Critical Appreciation of the Story
Introduction:
The story Hearts and Hands is an interesting story. It centers around the three main characters and two minor characters. The minor characters are revealed in the end of the story. The whole story is set on a train and the entire action is confined to one of the coaches in the train where a young, beautiful and elegantly dressed lady Miss Fairchild is sitting. The two other characters in the story board the train. Throughout the story, the passengers have a light conversation.
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| Story Hearts and Hands by O. Henry—Critical Appreciation |
The story deals with compassion of a marshal for his convict. It also brings to us a great moral that social images and fantasies which some people rear in their minds, often mislead them. Those who run after the outward appearance may be fooled and cheated. The lady in the story seems to be dazzled by the materialistic way of life and outward appearances. On seeing the young and handsome Mr. Easton, she is attracted to him and her heart seems to be filled with images of her happy past with him. Even, she forgets to judge the reality and easily believes that Easton is a marshal. She does not notice that it is Easton's right hand that is handcuffed. She believes that her old friend is indeed a marshal.
Plot of the Story:
Exposition:
On a Denver train, there was a pair of men handcuffed together. Also on train, there is a very elegant lady who happens to know one of the handcuffed men, Mr. Easton.
Rising Action:
The two handcuffed men board the train and meet the young, wealthy lady. Then, the young lady recognises Mr. Easton. After a little chat, the lady sees that the two men are handcuffed together.
Climax:
The story cuts to another set of passengers who had been listening the conversation. One comments on the marshal's good character. His companion comments on the young age of the marshal. The other seems confused before replying, did you ever know an officer to handcuff a prisoner to his right hand.
Falling Action / Denouement:
The conclusion is ambiguous because the story leaves the reader to connect the dots without telling what happened after the other passenger's comment.
Moral of the Story:
The story moralises that outward appearances are sometimes deceptive. They not only mislead us but also invite troubles to us. Those who are greatly inclined to outward appearances are often befooled. In the story, Miss Fairchild is easily befooled and misled by the real marshal. As she is deeply stuffed with social images and fantasies, she is soon influenced by the outward appearance and remains far from reality. Even, she does not notice that how Easton can be a marshal when his right hand is handcuffed to the left hand of the other man. Thus, Miss Fairchild is badly cheated by Easton's outward appearance. In the story, the writer observes that it is wrong to reach on the conclusion on the basis of appearances.
Setting and Atmosphere:
The setting of the story occurs on the B.M. Express also known as a train. It takes place during the time in American history as the Wild West, or the early colonization of the West coast. The majority of the story takes place in one of the coaches. The story feels engaging and busy with a casual, unassuming atmosphere. The passengers have a light conversation and then go their separate ways.
Significance of the Title:
The title of story ‘Hearts and Hands’ is suggestive and appropriate because it refers to the conclusion of the story where the true identities of Mr. Easton and the marshal with the knowledge that a marshal always cuffs prisoners to his left hand. It may also refer to the marshal's good heart and the helping hand he offers Mr. Easton in relation to Miss Fairchild. It may also have something to do with the flirtatious relationship between Fairchild and Mr. Easton.
Ironical Element:
Throughout the story, Miss Fairchild speaks to Mr. Easton as if he is a hero because he is a marshal. ‘And so now you are one of the dashing Western heroes and you ride and shoot and go into kinds of dangers.’ However, at the end, the reader finds out that he is not a hero at all. The writer uses dramatic irony with the misleading descriptions of the marshal and Mr. Easton which cause the reader to believe that the marshal is the prisoner and the prisoner is the Marshal.
Characterization:
The story has three main characters and two minor characters who reveal the story's irony. The three main characters are Miss Fairchild, her acquaintance, Mr. Easton and the marshal. All the characters in the short story are on a train bound for Denver. Perhaps running into Easton in this manner seems like a fortuitous meeting to the young woman and she misses the clues that might have indicated the truth of Easton's situation. Easton is described as having a ‘handsome presence with a bold, frank countenance and manner’. The woman may be interested in Mr. Easton as a potential suitor, for she asks questions about his plans to return to Washington. Once she becomes convinced that Easton is the marshal, Miss Fairchild thinks that she can be happy in the West, where the air agrees with her. In addition, she indicates to Easton that she is no longer seeing her former suitor, the ambassador. At any rate, Miss Fairchild misinterprets his position in the handcuffs, believing Easton is the marshal than the criminal. The other characters are the passengers who are flat characters. They are indirectly characterised.
The Use of Figures of Speech:
The writer has used the figure of speech personification in the following line:
‘I think the air here agrees with me.'
(In the above line, air has been personified)
The figure of speech hyperbole has been used in the following line:
‘I'm half dead for a pipe.’
Foreshadowing:
Easton told Miss Fairchild that he needed to go to Leavenworth. He also spoke of his past making money in the West. There are other examples:
1. When Miss Fairchild recognises one of her old friends on the train.
2. When Miss Fairchild thinks that Mr. Easton is going to prison because he is handcuffed to another person.
Narrating Technique:
The story has been narrated in third person. The narrator is subjective and does not participate in the plot at any time. The episode begins and ends in a straight forward manner. The remarks by the two passengers at the end of the story are significant because they reveal the irony in the story. These unexpected remarks reveal the truth about the character of Mr. Easton. The simple sentence at the end of the story surprises the readers.
The Use of Imagery and Symbols:
The writer vividly describes the setting and characters. Among the new comers were two young men, one of handsome presence with a bold, frank countenance and manner, the other a ruffled, glum - faced person, heavily built and roughly dressed. The writer also uses symbols. The handcuffs symbolise a lower standard of living, especially compared to Miss Fairchild's standard of living. When Mr. Easton points them out, Miss Fairchild is horrified and quick to judge the situation.
Simplicity of Language and Tone of the Story:
The writer seems to be very well aware of the fact that simplicity is the best way to reach the heart of the readers. Therefore in simple language, he presents simple incidents in such manner which touches people's hearts. He does not use any complicated phrases, words and sentences which might create any kind of trouble for any average reader. The tone of the story is casual and unassuming, with the majority of the story consisting of light - hearted conversation between the passengers. There is nothing extremely suspicious to prematurely lead the reader to the conclusion of the story until the surprise is revealed.
