Tuesday, May 24, 2016

What are the different moods in the story "After Twenty Years"?

O. Henry's story "After Twenty Years" is a story shrouded with mystery and portents. Here are the moods of this narrative:

  • Mysterious Mood

O. Henry describes his characters as only "the policeman" and "the man in the doorway." As the policeman speaks with the man who stands in the darkened doorway, the man lights his cigar. As he does so, he reveals a scar near his right eyebrow and a large diamond as a scarfpin. Then, he pulls out a watch set with small diamonds, suggesting a character who is flashy and proud of his wealth.
The policeman notices these things, but says little. He does ask the stranger if he has heard from his friend, as well as how long he will wait for his friend before he walks on down the street. 


  • Portentous Mood

As the man in the doorway waits past the set time for his old friend to appear, he sees a tall man with his overcoat collar turned up hurrying across the street and heading toward him.
After they greet each other, the stranger remarks,



"You've changed lots, Jimmy. I never thought you were so tall by two or three inches."


"Oh, I grew a bit after I was twenty."



When the man asks Jimmy personal questions, the answers are rather vague. Then, they walk arm-in-arm up the street purportedly toward a restaurant. When they walk by a drug store where there are "brilliant electric lights," the man exclaims, "You're not Jimmy Wells." 


  • Fateful Mood

The tall man responds to the other by saying,



You've been under arrest to ten minutes, "Silky Bob". . . here's a note I was asked to hand to you. . . It's from Patrolman Wells.



The policeman who talked to Bob in the doorway is his old friend. Because they are now on opposite sides of the law, Jimmy Wells has turned Bob in to the authorities. He just did not have the heart to arrest his old friend, so he sent a plainclothes officer.

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