What are the main themes in O Henry stories?

One of the main themes is irony. O Henry often uses unexpected twists at the end of his stories, like in 'The Gift of the Magi' where the couple sacrifices their most precious possessions only to find out the gifts they bought for each other are now useless in a practical sense but are full of love. Another theme is love. His stories frequently show different forms of love, be it romantic love or the love between friends. Also, poverty is a theme. Many of his characters struggle with poverty and it shapes their actions and decisions.

Love and sacrifice are also common themes. In many of his stories, characters make sacrifices for the ones they love. And also the theme of urban life. He often depicts the life of ordinary people in the city, their struggles, hopes and dreams. For instance, his stories might show how a poor person in the city tries to make ends meet while still holding on to some sense of dignity.

One of the main themes is self - sacrifice. In many of the stories, characters give up something valuable for the sake of others during Christmas. For example, in 'The Gift of the Magi', the couple sacrifices their most precious possessions to buy gifts for each other. Another theme is the spirit of giving. It shows that Christmas is not just about receiving but also about giving from the heart, regardless of one's financial situation.

Love is a major theme. Characters often show their love for others in unexpected ways during Christmas. Another theme is sacrifice, like in 'The Gift of the Magi' where both Jim and Della sacrifice their prized possessions. Also, the idea of hope is there. Even in difficult situations, the characters in the stories seem to hold onto hope during the Christmas time.

O Henry was a famous American short story writer. His works were famous for their humor, irony, and drama. Here are some famous people's comments on O 'Henry or O' Henry's short stories: 1 Mark Twain: As an appreciator of O 'Henry's works, he believes that O' Henry's works have American humor and humor and can deeply reveal the complexity of human nature. 2 John Keats: Keats was one of the admirers of O 'Henry's works. He praised O' Henry's works as one of the most outstanding parts of American literature and thought that his works had profound insight into human nature and exquisite narrative skills. 3. Henry James: Henry James was one of the admirers of O 'Henry's works. He thought that O' Henry's works had American humor and complexity and praised his works as classics in American literature. 4 Charles Dickens: As an appreciator of O 'Henry's works, Dickens thought that O' Henry's works were dramatic and ironic and praised his works as one of the most outstanding parts of American literature. Generally speaking, celebrities have a very high opinion of O 'Henry's short stories. They think that his works have a deep insight into human nature and superb narrative skills, as well as American humor and complexity.

The theme of chance and coincidence is also prevalent. In his stories, things often happen by chance that change the whole course of events. For instance, in some stories, a chance encounter between two strangers leads to a series of events that are both surprising and thought - provoking. Also, the theme of poverty and how people cope with it while still maintaining their humanity is there in many of his works.

One possible theme could be the idea of appearance vs. reality. The peach might seem like a simple, ordinary object on the surface, but it could hold a deeper meaning or be involved in a complex situation in the story.

The main themes in 'After Twenty Years' include loyalty in friendship as the two men try to meet as they promised years ago. Also, the theme of fate and how different paths can be taken. Time has clearly changed their situations, one becoming a criminal and the other a cop. It shows how life can lead people in different directions even from a common starting point.

The main plot often involves the unexpected twists and turns that are characteristic of O. Henry's stories. It might center around the dreams and aspirations of the characters, and how they are either fulfilled in an unexpected way or dashed in a cruel ironic manner.

I'm not entirely sure as it depends on the specific details within the story. But typically, O. Henry's characters are ordinary people with big dreams, so there might be a hard - working individual trying to make a better life for themselves.