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Unit 6: After Twenty Years by O. Henry
Gowher Ahmad Naik, Lovely Professional University

Unit 6: After Twenty Years by O. Henry Notes

CONTENTS
Objectives

Introduction
6.1 Introduction to the Author

6.2 After Twenty Years
6.3 Characters and Plots
6.4 Summary
6.5 Keywords

6.6 Review Questions
6.7 Further Readings

Objectives

After reading this unit, you will be able to:
• Discuss about O. Henry;
• Weigh and consider the story After Twenty Years.

Introduction

After Twenty Years is a short story written by the author whose pen name is O. Henry. In this
particular short story there are three characters. The story begins with a policeman who is on
his beat. He is making his rounds, rattling door knobs to ensure everything is secure. He goes
towards a man that is standing in a dark doorway. Bob is standing there and tells the officer
that he had agreed to meet his friend Jimmy Wells at this spot at 10 o’clock. He tells the story
of how twenty years ago, they parted as young men but agreed that twenty years later they
would meet at that particular spot again. They parted because of different life and career
paths. Jimmy considered New York City as the place to live and Bob decided to travel out
west to seek great wealth. The officer leaves. Later, Bob is approached by another man who
he believes is Jimmy. He gives the man details about his successes out west. They walk to find
a place to eat, but after a light shines on the man’s face, Bob realizes it is another officer; the
officer arrests Bob for crimes committed in Chicago. The officer who arrests Bob gives him a
note from Jimmy. The note says that the two men did meet on time; Jimmy recognized Bob
as someone wanted by the authorities. The story has a theme of conflict between one’s friendship
to another and one’s moral duty and duty to society. Jimmy was confronted with a dilemma
and had to make the choice to do his civic duty over loyalty to his friend; he had to cause his
friend to get arrested because his friend had broken the law. In addition, Jimmy had to hire
a cop to arrest Bob because he did not have the heart to arrest Bob himself.

6.1 Introduction to Author

William Sydney Porter (September 11, 1862 – June 5, 1910), better known by his pen name
O. Henry, was an American writer. O. Henry’s short stories are known for their wit, wordplay,
warm characterization and clever twist endings.

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