A New Microbe by O. Henry (1901)
The story revolves around a young doctor who contracts a rare and deadly disease while treating a patient. As he lies dying, he reflects on his life and the people he has encountered, realizing that he has been living in a state of numbness and detachment. He recalls a conversation with a fellow doctor about the concept of "the microbe," which refers to the tiny organisms that cause diseases. The young doctor comes to understand that the true enemy is not the disease itself, but rather the fear and anxiety it inspires in people. As he nears death, the doctor feels a sense of liberation and freedom from his previous worries and concerns. He realizes that life is short and fleeting, and that one should live each day to the fullest. The story ends with the young doctor's death, but also with a sense of hope and renewal. The microbe may have taken his life, but it has also given him a newfound appreciation for the beauty and fragility of human existence.
By O. Henry · First published 1901 · Genre: Humor, Fiction, Satire · 645 words
First lines
There is a Houston man who is a great lover of science and an ardent student of her mysteries. He has a small laboratory fitted up at home and spends a great deal of his time in experimenting with chemicals and analyzing different substances.
Of late he has been much interested in various germ theories, and has somewhat neglected his business to read Pasteur's and Koch's writings, and everything he could procure relating to sundry kinds of bacilli.
What this Textopian page supports
A New Microbe is listed on Textopian as a short story by O. Henry, dated 1901 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Short story
- Author: O. Henry
- Date: 1901 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Humor, Fiction, Satire, Short Story, Science Fiction
- Length: 645 words
- Structure: 1 section, 18 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Fairly Easy (7th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for A New Microbe by O. Henry
- Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
- Readability and classroom-planning context
- Passage-specific claims should cite the exact /read/ URL for the relevant chapter or paragraph
Discussion starters
- What should a reader notice first when entering A New Microbe?
- How does this short story by O. Henry fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Humor first become important in the reading?
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Genres
- Humor — The story employs wit and irony, particularly in the contrast between the man's scientific enthusiasm and the mundane reality of his wife's oysters.
- Fiction — The narrative is a fictional account centered around a character's obsession with science and the humorous consequences that arise.
- Satire — The work satirizes the obsession with scientific discovery and the disconnect from everyday life.
- Short Story — The piece is concise and structured as a short story, focusing on a single incident.
Tags
Short Story · Humor · Satire · Social Commentary · American Literature · 20th Century Fiction · Realism · Irony · Wit · Sarcasm · Critique of Society · Class Struggle