After Twenty Years by O Henry elucidates a tale of two friends who met each other after twenty years.Their meeting happened because they had made promise in the past.This story fascinates readers and presents them lessons of friendship,loyalty and honesty.
Here’s detail O Henry Twenty Years Summary And Themes.
Author
It’s another interesting short story by O Henry written back in 1906.His real name was “William Sydney Porter“.He got fame because of his clever and mind-blowing endings of his short stories that captivate readers.His famous one is:
- Gift of Magi(Click)
Characters
When you go through this story, you’ll read name of these characters:
- Jimmy Wells
- Bob
- Unnamed police officer
Jimmy Wells
In the story he was jimmy friend and was two years elder than jimmy.He was 20 when they parted their paths and made promise they’ll met again after twenty years in the newyork city near a shop.
Bob
He’s the one who seems impatient to meet his friend jimmy.He went to west when they parted.After years he came back from Chicago to meet his friend.
The unnamed police officer
You’ll read about him at the end.Stay connected till end.
O Henry After Twenty Years Summary
The story starts when Bob came back in the city after twenty years to meet his friend Jimmy Wells.They both when they were younger parted apart for getting success.Jimmy stayed in Newyork while Bob went out to west.Now he’s back there to meet Jimmy.
The story was running in this way when a police officer came up to Bob around 10 at night.Bob talked to him is everything ok and then started conversation how he moved to west and why he’s here.He even told him about his friend Jimmy and said he hope he should have decent lifestyle.Then,after conversation the police man left.
Bob stayed at shop when a man seemed to be covered in coat having good height appear.He talked to Bob and introduced himself as jimmy and they both started walk to get some food.When they both were moving near a shop,a light fell on the coat guy face and Bob said to him that he’s not his friend Jimmy.He said to no one can change soo much in twenty years.
The coat guy introduced him that he’s a police officer (unnamed police officer)and Bob is under arrest from 1 hour.He then handed him a letter that was from his friend cop Jimmy Wells.In the letter he was saying to him that he wanted to arrest him as Chicago police provided them bob arrival info in Newyork but he didn’t want to ruin friendship and send another policeman.
What is the climax of the story After Twenty Years?
The climax and twist of the story is its ending when Bob realized the coat guy wasn’t Jimmy but a cop.He handed him letter from cop Jimmy to bob.The letter had eye catchy lines that fascinate you by reading story.
After Twenty Years Themes
Now you an idea that Bob was sort of criminal in the story and Jemmy was policeman.After reading this story , you’ll get following themes from ‘‘After twenty years’‘.
Loyality
Although Jimmy Wells was a great friend or bestie of Bob but still he remained loyal to his service.He had to choose between bestie and his duty and he opted his duty.
- This theme of story can motivate you to prefer your service over relations.
Friendship
After years Bob came up for Jimmy and he did the same by sending him letter.This shows there friendship and how much they respected their promise they had have in past.Its embodiment of friendship and inspire many book lovers.
Success
When both friends separate for their future betterment in the past.This shows how much they want success in life.One moved to west while other remained in Newyork.
- This point of story inspire readers that sometimes for getting our goals,we have to compromise on relations.
Respect
Jemmy send another policeman to arrest Bob.This point elucidates how much he respect friendship that he doesn’t like to arrest his friend by his own hands.
- This was some sort of respect although Bob was criminal.
Lessons
From the story “After Twenty Years“you’ll get these lessons:
- Try to complete your promise(like Bob and Jimmy did)
- Prefer your duty over your friendship
- Let loyalty to dominate over friendship
- Move ahead if you have goals in life
- Life can be unpredictable (how Bob appeared as criminal at end)
After Twenty Years Review
In my honest opinion,this story was mind-blowing.It was short and the ending was irony.As a reader,I was amazed how Bob portrayed as a criminal.Even at the end of finishing this story I had these questions:
- Which crime Bob had committed?
- How Bob can be criminal?
- Why jimmy never let his friend escape?
I got answers and I got satisfied.Twenty years are a huge part and may be Bob did many bad things in those years and labeled as criminal.Coming to third question Jimmy did right thing as he prefered his duty over friendship.As a reader,what you’ll do in Jimmy place? Comment
Conclusion:O Henry After Twenty Years Summary
In nutshell after discussing so much of this story.Overall “After Twenty Years“by O Henry is well written work mostly explores topics of friendship,loyality and trust.You’ll love this short story.
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