First Analytical paper

Betrayal : to deceive, misguide, or corrupt.
Being betrayed by one you trust is very heartbreaking, the stir of emotions that one feels in the moment of betrayal is usually very hard to capture, unless you are in the predicament yourself, but through literature the reader is invited to experience these multiple emotions without going through the heart wrenching experience. O. Henry‘s After Twenty years, blindfolds the reader throughout the story, not giving a hint on the amount of betrayal that is on the way to come.
O. Henry masters the theme of betrayal because throughout the story O’ henry almost betrays the reader himself, by taking the story on an unexpected journey. The protagonist Bob is awaiting an old friend while waiting he speaks to the Policeman; he is not concerned about conversing with the Policeman, even though he is a wanted criminal. “I came a thousand miles to stand in this door to-night, and it's worth it if my old partner turns up."(pg 1) Bob honored Jimmy and his friendship, by traveling miles just to be in the company of Jimmy. O. Henry depicted a feeling of camaraderie to the reader. “We agreed that night that we would meet here again exactly twenty years from that date and time, no matter what our conditions might be or from what distance we might have to come. (pg 1) Henry then paints a vivid picture of Bob, as a caring friend and a man of his word. Jimmy’s character is built by Bob’s descriptions “He was one of the truest, stanchest old chap in the world.” The reader then begins to anticipate the arrival of Bob’s friend.
O. Henry uses setting to foreshadow of trouble yet to come as “the wind had risen from its uncertain puffs into a steady blow. Few foot passengers astir in that quarter hurried dismally and silently along with coat collars turned high and pocketed hands.”(pg 2). “A tall man in a long overcoat, with collar turned up to his ears, hurried across from the opposite side of the street.” Henry holds the factor of suspense as he uses subtle details to continue to paint the picture of the mysterious Jimmy Wells. When Bob finally was reunited with Jimmy, a mood of tranquility was depicted as the two were united and “started up the street, arm in arm.” (pg 2). ‘When they came into this glare each of them turned simultaneously to gaze upon the other's face. The man from the West stopped suddenly and released his arm.
"You're not Jimmy Wells," he snapped. "Twenty years is a long time, but not long enough to change a man's nose from a Roman to a pug." (pg 2) a confused mood was introduced as the story began to take a turn for the worst. "You've been under arrest for ten minutes, 'Silky' Bob.” (pg 2) The reader then begins to develop a mix of emotions. Who did this? Why is he getting arrested? Where is Jimmy Wells? A note then delivered all the answers it stated “Bob: I was at the appointed place on time. When you struck the match to light your cigar I saw it was the face of the man wanted in Chicago. Somehow I couldn't do it myself, so I went around and got a plain clothes man to do the job. JIMMY.” (pg 2) The theme of betrayal then began to become more prominent and left the reader shocked. The sincere, big hearted Bob was a wanted criminal and his beloved Jimmy Wells was the one to conduct his arrest.
O’ Henry mastered the theme of betrayal through suspense and unlike many authors he left the theme to unravel itself as he himself misguided the reader, as he turned a pleasant story about to old acquaintances keeping a promise to one another, to a tale of deceit and betrayal.