歐·亨利短篇小說(shuō)的藝術(shù)結(jié)尾與人性體現(xiàn)

歐·亨利短篇小說(shuō)的藝術(shù)結(jié)尾與人性體現(xiàn)

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

作為世界三大小說(shuō)家之一,歐·亨利與契訶夫和莫泊桑齊名。他是美國(guó)現(xiàn)代短篇小說(shuō)的開創(chuàng)者,他的作品因其奇巧的藝術(shù)構(gòu)思、出其不意的結(jié)尾而著稱。其中歌頌人性的小說(shuō)是歐·亨利文學(xué)創(chuàng)作的主流,并且許多作品已成為家喻戶曉的名篇。同時(shí)涌現(xiàn)出許多感人至深的經(jīng)典人物。表現(xiàn)了作家對(duì)人性理想的執(zhí)著追求。

本文從歐·亨利短篇小說(shuō)的藝術(shù)結(jié)尾與人性層面分析。作者運(yùn)用了幽默、諷刺的喜劇手段揭示了關(guān)于善惡的人性主題及其出奇不意的結(jié)尾,讓主題升華。第一部分,從藝術(shù)結(jié)尾中折射的人性特點(diǎn)出發(fā)。歐·亨利同情下層人民,贊頌人性的閃光點(diǎn)“自我犧牲”、善良、真摯、無(wú)私等美德，以及人性的丑陋一面。還有資本主義社會(huì)所特有的自私、貪婪、冷酷等。這些為藝術(shù)結(jié)尾作了鋪墊,使讀者被其出奇不意的結(jié)尾所震撼,同時(shí)其結(jié)尾在情理之中。第二部分,作者如何將藝術(shù)結(jié)尾表現(xiàn)在人性上,從兩方面入手:社會(huì)背景所反映的人性特征和作者奇巧的謀篇布局。在資本主義社會(huì),人物具有典型的性格特征,這些都預(yù)示了他們的結(jié)局。而作者通過(guò)各種手法將其躍然紙上。第三部分,評(píng)論小說(shuō)的藝術(shù)結(jié)尾,作者的作品也曾被認(rèn)為是庸俗的小說(shuō),但他們忽視了藝術(shù)結(jié)尾所飽含的荒誕與幽默所產(chǎn)生的“含笑帶淚”和“含淚帶笑”的藝術(shù)效果?？傊?藝術(shù)結(jié)尾激發(fā)了人們對(duì)人性特點(diǎn)深思,而人性特點(diǎn)又升華了藝術(shù)結(jié)尾,對(duì)讀者的心靈產(chǎn)生了持久的震撼力。

本文對(duì)歐·亨利及其短篇小說(shuō)進(jìn)行的研究，對(duì)本人今后的文學(xué)路有一定的幫助。而且，可以讓更多的人關(guān)注到歐·亨利。

關(guān)鍵詞:藝術(shù)結(jié)尾;人性;幽默;帶淚的微笑

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