A Peek Into "The Ransom of Red Chief"

Summary

"The Ransom of Red Chief," a short story by O. Henry, recounts the hilarious adventures of two 'desperate men,' Bill and Sam, who kidnap a wealthy man's son with the intent of holding him for ransom. However, the nefarious duo soon find that the lad is far too much for them to handle, as he drags them through rambunctious games and cruel pranks until they finally agree to pay his father to take him back.

Key Characters

• Sam, the more practical of the two men and likely the brains behind the operation.

• Bill, the one who ends up babysitting Johnny and enduring the brunt of his torture

• Johnny Dorset, a regular brat who would rather be camping out in the woods tormenting his kidnappers than go to school.

• Ebenezer Dorset, a wealthy man with a sharp mind.

When the kid found out we were going to leave him at home he started up a howl like a calliope and fastened himself as tight as a leech to Bill's leg. His father peeled him away gradually, like a porous plaster.

"How long can you hold him?" asks Bill.

"I'm not as strong as I used to be," says old Dorset, "but I think I can promise you ten minutes."

"Enough, says Bill. "In ten minutes I shall cross the Central, Southern, and Middle Western States, and be legging it trippingly for the Canadian border." (p. 200-201)

Final Notes

The humor in this story stems from the reversal of the criminals' plan. They begin with attempting to make thousands off a kidnapped child and end by paying the child's father $250 to take him back because of how much of a brat he is. As always, O. Henry brings a smile to the reader's face with his last-minute plot twist.

Work Cited

Henry, O. "The Ransom of Red Chief." The Best Short Stories of O. Henry, edited by Bennett A. Cerf and Van H. Cartmell, Random House, Inc., 1994, pp. 188-201.