Contents of the Dead Man's Pockets Summary
Jack Finney

Contents of the Dead Man's Pockets Overview

Jack Finney’s short story, entitled Contents of the Dead Man’s Pocket, was originally published in the June 1956 issue of Good Housekeeping magazine. Tom Benecke, the protagonist of the story, is in the process of allowing his corporate ambition to ruin other areas of his life. A chance breeze that blows through his apartment, however, changes everything, forcing Tom Benecke to reevaluate his goals and priorities. The story includes themes such as the rejection of authority, the absurdity of the corporate world, and the embracing of the carnivalesque aspects of life.