By Easy Stages by O. Henry (1911)
The story revolves around a young woman who marries an older man for financial security. She plans to leave him after a year and marry someone else. However, her husband's health begins to decline rapidly, and she finds herself trapped in the marriage due to his increasing dependence on her.
By O. Henry · First published 1911 · Genre: Short Story, Humor, Fantasy · 75 words
First lines
"You're at the wrong place," said Cerberus. "This is the gate that leads to the infernal regions, while it is a passport to Heaven that you have handed me."
"I know it," said the departed shade wearily, "but it allows a stopover here; you see, I'm from Galveston and I have got to make the change gradually. "
What this Textopian page supports
By Easy Stages 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: Short Story, Humor, Fantasy, Literary Fiction, Social Commentary
- Length: 75 words
- Structure: 1 section, 2 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Easy (6th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for By Easy Stages 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 By Easy Stages?
- How does this short story by O. Henry fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Short Story first become important in the reading?
Similar titles
- An Original Idea by O. Henry
- Past One At Rooneys by O. Henry
- An Odd Character by O. Henry
- How It Started by O. Henry
- Doughertys Eye Opener by O. Henry
- Grounds For Uneasiness by O. Henry
Genres
- Short Story — The work is a concise narrative that encapsulates a complete story within a limited word count.
- Humor — The dialogue and situations presented contain elements of wit and irony, characteristic of comedic storytelling.
- Fantasy — The setting involves supernatural elements, such as the depiction of the afterlife and mythical characters.
- Literary Fiction — The work explores deeper themes of life, death, and transition, typical of literary fiction.
Tags
Short Story · Humor · Satire · Social Commentary · American Literature · 20th Century Fiction · Realism · Irony · Plot Twist · Comedy of Manners · Class Satire · Marriage