Helping the other Fellow by O. Henry
A wealthy man's life is turned upside down when he discovers that his wife has been embezzling funds from him to support a poor family. He decides to help the family by anonymously sending them large sums of money, but his actions have unintended consequences and ultimately lead to tragedy.
By O. Henry · First published 1915 · Genre: Literary Fiction, Social Commentary, Humor · 4 chapters · 3,676 words
First lines
"But can thim that helps others help thimselves! " - Mulvaney
This is the story that William Trotter told me on the beach at Aguas Frescas while I waited for the gig of the captain of the fruit steamer Andador which was to take me abroad. Reluctantly I was leaving the Land of Always Afternoon. William was remaining, and he favored me with a condensed oral autobiography as we sat on the sands in the shade cast by the Bodega Nacional.
What this Textopian page supports
Helping the other Fellow is listed on Textopian as a short story by O. Henry, dated 1915 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: 1915 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Literary Fiction, Social Commentary, Humor, Adventure, Drama
- Length: 3,676 words
- Structure: 4 chapters, 69 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Fairly Easy (7th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for Helping the other Fellow 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 Helping the other Fellow?
- How does this short story by O. Henry fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Literary Fiction first become important in the reading?
Similar titles
- Next To Reading Matter by O. Henry
- The Higher Pragmatism by O. Henry
- The White Mice by Richard Harding Davis
- Proof Of The Pudding by O. Henry
- The Hand That Riles The World by O. Henry
- Seats Of The Haughty by O. Henry
Genres
- Literary Fiction — The work explores complex themes of selflessness, societal roles, and personal struggles, characteristic of literary fiction.
- Social Commentary — It critiques social structures and the human condition, particularly the dichotomy between helping others and self-advancement.
- Humor — The narrative employs wit and irony, particularly in character interactions and dialogue, to convey deeper messages.
- Adventure — The protagonist's journey and encounters in a foreign land provide an adventurous backdrop to the story.
Tags
Short Story Collection · Humorous Fiction · Satire · Social Commentary · American Literature · 20th Century Literature · Realism · Irony · Plot Twist · Character Study · Morality Tale · Fictionalized Biography
Contents
- CHAPTER I
- CHAPTER II
- CHAPTER III
- CHAPTER IV