The Four Million | Writing Style & Techniques

The Four Million Techniques/Literary Precedents

O. Henry's writing is irrevocably linked with the surprise ending. Indeed, the term "O. Henry ending" has entered the literary vocabulary. However, the O. Henry ending was not merely something tacked onto the body of the story to astound the reader, it was a natural illumination of character.

The surprise ending was an expression of his philosophy of life. Take, for instance, the well-known "The Gift of the Magi," the second story of The Four Million. The surprise ending not only epitomizes the character of these two self-sacrificing lovers, but it also epitomizes the character of love itself, the very theme of O. Henry's story. Theme and character are embodied in the surprise that really is not a surprise lurking at the end.

In the same way the climax of "The Love-Philtre of Ikey Schoenstein" drives home the point of the story.

Ikey, using...
(read more)