Title: The ransom of Red Chief

Author: O. Henry

 

Characters:   

-          Sam – One of the kidnappers and the narrator

-          Bill – Sam’s partner in crime

-          Johnny – A wild, uncontrollable boy

-          Ebenezer – Red Chief’s clever father

 

Plot Elements

Exposition: The plot involves two petty thieves, Sam and Bill, who concoct a scheme to kidnap the son of a rich man for ransom. This time around, they move to a quiet town in Alabama, where they kidnap little Johnny Dorset.

Rising Action: But to their surprise, Johnny is not scared at all; instead, he thinks it's some kind of a game. He calls himself "Red Chief," behaves like an Indian warrior, and constantly pesters the kidnappers with rough games, endless talking, and wild behavior.

Climax:          Bill and Sam finally decide that they can't take care of the boy any longer. Bill is bruised, bitten, and exhausted. They send a ransom letter to Mr. Dorset, who responds to them with an offer of his own: he will take Johnny back only if the kidnappers pay him $250.

Resolution: Desperate to get rid of Red Chief, Sam and Bill agree. They pay Mr. Dorset and flee town as fast as they can, thankful just to escape.

 

Summary: In "The Ransom of Red Chief," two crooks kidnap a boy, anticipating easy money in return, but the plan backfires hilariously when the mischievous boy terrorizes them instead. At the end, in a comic twist, the kidnappers end up paying the boy's father to take him back.

 

Analysis & Feelings:

The irony and humor that O. Henry uses in this short story show how greedy plans can turn out. The situation is just turned upside down: usually, a kidnapped child is the victim, but in this case, it's the kidnappers. I really thought this story was hilarious because of the way the wild imagination of Red Chief turned everything upside down. It also adds to the adage that crime doesn't pay, especially when your "victim" happens to be much more intelligent or tough than you would have imagined!