Too Wise by O. Henry (1906)
The story revolves around a young woman who marries an older man for his wealth and security. However, she soon discovers that he has been embezzling funds from his company and is in danger of being caught by the authorities. She decides to leave him and return to her family's home, but not before taking some of his money with her. The story takes a turn when it is revealed that the man had planned for this eventuality and has set up a trap for her. The woman is arrested and charged with theft, but just as she is about to be convicted, a surprise twist reveals that the man's plan was actually a ruse to test her character. He had been suspicious of her motives from the beginning and wanted to see if she would steal from him even after he had set up a trap for her. The story ends with the woman being acquitted due to lack of evidence, but not before it is revealed that she had indeed stolen from him. The twist raises questions about morality and whether or not the woman's actions were justified given the circumstances.
By O. Henry · First published 1906 · Genre: Short Story, Humor, Drama · 256 words
First lines
Here is a man in Houston who keeps quite abreast of the times. He reads the papers, has traveled extensively and is an excellent judge of human nature. He has a natural gift for detecting humbugs and fakirs, and it would be a smooth artist indeed who could impose upon him in any way.
Last night as he was going home, a shady looking man with his hat pulled over his eyes stepped out from a doorway and said:
"Say, gent, here's a fine diamond ring I found in de gutter. I don't want to get into no trouble wid it. Gimme a dollar and take it."
The Houston man smiled as he looked at the flashy ring the man held toward him.
What this Textopian page supports
Too Wise is listed on Textopian as a short story by O. Henry, dated 1906 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: 1906 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Short Story, Humor, Drama, Social Commentary, Romance
- Length: 256 words
- Structure: 1 section, 9 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Very Easy (5th Grade or below)
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- Work identity for Too Wise by O. Henry
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Discussion starters
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Similar titles
- The Sphinx Apple by O. Henry
- The Pride Of The Cities by O. Henry
- A Startling Demonstration by O. Henry
- Hearts And Hands by O. Henry
- His Only Opportunity by O. Henry
- A Years Supply by O. Henry
Genres
- Short Story — The work is a concise narrative that encapsulates a complete story within a limited word count.
- Humor — The plot employs irony and a twist ending that elicits amusement from the reader.
- Drama — The story explores emotional themes and human relationships, particularly the dynamics between the husband and wife.
- Social Commentary — The narrative reflects on societal issues such as deception and trust in human interactions.
Tags
Short Story · Satire · Social Commentary · Wit · Humor · Irony · Fate · Morality · Philosophy · Psychology · Realism · Symbolism