Critism of O. Henry

The Master of Twisted Endings

Writings of William Sydney Porter: one-third irony and allusions, one-third humor, and bit of a twisted ending, will create one of Porters best short stories he has ever written. The short story, “The Ransom of Red Chief” is by far one of the most hilarious stories he has written (Voss 193). In writing this short story, Porter portrays his life through his character’s actions while using his patented “short story formula;” which consists of using irony, literary allusions, a twisted ending, and use of big vocabulary for comical effects; as this was used in “The Ransom Of Red Chief."
Usually in Porter’s writings, his settings would be held in either Texas or New York City, the very two places where he spent most of his life (Bryfonski 345). However, in “The Ransom of Red Chief,” the story took place in a small town know as the Summit in Alabama. Within the story, he starts off by introducing the two kidnappers, Bill and Sam t...