerandverynearlymockinghim.Hedoesnotevensetoutfalsetricksasiscommonlydoneinmysterystories,butoperateswiththehelpofambiguities,half-statementsorbarelynoticeabledetailswhichturnoutattheendtohavebeenhighlysignificant.(Ejxenbaum,1968:21-22)ii
ConclusionOHenry’sdistinctiveworks—typicallybriefstories,characterizedbyvividcharacters,humorouslanguageandplot,andvariationsonthesurpriseortwistending—broughthiminstantappeal,andbroughtverse,excitementandhumortothegenre.Hissympathyfortheunderdog,thelittlemanandwomandwarfedinthemazeofcontemporarylife,toadegreeaccountedforhisenormouspopularity.OHenryisperhapsthemostpopularandwidelyknownAmericanshortstorywriterofthetwentiethcentury.Duringtheeight-yearperiodthathelivedinandwroteinNewYorkCity,theshortstoryformwasattheheightofitspopularity,anddozensofperiodicalsfeaturingshortfictioncompetedfortheworksofcelebratedauthors.ItwasagainstthisbackgroundthatOHenryquicklyrosetothepositionofthemostsoughtafterandacclaimedAmericanshortstorywriterbythevirtueofhisdistinctiveworks.Thehighlyironic,sentimentalorunexpectedstoryconclusionhasbeencloselyindentifiedwithOHenrythathisnamehasbecomesynonymouswiththefictionofthiskind.Duringthelastdecadeofhislifeandforaboutadecadefollowinghisdeath,OHenrywastheii
mostpopularandwidelyreadAmericanshortstorywriter,HewascommonlyregardedasmodernAmericanmasteroftheshortstoryform.Hisworkswereconsideredmodelsofgenreandhisshortstorytechniquesweretaughtincollegewritingcourses.In1918theSocietyofArtsandSciencemettovoteuponamonumenttothemasterofshortstory,OHenry,theydecidedthatthismemorialshouldbeintheformoftwoprizeforthebestshortstoriespublishedbyAmericanauthorinAmericanmagazinesduringtheyear1919.FromthisbeginningthememorialdevelopedintoanannualanthologyofoutstandingshortstoriesbyAmericanauthors.TohaveastorypublishedinOHenry’sMemorialAwardPrizeStoriessymbolizedpreeminenceinthefieldbecausehisworkstoodforthetimebeingatleast---astheheightstandardofwhatshortstorywasmeanttobe.Althoughtheabsurdlyover---praisedbycriticsandreviewersatfirstandjustasthoughtlesslyrepudiatedbythemlater,andtheupsanddownsofhisfamesincehisdeath,OHenry’sstoriesmaintainsarespectableplaceamongthereadingpublic,growinginpopularityasneweditionsofthemweretranslatedintonearlyahundredforeignlanguages.ThepennameOHenrybecameabywordbothinhisowncountryandinfarawayplacesoutsidetheUnitedStates.CriticscontinuedtoreassessOHenry’scontributiontoliterature,withmostmaintainingthatthischaracteristicallybrief,humorous,sometimessentimentalstorieshaveearnedhimapermanentplaceasaskillandii
inventivestorywriterwhoprofoundlyinfluencedthecourseofAmericanshortstoryforhalfacentury.OHenry’sassetsforcontrivance,sentimentality,repetitionandmelodramaareconspicuous.Perhapsmostimportantofall,hehasinfluencedanentiregenerationofwritersandhelpedprovideanenthusiasticaudiencefortheirworks,and“hestillemerges,byhishugeachievementandtheimmensepopularityofhisparticularmethod,asanastonishinglypersistentinfluenceontheshortstoryofalmosteverydecadesincehisday.”(Kirkpatric282)ii
BibliographyB.M.Ejxenbaum,OHenryandtheTheoryoftheShortStory[M].AnnArbor,Michigan:UMichiganP,1968:21-22.ChenHuiWuXiyan.Criticismofthelossofhumannature[J].JournalofXianningTeachersCollege.2002(4):69-71.Foeman,HenryJames.NewBooksReview:OHenry’sShortStories[J].TheNorthAmericanReview,1908,(5):781-783.Henry,O.OHenry100SelectedStories[M].Hertfordshire:Wordworth,1995.Kirkpatric,D.L.edReferenceGuidedtoAmericanLiterature.Chicago:St.JamesPress,1987.Long,E.Hudson.OHenry,theManandtheHisWork[M].Philadelphia:UofPennsylvaniaP,1949:136-137.RossScaife.AGlossaryofRhetoricalTermsWithExamples[Z].Internet.1Apirl.2007,Available:http:∥www.uky.edu／AS／Classics／rhetoric.htmlVoss,Arthur.TheAmericanShortStory:ACriticalSurvey[M].Norman:OklahomaUP,1973:123-124.田艳.欧亨利短篇小说精选[M]ii
.大连：大连理工大学出版社，2005.王青松.倪勤.论欧亨利小说的比喻特色[J].安徽教育学院学报.2006,24(4):82-85.AcknowledgementsIhaveeternalgratitudetoZongLeshan,mytutor,forhisinestimablehelpandvaluableinstruction,andtoProfessor…,forhisinsightfullectures,whichinspiremetocomposethisdissertation.IamgreatlyindebtedtoProfessor…forhisallowingmetohaveaccesstohisbookspertinenttothisdissertation.IalsothankthosewhohelpmeincourseofthewritingandwhosenamesIcan’tlisthereonebyone.ii
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