欧·亨利短篇小说的艺术结尾与人性体现

欧·亨利短篇小说的艺术结尾与人性体现

Abstract

O.Henry,oneofthethreemostfamousshort-storywritersintheworld,enjoysequalstatuswithChekhovandMaupassant.Somecriticscalledhim“thefounderofAmericanstories.”Exquisiteplot,wryhumorandtwistendingdominatehisworks.Themainstreamofhisworksiseulogyofhumanityandhismanyclassicalworksarenotable.

ThisthesismainlyanalysesthetwistendingandthehumanityofcharactersinO.Henry’sshortstories.Withhishumorous,ironicalandcomicwritingstyle,O.Henryrevealsthehumanityfromthetwistending.Partoneisonthehumanityofcharactersreflectedfromthetwistending.O.Henryshowssympathyforthepoorsocialunderdogs,upgradeshumanvirtuesaswellasexposeshumandefeats.However,theprevioushumannatureelicitsthesuddentwistending.Itnotonlygivesthereaderssuddenfallbutalsomakesusthinkplausibly.Parttwoisontheeffectoftwistendingwritingdevicesonthehumanityofcharacters.Itmainlycontainsthewritingbackgroundofendingwhichlightsupthehumanityofcharactersandtheplotmakingtechniqueoftwistending.Inacapitalistsociety,thespecificcharactersarethespecialsociety.Theyalsoforetellthefateending.Furthermore,thecultivationoftheplotandthesurpriseendinggivesusanewopensight.Partthreeisaboutsomecommentsonthetwistending.Somecriticsconsideredwryhumoras“SmilewithTears,”or“TearswithSmile.”Thispartelevatesthecharmofthetheme.Inaword,thetwistendingdirectsreaderstothinkaboutthehumanity.Meanwhile,thehumanityelevatestheartistictwistending.

ThisthesisonO.Henry’sshortstorieswillimproveliterarylearning.MorethanthatitwillattractmorepeopletopayattentiontoO.Henry’sworks.

Keywords:Twistending;Humanity;Wryhumor;Smilewithtear

中文摘要

作为世界三大小说家之一,欧·亨利与契诃夫和莫泊桑齐名。他是美国现代短篇小说的开创者,他的作品因其奇巧的艺术构思、出其不意的结尾而着称。其中歌颂人性的小说是欧·亨利文学创作的主流,并且许多作品已成为家喻户晓的名篇。同时涌现出许多感人至深的经典人物。表现了作家对人性理想的执着追求。

本文从欧·亨利短篇小说的艺术结尾与人性层面分析。作者运用了幽默、讽刺的喜剧手段揭示了关于善恶的人性主题及其出奇不意的结尾,让主题升华。第一部分,从艺术结尾中折射的人性特点出发。欧·亨利同情下层人民,赞颂人性的闪光点“自我牺牲”、善良、真挚、无私等美德，以及人性的丑陋一面。还有资本主义社会所特有的自私、贪婪、冷酷等。这些为艺术结尾作了铺垫,使读者被其出奇不意的结尾所震撼,同时其结尾在情理之中。第二部分,作者如何将艺术结尾表现在人性上,从两方面入手:社会背景所反映的人性特征和作者奇巧的谋篇布局。在资本主义社会,人物具有典型的性格特征,这些都预示了他们的结局。而作者通过各种手法将其跃然纸上。第三部分,评论小说的艺术结尾,作者的作品也曾被认为是庸俗的小说,但他们忽视了艺术结尾所饱含的荒诞与幽默所产生的“含笑带泪”和“含泪带笑”的艺术效果。总之,艺术结尾激发了人们对人性特点深思,而人性特点又升华了艺术结尾,对读者的心灵产生了持久的震撼力。

本文对欧·亨利及其短篇小说进行的研究，对本人今后的文学路有一定的帮助。而且，可以让更多的人关注到欧·亨利。

关键词:艺术结尾;人性;幽默;带泪的微笑

Ⅰ.Introduction

O.Henry,originallynamedWilliamSydneyPorter,isadistinguishedAmericanstorywriter.Hewrotemorethan300shortstoriesinhislife.Hisstoriesarefullofcolorfulcharactersmostofwhomarederivedfromhisinclinationtowanderstreetsandparks,andtotalktopeopleofeverykindandcondition.Andallofhisstoriesareingeniouslyconceived,withtheendingsalwayscontrarytoreaders‘expectations.Thoughhisstories‘endingsarealwayssurprising,yetitisnotbeyondreason,forbothwaysconformwelltothelogicoflife.Hecreatesanoriginal,typicallyAmericandemocraticformofshortstorieswith,atitsbest,avaluablecriticalawarenessoflifeandsocietytellinglyexpressedthroughhumor.Therefore,somecriticscallhim"thefounderofAmericanstories".Beinggiftedwithhumorandakeenawarenessofdetails,heobjectivelyshowsuswhatAmericalookslike.Ashisexperienceshows,themajoritypeoplehemetinhisdailylifearethoselowerclassinsociety----clerks,policemen,andwaitresses.AllhisstoriesputtingtogetherconstituteatruepanoramaofAmericanlife,orassomeonesaid,"TheencyclopediaofAmericanlife".[1](P61)

O.Henry‘strademarkisthesurprisingendingthateachofhisstoriescontains.Hesetsastorymovinginonedirection,andjustwhenthereaderisconvincedofthegeneraldirectionofthenarrative,thestorywillbecompletelyreversed.Andifwelookbacktothetotalstory,theendingseemslogicalandplausible.Asa“plot-maker”,anddesignerofincident,heisanamazinggenius.Noonecandobetterthanhimtoholdsthereaderin“suspense”.Morethanthat,thereaderscarcelyknowsthatheissuspendeduntiltheverycloseofthestory.Justasturnsonthelightsandthewholetaleisrevealedinitsentirety.HeusesthisdeviceofdramaticandhumorouseffectintheshortstorycollectionTheFourMillionwhichincluding“TheRansomofRedChief”,“TheGiftoftheMagi”,and“TheCopandtheAnthem”,“theServiceofLove”,“ThelastLeaf.”AtthesametimeheusesironyandsatiretodisclosetheessenceofAmericansociety:theweakarethepreyofthestrong,whichisregardedasthelawofthejungleuniversally.Inaddition,rightandwrongareconfused,goodandevilaredisordered.Takehisworksasexamples,“MammonandTheArcher”,“TheFurnishedRoom”and“ADouble-DyedDeceiver”.Thosejocularmethodsinrhetoriccanmoveyoutotearsaswellaslaughter.Moreovertheauthorvividlypresentsthehumanityofcharacters.Soifyoulookbackthetotalstory,theendingseemslogicalandplausible.TherealcharmofO.Henry‘stalesliesnotonlyinthetwistending,butalsointhereversalreflectedfromthetwistendingofhischaracters‘humanity.Thekindofendingsservestolightupthehumanityofcharacters,toshowtheauthor‘sloveandhatredandthustoarousethereaders’sympathy.Ifweponderdeeplyoverthosetwistendingsandthoseradianteffects,wewillfindtherootofsocietysystemisthefieldofthehumanity.Thereforetheauthorusesdifferentkindsofdevicestoaddwryhumortoenhancethetheme.Next,let’sunfoldthemagictravelofO.Henry’sworks.

Ⅱ.TheHumanityofCharactersReflectedFromtheTwistEnding

Asweknow,theendingofanarticlehaslongbeenconsideredasaconclusionorjustasummaryofthewholepassage.However,O.Henryillustratesanewway,theso-calledtwistendingorsometimestheO.Henry’sending.Itmeansthatattheendofanarticlethementalstatusorthefateofthecharacterhaschangedgreatly.Butthewholepassageissuddenlyendowedwithagreatcharmbecauseoftheending.Andthetwistendingnotonlygivesthereadersasuddenfall,butalsoletusthinksalot.(P128)Thinkwhat?Fromthetwistending,thehumanityisclearlypresented.AmongO.Henry’sshortstories,theeternalthemeprovestobethehumanity.Whethersimpleorcomplex,themysteryofhumanmotivescontrolledbyhumannatureisexposed.Therearegoodandevilelementsinhumannature,forthetwoareoftenmixedwitheachothermoreorless.Whenthegoodelementsinhumannatureoccupythepredominantportion,manwillcarryforwardhisvirtuessuchaskindness,generosity,hospitality,self-sacrificeforloveandfriendship,helpingotherswithoutaskingforrewards.Whiletheevilthingsdefeatthegoodinhumannature,manwilldisplaysuchhumandefectsasbeinggluttonousandlazy,rapacious,officious,vainarrogant,cowardly,impetuousetc.Thehumanmotivesbecomemoreandmoremysteriousandvarious.Whentempted,goodmanwoulddoevilthings;whenmovedbynoble-mindedpeopleortouchingthings,thedemonwillforsakedarknessforlightandturnoveranewleafinhislife.InO.Henry‘sworld,establishedfiguresbecomeboobsandrichmenbecomedunces,whileroguesbecomeheroesanddown-and-outersbecomegentlemen.

1.TheHumanVirtues

Humanbeinghasmanyvirtuesfromancienttimestothepresent.Theyarekind,brave,honest,hardworking,polite,thrifty,generous,hospitalandsoon.Somepeoplestillpayagreatdealinordertomaintainthesevirtues,theysacrificetheirownhappinesseventheirlifeforloftyloveandfriendship;theyhelpotherswithoutaskingforrewardsandregarditasapleasure;theygiveuptheirowntreasureandchancetoothersetc.Suchpeoplebringloveandfinethingstotheworld;theyaretheoneswhoendowtheworldwithlightandhope.O.Henryhasagreatunderstandingofthetrialsofthelowerclass,andhefrequentlypicturesthelivesofordinarypeopleofearlytwentiethcenturyAmericawithwarmandsympatheticcolors.Thesecharactersarefrequentlytheoverlooked:thestrugglingshopsgirl,theunsuccessfulartist,andtheimpoverished.EvenTheodoreRooseveltsaid:“ItwasO.Henrywhostartedmeonmycampaignforofficegirls.”(P28)ThereisnodenyingthatthenarrativesofhumanitybyO.Henryhaveeverlastinginfluence.Althoughtheyarepoor,leadingthelife“madeupofsobs,sniffles,andsmiles,withsnifflespredominating”,(P3)theystillthink,“Ifahomeishappyitcannotfittooclose.”(P41)MostofO.Henry’sstoriesshowthatthehumblelittleinsignificantpeopleofNewYorkarejustasadmirableandtheirlivesareasworthyofattentionandinterestand,asheimplies,asrespectableasthemembersoftheFourHundred.

Take“TheGiftoftheMagi”asanexample,wewillfindtheingenuityofO.Henry’sunexpectedendings.Fromthatcondensationofthecharmofhumanvirtuesthelove-sacrificialthemeisshown.ItisaboutayoungcouplethatisshortofmoneybutdesperatelywantstobuyeachotherChristmasgifts.UnknowntoJim,Dellasellshermostvaluablepossession,herbeautifulhair,inordertobuyplatinumasthechainforJim‘swatch;unknowntoDella,Jimsellshismostvaluablepossession,hiswatch,tobuyjeweledcombsforDella‘shair.Theauthorarrangestheentireplotjusttogetthereaderstowait,tocausesuspense,thepleasurableexcitementandanticipationoftheoutcome.Fromthebeginning,thereaderskeepguessingwhatJimandDellawillbuyforeachother,andthecoincidenceoftheirgiftisthegreatsuspensetheauthorputinhisarticle.Andthenhegivestheanswertothequestion.Hereistheending:“HereIhavelamelyrelatedtoyoutheuneventfulchronicleoftwofoolishchildreninaflatwhomostunwiselyscarifiedforeachotherthegreatesttreasuresoftheirhouse.Butinthelastwordtothewiseofthesedaysletitbesaidthatofallwhogivegifts.”(P59)However,thestoryendcomeswhenJimrevealsthathehassoldhiswatchtobuyDallaherpresent,fromwherethepoorcouple’sloveisshow.Therefore,O.Henryendsthestoryartfully,andwithdefttouchesheelicitsthereader’sadmirationandsympathyforhisyoungcoupleshowsloveforeachothermorethancompensatesfortheirlackofmoneyandmaterialpossessions.Thoughconfrontedwithcruelrealityanddulldailyroutine,DellaandJimcanneverchangetheireagernesstowardlove.Tothemthemostvaluablematerialpossessionissoslightandinsignificantbeforethespiritualpossessionofloveromance.Thatissparklingwithfragrantcharm.

Thereisanotherstoryaboutsacrificialthemeentitled“TheLastLeaf”,awarmandtragictaledescribinghowadyingartistprovesasresilientasthelastleafonthewalloutside.Sue,apoorpainter,attackedbyPneumonia,wantedtoturnlooseherholdoneverything,andgosailingdown,down,justlikeoneofthosepoortiresleave.Butafterbeatingrainandfiercegustsofwind,anivyleafstillstandsagainstthebrickwall,whichgivesherthehopeofliving,makeingherrealizethat:“Itisasintowanttodie”.(P71)TheendingrevealsthatMr.Behrman,akindoldartistdiesatpreviousnightbypneumonia,paintingtheleaveonanoutdoorvineinthestormingnight----inhisefforttorestoreSue’swilltolive.Thoughthetouchingendingmakesusabsorbedinsadness,thereaderscanstillfindgleamsofhopeanddesireoutofdespair.Itnotonlyenlightensthegirl’scourageforbetterlifebutalsomoveseveryreadertotears.Thoseglitteringhumanvirtueshowevercounterpointtothecapitalistindustrialbourgeoisies’humandefeats,tellingusthatlifeissupremeandthusupgradingthetheme.

Moreover,sometimestheendingrepeatsthebeginningandstringsthewholearticletoelucidatethehumanvirtues.In“AServiceofLove”,O.Henryinputsthecommenttoaninsideview,whichisconveyedbytheconversationbetweenJoeandDelia:“Whenonelovesone’sartnoserviceseen—justwhenoneloves”.(P23)Thethemeisstraightlyrevealedfromthebeginningandrestatedbytotheend.O.HenrypraisesforthepurelovebetweenJoeandDelia.Theybothsacrificetheirtimeandchancetoearnenoughmoneytosupporttheirspouse.Deliaworksinalaundryfortwoweeks.TheycheateachothersothatoneofthemcanwintheopportunitytorealizehisorherdreamorArt.Untilone-dayDelia’shandisburnedwithasmoothing-iron,dotheyfindoutthereality.Thiskindofendingeulogizeofthelovebetweenordinarypeople.Theartisalsoakindhearted,self-sacrifice,hardworkingandperseverance.Afterall,intheworldofO.Henry,Americansocietystillhascharm,hasnotbecomevicious.

Byandlarge,throughtheportrayalthepanoramaofathrongofpeopleeitherofupperclassorlowerclass,O.Henry’seulogizethespeciousandprecioushumanvirtues.Thevirtuesofthecharacterreflectedfromtheunsuspectedending.

⒉TheHumanDefects

Ontheotherhand,humanbeingshavemanydefects,too.Theybenefitthemselvesattheexpenseofothers.Inordertomakemoneytheynevershowmercyandsympathytothepoor.Theyrealizetheirownaimsbyhookorbycrook.Theirevildeedsmaketheworldvicious.Byexposingthehumandefectsandthedarksideoftheworld,O.Henrywantstoawakenpeople’sconscienceandtheirdeepestdesireforallgoodthings,sothatpeoplecanmaketheireffortstosaveandcleanthewholeworld.

Somepeoplelovemoneythananythingelse.In“MammonandtheArcher”,AnthonyFuckwell,aretiredmanufacturerandproprietorofRockwall’Soap,hasthegreatestesteemforthevalueofmoney.“Ibetmymoneyonmoneyeverytime,I’vebeenthroughtheencyclopediadowntoYlookingforsomethingyoucan’tbuywithit,andIexpecttohavetotaketotheappendixnextweek,I’mformoneyagainstthefield.Tellmesomethingmoneywon’tbuy.”[10](P73)Hissonwantstoaskforagirl’shandbutthereistoolittletimeleft.Surprisingly,afortunatelytraffictie-upoffersenoughtimefortheson.Buttheendingdisclosesthatitisthefatherwhomakestheaccidentinordertohelphissontowinthegirl’sheart.Thethemeofthestorycomeout:confrontedwiththeMammonevenArcherhastobebenthisheaddown.ToAnthonyandhispeers,theonlythingworthyoftheirthoughtismoney.Withtheironicrhetoricmethod,O.Henryendsthestorywithafatboywithoutanyclothesonshootingarrowaroundwithabow.ThatispicturedCupid,inanew,unexpectedway,thusbringingreadersanewsensetothetopic“MammonandtheArcher”.Thisusageofthetwistendingaddsartisticeffecttotheperson’scharacterdescribed.

Inacapitalistsociety,manypeopleevendoevilthingsagainsttheirconscience,soastoearnmoney.In“TheFurnishedRoom”,thehousekeeper,Mrs.Purdy,cheatsayoungmanwhoisseekinghislover,inordertolethimrenttheroom.Thentheyoungmancommitssuicideoutofdespair.Attheend,aftertheyoungmandies,wefindtheman’slovercommitsuicideatthesamerentedroom.talksaboutitwithanotherhousekeeperinanindifferenttoneasifitwereonlyatriflethatcouldbethetopicforgossipoverdinner.Thesocietyissodoomedbyanatmosphereofgloomandindifferencethatitmakespeopletreatothersorevenfriendswithoutsympathy,equalingtocommittingmurder.

EvenmorejocularisthewaythatO.HenrydescribesarapaciousbusinessmanMaxwellin“TheRomanceofaBusyBroker”.Heissocrazyabouthisgoldeneternalbusiness----makebigmoneyagainsttheclock.Morethanthatheevenforgetshehasmarriedornot.Andinatumultofapreparationoutofhiswork,heaskshiswifetomarryagain.Thosetwistendingexplosethewholethemeofthearticle.Arethereaderstoderidethebrokerortoshowsympathyforthebroker’stenderwife?

Theauthorusespungentrhetoricmethodsnotonlytoshowusthehumanityvividly,butalsotoenhancethetheme----thegluttonousandcruelsideofthosebourgeoisies.

3.TheHumanVirtuesandtheHumanDefects----IndividualismwithNoIll-will

O.Henryhasdeepinsightsintohumandestinyandhumannature.AmongthestoryofNewYorkers,thethemeofpretensestrikesthedominantchordsofthesestories----thepervasivedesiretoposeforwhatoneifnot,ifonlyforabriefspelloftimeandregardlessoftheacknowledgedriskinvolved.[11](P66)Indailylife,whenonefeelsthatheisnotflawless;whenoneisnotcontentwithwhathehas,itisunderstandableforhimtofindsomethingorchangesomethingtoregainthebalanceinhisheart.Everyonewillchooseawaytopretendtobeanothermanforashortwhiletogetthesenseofcompensation.Afterall,thatisacomparativeandefficientsolutionforpoorpeople.Whenhedisguiseshimself,hisdailyfrustrationoftheegowilldisappearfromhisheadforawhile.Andthetransientawakeningofself-esteemwilloccupyhisheadandsoulforashorttime.Thushecanescapefromthecruelrealitysuccessfullyandrelaxhimself.Suchapersonisworthyofsympathy,soO.Henryneverlooksdownuponthem.Althoughtheendingofthestoryisironical,heneverdespisesthem.

Inthestory“WhiletheAutoWaits”,whichisrecognizedasoneofhisbeststoryofthethemeoffalsepretense.Acomelyyoungwomanpretendstobeanobleladyandtriestoimpressayoungmanwhostopstochatwithherinapark.Themanmaskshisrealidentitybypretendingtobeahumblerestaurantcashier,whichtheendingshowstobethepositionsheholds.Meanwhileheisalsothewealthyownerofthechauffeuredsedan,whichshehaspointedtoasherown.ThelosstobothindividualsistheresultofwhatO.Henryperceivedtobeanaturalhumanurge.Thoughthisisaworldwherethefittestsurvives,thelowerclassstillhasitscodeofethics.Thepoorandhumblepretendtobethenobleandderivepleasurefromdoingthisandtheywon’tinjureanyoneelse.Theyarenotinsignificantbutworthyofourrespect.[12](P12)

Inaddition,thereisanotherstoryaboutthehumannature’scomplexorwecansaycomprehensionandmeddlewithdifferenthumanity.In“ADouble-DyedDeceiver”,LlanoKidisayoungfellowwithcruelcharacter.Heoncekillsacard-playerinOldJustowaldo’gamblinghousebecauseoffiercewrangle,thenhefleesaway.Whenheflees,hestealsahorse.AfterthreedayshereachsBuena’sTierrasbysailing.ThenThacker,theUnitedStatesconsuls,discusseswithhimtodefraudaricholdcoupleoftheirmoneyandbelongingbypretendingtobetheirlong-absentsonandheagreeds.Butwhenhelearnsthatthesonoftheoldcoupleheiscoincidentallytheyoungmanhehaskilled,hechangshisideas.Heisdeeplytouchedbytheoldmother’sloveandtears.Hedoesnotwanttohurtthesadmotheragain.Sohedecidestobetheirsontocomfortthem.Heonceisagambler,akiller,adeceiverandathief.Hefinallychoosestobeagentlesontocompensatetheoldcoupleforhiswrongdoings.ThereturnoftheprodigalsonbringshappinesstothecoupleandcalmnesstoKid’sheart.Finally,thegoodovercomestheevilandheturnsanewleaftobeginhislife.Thatisjustthegreatrewardonhim.Andtheunexpectedendingsalsosurpriseallofthereadersandfindagleamofwarmth.Afterall,intheworldofO.Henry,Americansocietystillhasflickerofhopeandkindnessintheirnature.

ThereisnoexactlydistinctionbetweenthekindandtheevilinO.Henry’sstories.Mostofthetime,charactersinO.Henry’sstoriesarealwaysendowedwithbothgoodandillwill,thecharacterschangeaccordingtotheconditions.Intheendof“TheCopandtheAnthem”,Soapy,whopreparesforthecomingwinter----tryinghisbesttobearrestedintotheprison,isfinallymovedbytheanthemofthechurch.Andhedecidestomakeamanofhimagainandtoconquertheevilthathastakenpossessionofhim.Humanityiscomplexthingthatcombinesnoabsoluterightorwrong,noabsolutegoodorbad.ButthosehumanvirtuesdisplayedinO.Henry’sworksshowthefinesideoftheworld,whichencouragepeopleandmakethemcherishlifeandhope.Afterall,intheworldofO.Henry,Americansocietystillhascharm,andhasnotyetbecometotallyvicious.Andthedeeprootofhumanityisalwaysadorableandkind,whichmayinspireinstantlythewickedpersonwhereverheis.

O.Henry’stwistendingnotonlyliesintheending,butineverysceneofthestory.In“TheCopandTheAnthem”,the“modestandpleasing,refinedandelegant”ladyfinallyturnedouttobestreetwalker.[13](P17)Thewell-dressedmanfinallyturnsouttobeathief.Theso-calledwell-dressed“gentleman”existseverywhereintheworld,butmostoftheirdirtybehaviorsaredisguisedjustunderthenobleveil.Weseefromherethatapersonalwaysdoingthingtocoverhisorherattainment.Ascommentaryonthefollies,frailties,ambitious,andattainmentsofhumannature,theycanhardlybecalledtrenchant,buttheirexposureinsuchavarietyofformsisanothertestamentofO.Henry’sartistry.

Inaword,undertheturbulentcircumstanceofAmericaatthattime,allkindsofhumanbeingarepicturedvividlyandprofoundlyinaccordancewithhumannature.

Ⅲ.TwistEndingWritingDevicesontheHumanityofCharacters

⒈SocialBackground.

MostofO.Henry’sstoriesaresetincontemporarypresent,theearlyyearsofthe20thcentury.AtthatperiodoftimeinAmerica,thebourgeoisiewasgettingtheupperhandandthecapitalisteconomywasboomingtoitstop.Manyaspectslikeworkingindustryandagricultureindustry,technologydevelopment,prosperityofmetropolitan,scaleoftransportation,bankcapitalalltooktheleadingpositionintheworld.Bourgeoisiebribedthegovernmentandcorruptedthefunctioneddepartmentingovernment.Thegapbetweentherichandthepoorwasdeeper.Thenumberoflowerclasspoorpeoplerocketed.Thewholesocietywereundergoingaprofoundchange.Thedevelopmentofconsumptioncultureandsubsequentproblemsofmoralityconsistedofmanycontradictionsinpeople’ssocialbehaviors.SuchcharactersasSacrifice,Diligence,Modelarestressedintheendof19thcentury,whilePersonalitieslikePurchase,Vanity,PersonalSuccesswerestressedinthebeginningof20thcentury.[14](P62)ManyofO.HenrystoriestakeplaceinNewYork,thecapitalwherethecontradictionsharplyexists.O.Henryhasanobviousaffectionforthecity.Hisstoriesdealforthemostpartwithordinarypeople:clerks,policemen,andwaitresses.Heopens"TheFourMillion”byobserving"Someoneinventedtheassertionthattherewereonly‘FourHundred‘peopleinNewYorkCitywhowerereallyworthnoticing.Butawisermanhasarisen—thecensustaker—andhislargerestimateofhumaninteresthasbeenpreferredinmarkingoutthefieldoftheselittlestoriesofthe‘FourMillion‘.”[15](P25)Thecharactersofthestoryaremainlythelowerclasswhostruggletomakealivinginsadness,impoverished,crucialandunjustsociety.Whethergoodorbad,provideforitspeople,somepeoplecorrupted,somestillstoodattheveryfirstplace,keepingpureheartedandself-sacrificed.Differentchangesfoundexpressionindifferentcharacterbehaviors.

In“TheGiftofMagi”,wereadersarenotonlytouchedbythesupremeofvaluablelove,butatthesametimewegetcluesofhowtheconsumptioncultureexertitsimpactonpeople’sattitudetowardthechangeofthesocietyinthatperiod.Conceptsofsocialstatusarehiddenbehindthebehaviorsofconsumption,thuscreatingautopiathat“everyoneisequalbeforecommodity”.Itseemsthatpeoplecouldreestablishhisorhersocialstatuesthroughconsumingbehaviors.Gift,sendingtoclosefriendsorrelativestostrengthenthebondsofrelationshipatthefirstplace,thenbecomesacommoditythatgoesfarbeyonditsrealsignificance.BothJimandDella’sgiftsarecompletelybeyondtheirpurchasingpower.Thatwouldreflectpeople’sattitudetowardeconomy.Illuminginthetideofmaterialism,peoplepaymuchattentiononconsumption,eventakeitasan“adventure”[16](P145).Thecommodity-statusrelationshipdominatespeople’smind.ThoughDellaandJim’sbuyinggiftsaregreatlyinfluencedbytheconsumptioncultureshift,theendingshowsoutthetruelovethroughtheirtoughcourseofpurchasing.Anotherexample,from“TheCopandtheAnthem”,wecanseetheso-called“qualityunderlaw”attheendof20centuryisonlysuperficialandunjusttoeveryone.Thesocialdisordercoexistswiththeprosperityofthesocialeconomy,whichvividlyjustifiesSoppy’smorbidmindset,anddistortionofthehumanity.

Let’stake“TheRomanceofaBusyBroker”asanexampleagain.Thetwistendingisnotimplausibleandunreasonable.Onthesurface,itmayseemanattractionandwrystory,butonsecondthoughts,wefindthatthefundamentalofMaxwell’scharactersliesinthecapitalisteconomy.Therealincentivesofthosebrokersaretheirgreedformoneyandtheirworshipformammon.

Incoincidence,thevarioushumanityareindispensablepartofthesocietyorjungleuniversal.Underthesocialpressure,therolesexpressthecomplexhumanity.Moreover,thetwistendingsforetellthefateofthecapitalistsociety.

⒉PlotMakingTechnique

InAmericanfiction,thecultivationoftheshortstoryrunsthroughoutthe19thcentury,notasanorderlyconsecutiveevolution,butasaprocessofincessantlyelaboratingthevariouspossibilitiesofthegenre.ItgoesfromWashingtonIrving,toEdgarAllanPoe,toNathanielHawthorn;afterthemcomesBretHarte,HenryJamesandlater,MarkTwain,JackLondonandfinallyO.Henry.Theshortstoryistheonefundamentalandself-containedgenreinAmericanprosefiction,andthestoriesofO.Henrycertainlymakestheirappearancesinconsequenceoftheprolongedandincessantcultivationofthegenre.[17](P42)Asa“plotmaker”anddesignerofincidentheisanamazinggenius.Noonecanbetterhiminholdingthereaderin“suspense”.Morethanthat,thereaderscarcelyknowsthatheissuspended,untilattheverycloseofthestory.O.Henrydeliberatelydesignsthelittletrickswithwords,forheisamasteroflanguageandnotitsslave.

ThetypicalfeatureofO.Henry’sstoriesisatwistofplot,whichturnsonanironicorcoincidentalcircumstance.Hisultimateachievementistocreatethetwistendingbytheplotmakingandcompactstructure.Hearrangesastorymovinginonedirection,andjus