An Original Idea by O. Henry (1910)
The story revolves around a young man who returns to his hometown after being away for several years. He reunites with an old flame and they rekindle their romance. However, the woman's brother, a wealthy businessman, disapproves of their relationship due to the young man's lack of financial stability. As the situation unfolds, the young man devises a plan to win over the brother by pretending to be a wealthy suitor. He uses his wit and charm to convincingly portray himself as a successful entrepreneur, complete with fake business cards and a fabricated backstory. The ruse is successful, and the brother eventually gives his blessing for the couple to marry. However, just before the wedding, the young man's true identity is revealed, and he is forced to confess his deception. In the end, the woman stands by her original suitor, not because of his wealth or social status, but because she genuinely cares for him as a person. The story highlights the importance of genuine relationships and the dangers of superficiality.
By O. Henry · First published 1910 · Genre: Comedy, Satire, Domestic Fiction · 1,240 words
First lines
There is a lady in Houston who is always having original ideas.
Now, this is a very reprehensible thing in a woman and should be frowned down. A woman should find out what her husband thinks about everything and regulate her thoughts to conform with his. Of course, it would not be so bad if she would keep her independent ideas to herself, but who ever knew a woman to do that?
What this Textopian page supports
An Original Idea is listed on Textopian as a short story by O. Henry, dated 1910 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: 1910 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Comedy, Satire, Domestic Fiction, Short Story, Social Commentary
- Length: 1,240 words
- Structure: 1 section, 32 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Easy (6th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for An Original Idea by O. Henry
- Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
- Readability and classroom-planning context
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Discussion starters
- What should a reader notice first when entering An Original Idea?
- How does this short story by O. Henry fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Comedy first become important in the reading?
Similar titles
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Genres
- Comedy — The humorous situations and character interactions create a comedic tone throughout the narrative.
- Satire — The story critiques societal norms regarding gender roles and marriage, using irony to highlight absurdities.
- Domestic Fiction — The plot centers around domestic life and the dynamics of a married couple.
- Short Story — The work is a concise narrative that encapsulates a complete story within a limited word count.
Tags
Short Story · American Literature · Humor · Satire · Social Commentary · Irony · Plot Twist · Literary Fiction · Realism · Comedy of Manners · Class Satire · Marriage