Search results
People also ask
Is the ransom of Red Chief a comedy?
Who wrote ransom of Red Chief?
How does the story 'the ransom of Red Chief' start?
What is conflict in the ransom of Red Chief?
A classic comedy short story by O. Henry about two kidnappers who regret their decision when their victim turns out to be a spoiled and troublesome boy. Learn about the plot, the ironies, the adaptations and the references of this popular tale.
- O. Henry
- 1907
- Background of The Story
- The Ransom of Red Chief Summary
- Themes in The Ransom of Red Chief
- The Ransom of Red Chief Analysis
The short story ‘The Ransom of Red Chief’ is written by O. Henry whose real name was William Sydney Porter and who was known for his comical stories. He was born on 11 September 1862 in Greensboro, North Carolina, United States. He died of cirrhosis of the liver on 5 June 1910 in New York. This story is a blend of Classical Comedy and American tall...
The story ‘The Ransom of Red Chief’ begins when two men, Bill and Sam need some money desperately. Sam who narrates the story says that they already have six hundred dollars and they need two thousand more to work on an illegal project. While thinking about a solution, Bill is struck with the idea of kidnapping a child. The idea is a brilliant one ...
Daydreaming vs Reality
This theme is highlighted in the short story ‘The Ransom of Red Chief’ that if we daydream about something. We want it to turn out the way we wish but the reality can be different as the kidnappers who dream of gaining two thousand dollars by kidnapping a child but the reality turns out to be different and they give away money instead of gaining.
Nothing is a sure thing
This story develops a twisted plot and an unexpected ending. The kidnappers are sure of their plan and they think that it will work out perfectly but at the end, the opposite thing happens.
Expect the unexpected
This story highlights the theme that Expectations are not always fulfilled. The kidnappers expect to gain money by kidnapping a child but the plan gets spoiled and they are compelled to give away some of their money.
‘The Ransom of Red Chief’, the story of a kidnapping that went wrong, is an interesting piece of literature providing a good moral lesson at the end. It is a comedy full of ironies and unexpected events. It progresses in a light and humorous way. It is narrated in the first-person narrative, one of its characters in the story being the narrator. Th...
Learn about the plot and themes of O. Henry's humorous short story, The Ransom of Red Chief, published in 1910. The story follows two kidnappers who regret their decision to abduct the son of a wealthy man.
- The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica
A plot summary of the short story by O. Henry about two criminals who kidnap a troublesome boy and try to extort ransom from his father. The boy's antics and the father's reaction complicate their plan and lead to a humorous ending.
Quick answer: The most important comedic element in “The Ransom of Red Chief” comes from the role-reversal at the heart of the story. Sam and Bill, the two hapless kidnappers, are supposed to...
As a comedy, the tone of “The Ransom of Red Chief,” is a lighthearted and humorous one. This comes across from the beginning of the story, as Sam sets the scene: There was a town down there, as flat as a flannel-cake, and called Summit, of course.
“The Ransom of Red Chief” is a short story that belongs to the comedy genre. Despite some earnest themes—such as the negative effects of violence and the importance of empathy—O. Henry’s story is primarily meant to make readers laugh and enjoy themselves.
