Sound and Fury by O. Henry (1910)
The story revolves around a wealthy man who marries a young woman for her beauty and charm. However, he soon discovers that she is deaf and mute. He tries to find ways to communicate with her, but ultimately realizes that their marriage is doomed due to the language barrier between them. As time passes, the husband becomes increasingly frustrated and isolated from his wife. He begins to see a younger woman who can hear and speak, and starts an affair with her. The deaf and mute wife discovers the infidelity and kills herself by drowning in a bathtub. The story ends with the husband's realization that he has lost everything: his wife, his youth, and his innocence.
By O. Henry · First published 1910 · Genre: Drama, Comedy, Romance · 2,181 words
First lines
Persons of the Drama
Mr. Penne, an author
What this Textopian page supports
Sound and Fury 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: Drama, Comedy, Romance, Satire, Fiction
- Length: 2,181 words
- Structure: 1 section, 57 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Easy (6th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for Sound and Fury 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 Sound and Fury?
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- Where does Drama first become important in the reading?
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Genres
- Drama — The work features a dialogue-driven narrative that explores interpersonal relationships and emotional conflicts.
- Comedy — The interactions between characters often contain humorous misunderstandings and witty exchanges.
- Romance — The central theme revolves around love and the complexities of romantic relationships.
- Satire — The text critiques societal norms and conventions, particularly regarding class and gender roles.
Tags
Tragic · Melancholic · Poignant · Bittersweet · Irony · Fate · Hubris · Pride · Loss · Grief · Regret · Redemption