The Ransom Of Red Chief Situational Irony Essay

Johnny, a young boy, is kidnapped and for some odd reason, likes it. Instead of being scared, frightened, or horrified, little Johnny has a great time with his kidnappers Sam and Bill. O. Henry makes situational irony evident in his short story “The Ransom of Red Chief,” as he makes his reader sense humor as Johnny has a great time. The situational irony creates an unexpected shock for the reader that is funny and amusing. Authors typically use situational irony to establish a surprising twist on the reader. Guy de Maupassant does this in his short story, “The Necklace.” But unlike O. Henry, Guy de Maupassant uses pity to catch the reader's attention. In both short stories, “The Necklace” and “The Ransom of Red Chief,” the authors use situational irony to impact the reader beyond the element of surprise. O. Henry makes “The Ransom of Red Chief” humorous when he uses situational irony to describe how Johnny feels when he is kidnapped. Johnny likes it when he is kidnapped. He surprises Bill and Sam, the kidnappers, as he puts two feathers in his hair and plays Indian. The narrator states, “Yes, sir, that boy seemed to be having the time of his life” (40). The kidnappers think that Johnny is crazy. Most children would hate to be kidnapped, but not Johnny, he loves it. Another reason situational irony makes the story humorous is that the kidnappers have to pay Johnny’s dad, Ebenezer Dorset, to give Johnny back to him. Sam and Bill have had all that

O. Henry uses humor by making Johnny love when he is kidnapped and by making the kidnappers pay to give Johnny back. Irony is surrounding people everyday and is a part of life. It is in stories, conversations, and even music. One cannot live without