Essay on After Twenty Years – a Short Story Written by O Henry

Introduction:

            O Henry is a remarkable famous short story writer of America though he had short-lived and died at the age of 47. He has written over 300 short stories and “After Twenty Years” is one of the best short stories from him. It deals with Fate, Friendship and Duty and combines them all into a single thread as an interesting short story. If fate plays a game with your life, which one would you like to be loyal to – Friendship or Duty? The short story answers by unfolding the suspense in the climax.

Two Faithful Friends and Their Pledge:

            Eighteen-year-old Bob and twenty-year-old Jimmy Wells are two faithful friends in New York. Bob wants to leave for the West to find his fortune but Jimmy Wells is not ready to leave New York. Hence both make an agreement to live on their own way but to meet again after twenty years in the same restaurant where there are having a dinner right now at 10 p.m. They promise to meet again wherever they are and in whatever condition they are after 20 years. They part with each other. For sometimes, they keep correspondence between them but after a year or two, they don’t have any contact with each other and fate drags them apart and changes their character and life totally.

Bob’s Loyalty Even After 20 Years:

            Bob has grown very rich but by wrong means. He has now become an outlaw searched by the police. Anyhow after 20 years, he comes to the same restaurant to keep up his promise to his friend. He is very loyal to his friendship and is patiently waiting in the same place in darkness where there is no such restaurant now. A sincere patrolman on night duty comes to him to know why he is standing there.  Bob lights on his cigar and tells him everything about his promise with Jimmy Wells. The patrolman is surprised to see the friendship between them and his loyalty.  He wishes him that his friend Jimmy Wells would come alright and leaves the place continuing his duty.

Bob’s Meeting with Jimmy Wells:

            After 20 minutes, a tall man with overcoat crosses the street in the darkness and comes to Bob. “Is that you, Bob” he asked, doubtfully. “Is that you, Jimmy Wells?” cries the other excitedly.  He is so happy to see his friend again keeping the promise. The tall man holds both the hands of Bob in his own and takes him to a nearby drug store which has enough lights. Bob talks a lot about his career and how fate has changed his life overtime. When they come near the lighted drug store, Bob snaps his hand from the tall man and realizes by seeing the flat nose that he is not his friend Jimmy Wells who had Roman nose. The tall man reveals the fact that he is a police officer and has arrested him 10 minutes before. He also hands him over a note written by the Patrolman Jimmy Wells. The note reveals the truth that the patrol man is his friend who is loyal to law and anyhow he could not arrest his own friend.

Conclusion:

            This story from O Henry does not have just two characters. Darkness that hides the identity of the patrolman is a character. The rain that keeps the street less crowded and creates a pleasant moment for memories is also a character. Moreover, fate itself is a character that changes the character of Bob in course of twenty years and again locks him with the chains of loyalty and friendship. Both the friends are loyal to each other that is why they come to the same spot after 20 years. But for Jimmy Wells, being loyal to law is more important than being loyal to his friendship. He doesn’t want his friend to escape, though he is his best friend and long missed one.