His Doubt by O. Henry (1912)
The story revolves around a man who has been wrongfully accused of murder and is awaiting execution. He is visited by his wife, who brings him a small bag containing a few personal items. Among them is a note that reads: "I love you." The man's doubt arises from the fact that he had previously told his wife to write this exact phrase on the note if she were to visit him in prison.
By O. Henry · First published 1912 · Genre: Literary Fiction, Humor, Social Commentary · 230 words
First lines
They lived in a neat little cottage on Prairie Avenue, and had been married about a year. She was young and sentimental and he was a clerk at fifty dollars per month. She sat rocking the cradle and looking at a bunch of something pink and white that was lying asleep, and he was reading the paper.
What this Textopian page supports
His Doubt is listed on Textopian as a short story by O. Henry, dated 1912 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: 1912 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Literary Fiction, Humor, Social Commentary, Romance, Short Story
- Length: 230 words
- Structure: 1 section, 3 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Standard (8th-9th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for His Doubt 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 His Doubt?
- 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
- Led Astray by O. Henry
- The Lotus And The Bottle by O. Henry
- Girl by O. Henry
- The Girl And The Habit by O. Henry
- A Strange Case by O. Henry
- A Guarded Secret by O. Henry
Genres
- Literary Fiction — The work explores complex themes of responsibility and domestic life, focusing on character development and emotional depth.
- Humor — The dialogue and situation contain elements of irony and wit, particularly in the misunderstanding between the characters.
- Social Commentary — The narrative reflects on societal expectations and the pressures of financial responsibility within a marriage.
- Romance — The relationship dynamics between the characters highlight themes of love and partnership.
Tags
Short Story · Literary Fiction · Mystery · Psychological Thriller · Drama · Romance · Marriage · Infidelity · Deception · Betrayal · Suspense · Plot Twist