29 pages • 58 minutes read
The Ransom of Red Chief
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Summary: “The Ransom of Red Chief”
“The Ransom of Red Chief,” first published in The Saturday Evening Post on July 6, 1907, is a comedic short story by American author O. Henry. Born William Sydney Porter, O. Henry was a prolific short story writer who penned nearly 600 stories in his lifetime. His works depict realistic characters and events, and his stories are classified within the genre of Realism. Like his most famous short story, “The Gift of the Magi” (1905), “The Ransom of Red Chief” reflects the hallmarks of O. Henry’s writing style, including the use of irony, metaphor, and surprise endings. Other works by Henry include “The Cop and the Anthem” (1904), “The Furnished Room” (1904), and "A Municipal Report" (1909).
In “The Ransom of Red Chief,” O. Henry explores themes of Violence and Cruelty, Morality and Greed, and Desperation for Freedom through two career con men, Sam and his partner, Bill Driscoll. The story takes place in Alabama in the early 1900s and is narrated from Sam’s first-person Unlock all 29 pages of this Study Guide Plus, gain access to 8,900+ more expert-written Study Guides. Including features:
Related Titles
By O. Henry
