A Startling Demonstration
The story revolves around a young man who is struggling to make ends meet and is desperate for money. He comes up with a plan to fake his own death in order to collect life insurance benefits from his employer, a wealthy businessman. He stages his own demise by faking a drowning accident, but things take an unexpected turn when the businessman's daughter falls in love with him after hearing about his supposed bravery and selflessness. The young man is torn between his desire for financial gain and his growing feelings for the woman. He eventually decides to reveal the truth about his fake death, but not before he has collected a substantial sum of money from the insurance policy. However, things do not go as planned, and the young man's scheme ultimately backfires, leading to a surprising and ironic conclusion.
By O. Henry · First published 1911 · Genre: Humor, Romance, Satire · 380 words
First lines
What a terrible state of affairs it would be if we could read each other's minds! It is safe to say that if such were the case, most of us would be afraid to think above a whisper.
As an illustration, a case might be cited that occurred in Houston. Some months ago a very charming young lady came to this city giving exhibitions in mind reading, and proved herself to be marvelously gifted in that respect. She easily read the thoughts of the audience, finding many articles hidden by simply holding the hand of the person secreting them, and read sentences written on little slips of paper by some at a considerable distance from her.
What this Textopian page supports
A Startling Demonstration is listed on Textopian as a short story by O. Henry, dated 1911 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: 1911 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Humor, Romance, Satire, Fiction, Short Story
- Length: 380 words
- Structure: 1 section, 6 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Very Easy (5th Grade or below)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for A Startling Demonstration 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 Startling Demonstration?
- How does this short story by O. Henry fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Humor first become important in the reading?
Similar titles
- Slightly Mixed by O. Henry
- Marvelous by O. Henry
- One Consolation by O. Henry
- The Sphinx Apple by O. Henry
- The Pride Of The Cities by O. Henry
- The Hand That Riles The World by O. Henry
Genres
- Humor — The narrative employs comedic elements through absurd situations and witty dialogue, highlighting the humorous consequences of mind reading.
- Romance — The story revolves around a romantic relationship, showcasing the dynamics of love and trust between the characters.
- Satire — It critiques societal norms and human behavior, particularly regarding relationships and the nature of thoughts.
- Fiction — The work is a fictional narrative that explores imaginative scenarios and character interactions.
Tags
Short Story · American Literature · Humor · Satire · Social Commentary · Irony · Plot Twist · Moral Lesson · Fiction · Literary Fiction · Realism · Symbolism