“The Ransom of Red Chief” – O. Henry

 

Summary

Two kidnappers, Sam and Bill, have captured a mischievous boy named Johnny with the hope of demanding ransom from his wealthy father. Red Chief, as Johnny prefers to call himself, ends up being too much for the two, causing entire havoc as he tortures his captors. The twist in the story shows how the two that had initially intended to do an abduction end up paying the boy's father a considerable amount of money just to take him back.

 

Characters:

Sam (One of the kidnapper)

Bill Discroll (The partner of Sam in his crime)

Johnny Dorset (The kidnapped boy)

Ebenezer (Johnny’s father)

 

Plot Elements:

Exposition – The exposition starts with two small criminals who were Sam, and Bill they arrived in Alabama, so they can get money easily by kidnapping man’s son and then asking for big ransom.

 

Rising Action – The rising action was when Sam and Bill kidnapped Johnny and ask for a big ransom.

 

Climax – The climax happens when the kidnapper start asking for a quick ransom, and they quickly understand that Johnny is not just genius he was also happy of the chaos he causes.

 

Resolution – The resolution occurs when Sam and Bill were force to give $250 to Ebenezer Dorzet to get Johnny back. Sam and Bill finally realize that they are losing money than gaining and end up with their plan.

 

Analysis

“The Ransom of the Red Chief” is a humorous tale that captures the unsuspected turn of events created by the plan of the two kidnappers. Rather than continue to play the role of kidnapper, Johnny-Red Chief-on-the-other-hand turned the table on them, giving them a taste of torment with his wild antics. The irony in the story shows us how the kidnappers had their plans turned upside down, with them being left desperate for funds to pay off the boy's father to take him back. This is a comic reminder that not everything goes according to expectation.

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