The Ethics of Pig by O. Henry (1904)
A wealthy man dies and leaves his fortune to a pig. The story revolves around the moral implications of this decision and how it affects those who knew him.
By O. Henry · First published 1904 · Genre: Satire, Comedy, Fiction · 4,353 words
First lines
On an eastbound train I went into the smoker and found Jefferson Peters, the only man with a brain west of the Wabash River who can use his cerebrum, cerebellum, and medulla oblongata at the same time.
Jeff is in the line of unillegal graft. He is not to be dreaded by widows and orphans; he is a reducer of surplusage. His favorite disguise is that of the target-bird at which the spendthrift or the reckless investor may shy a few inconsequential dollars. He is readily vocalized by tobacco; so, with the aid of two thick and easy-burning brevas, I got the story of his latest Autolycan adventure.
What this Textopian page supports
The Ethics of Pig is listed on Textopian as a short story by O. Henry, dated 1904 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: 1904 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Satire, Comedy, Fiction, Adventure, Social Commentary
- Length: 4,353 words
- Structure: 1 section, 85 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Very Easy (5th Grade or below)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for The Ethics of Pig 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 The Ethics of Pig?
- How does this short story by O. Henry fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Satire first become important in the reading?
Similar titles
- The Chair Of Philanthromathematics by O. Henry
- The Hypotheses Of Failure by O. Henry
- Meisterschaft In Three Acts by Mark Twain
- Is He Living Or Is He Dead by Mark Twain
- From Each According To His Ability by O. Henry
- On Behalf Of The Management by O. Henry
Genres
- Satire — The work critiques societal norms and human behavior through humor and irony, particularly in the context of crime and morality.
- Comedy — The narrative employs comedic elements, including absurd situations and witty dialogue, to entertain while addressing serious themes.
- Fiction — The story is a fictional narrative that explores character interactions and moral dilemmas within a constructed world.
- Adventure — The protagonist's journey and schemes involve elements of adventure, particularly in the context of swindling and escapades.
Tags
Satire · Social Commentary · Fiction · Short Story · Humor · Irony · Morality Tale · Animal Fiction · Literary Satire · American Literature · 19th Century Literature · Realism