StudentShare
Contact Us
Sign In / Sign Up for FREE
Search
Go to advanced search...
Free

The Cop and the Anthem by OHenry - Book Report/Review Example

Cite this document
Summary
This essay “The Cop and the Anthem by O’Henry” will attempt to analyze the characters in the story in the quest to explain their nature, role, their traits. The paper will also assess the relationship between the characters and the aspects that lead to a deeper understanding of the characters…
Download free paper File format: .doc, available for editing
GRAB THE BEST PAPER97.1% of users find it useful
The Cop and the Anthem by OHenry
Read Text Preview

Extract of sample "The Cop and the Anthem by OHenry"

Writing a Character Analysis In the story, The Cop and the Anthem by O Henry, the uses characterization to explain the themes in the story as well as bring out the plot that explains the shape of events. This essay will attempt to analyze the characters in the story in the quest to explain their nature, role, their traits and the motivation behind their actions. The paper will also assess the relationship between the characters and the aspects that lead to a deeper understanding of the characters. In the story, Soapy is the main character. In terms of the complexity of the character, Soapy may be termed as a round character since he has a complex personality as he is often portrayed as a person full of conflicts and contradictions throughout the story as opposed to a flat character that only has one personality. As seen in the story, Henry indicates that Soapy takes different turns in his life (1). One would argue that Soapy does not take these decisions according to his wish but circumstances force him. A good example is when he rejects charity as he believes that he will one day pay for the favors (Henry 1). Soapy also tries to be a criminal by spending time with criminals and hopes to turn himself to jail. From the narration of Henry, Soapy may be termed as a dynamic character. This is because Soapy changes over time due to the various crisis that he is facing. It is even arguable that Soapy is making attempts to solve his central conflicts and that his major role is to resolve the conflicts that face him. A case in point is the event that Soapy is thrown to prison even with his being an innocent person (Henry 1). Despite Soapy breaking the law through committing petty crimes, he does not behave like a criminal and his fate may be described as that of freedom. However, the same does not happen for the case of Soapy (Henry 1). These turn of events steer his life throughout the story. The character, Soapy, plays a major role in the story. Throughout the story, the life and times of Soapy take a central place. Soapy is the protagonist and the crucial moments in his life are well explained throughout the story. He is seen to make attempts to find ways in which he will spend his winter and he opts to commit crime as opposed to getting a job. The crimes would then land him in prison on the island. A success of this plan will ensure that he gets constant food and a home as his pride cannot allow him receive public charity (Henry 1). Soapy does not want to have any pending issues with the public, so he opts to find ways of getting arrested. As the story continues, we see failure in his attempts. It is at this point that he decides to get a job but is arrested in a weird way; thus, having his wish granted (Henry 1). These events make Soapy the main character in the story. Soapy bears different charter traits. First, he may be termed as proud. This results from the fact that he denies any help that is offered to him for claims that he does not want to have anyone making claims on their assisatnce at a later stage. It is this pride to deny help that leads to him engaging in crime so that he could land in jail where food and shelter would be a guarantee (Henry 1). Secondly, Soapy may be termed as lazy as he had the option of securing a job as opposed to engaging in crime to get food and shelter in jail but he did not (Henry 1). Soapy is extremely hopeful of getting jailed, so that he would not struggle to find food and shelter during the winter. Thirdly, Soapy may be termed as a clever person as he had a perfect scheme that would see to a smooth life for his bad days. Despite being unlucky, his crafty personality made him engage in crimes, and though in odd ways, he finally landed in jail as he had planned from the onset (Henry 1). From these traits, the clever and proud characteristics are most important in relation to the plot since the traits motivate Soapy to deny help and continually scheme to land in prison. Soapy is motivated by pride and laziness to do what he does. Since his pride could not allow him to accept help from the public, and his laziness could allow him get a job, Soapy had no option but to find a way to get a perfect way of survival. According to Soapy, committing crimes would send him to jail where he would survive on free food and shelter (Henry 1). I mostly learn out the character through his actions. Everything that Soapy does is pre-planned and his actions explain how much he is willing to implement his plans. Through his actions such as engaging with criminals continually explain to the reader how one’s ambition may be a main motivator in their life (Henry 1). Basically, the characters actions can arguably be said to the main way in which the character is well understood. In the story, there are other minor characters such as the policemen and the businessman that had promised to offer Soapy a job. Soapy would be said to have a good relationship with the businessman as after his plans were seemingly unfruitful, he hoped to get to the businessman in the quest to get a job (Henry 1). The relationship with the policemen was formal one especially when they caught Soapy in the streets. Through a formal conversation with Soapy, the policemen arrest Soapy for loitering charges as he responded to having nothing important that he was doing on the streets (Henry 1). Conclusively, Soapy may be defined as the main character in the story. With the events that surround his stay in the city, the author successful narrates his story. However, it is also important to note that other minor characters such as the policemen contribute to the plot of the story. Work Cited Henry, O. The Cop and the Anthem. N.d. Web. 16 Jan. 2015. Read More
Cite this document
  • APA
  • MLA
  • CHICAGO
(The Cop and the Anthem by OHenry Book Report/Review, n.d.)
The Cop and the Anthem by OHenry Book Report/Review. https://studentshare.org/literature/1674171-short-story-analysis
(The Cop and the Anthem by OHenry Book Report/Review)
The Cop and the Anthem by OHenry Book Report/Review. https://studentshare.org/literature/1674171-short-story-analysis.
“The Cop and the Anthem by OHenry Book Report/Review”. https://studentshare.org/literature/1674171-short-story-analysis.
  • Cited: 0 times

CHECK THESE SAMPLES OF The Cop and the Anthem by OHenry

Macroeconomic Theory ECON302

Name: Course: Date: Macroeconomic Theory Question 1: The Keynesian Income Model According to the basic Keynesian model of income, income is the sole determinant of the demand, unless there is government spending.... This implies that the level of disposable income possessed by private individuals with an economy will ultimately determine the level of consumption and savings (Salant, 72)....
5 Pages (1250 words) Essay

Carbon Tax System

Date Any environmentalist are never new to these two terms cap and trade system and carbon tax system.... The environmentalist often uses the two interchangeably and often bonder their heads on which system work best in the conservation of the environments.... hellip; I will examine the relative attractions of a carbon tax, and a “pure” cap-and-trade system....
7 Pages (1750 words) Research Paper

Freedom of speech and expression

For the purpose of our essay we will mainly discuss two famous cases: Ozzy Osbourne's song "Suicide Solution"1 and Ice-T's "cop Killer"2.... Free speech and expression is a notion that has always raised debate.... Historically many authors have given their position on the issue....
7 Pages (1750 words) Essay

The Life and Works of O. Henry

Henry includes the collection Cabbages and Kings, The Four Million, the stories “A Municipal Report”, “The Gift of the Magi”, “The Ransom of Red Chief”, “the cop and the anthem”, “A Retrieved Reformation”, “After Twenty Years”, “Compliments of the Season”, and “Friends in San Rosario”....
2 Pages (500 words) Essay

Global Warming and Different Industries in the UK

This report has found appreciation and support from the government and individual business houses.... In the same vein, Chancellor Gordon Brown made a promise that Britain would be a leader in tackling the issue on an international level.... Emission of CO2 and motor vehicles is choking the environment....
4 Pages (1000 words) Research Paper

Use of sound and music in the film Psycho by Alfred Hitchcock

However, none of them has ever imagined judging these movies in terms of sound mixing and music.... This usually happens because several sound and music editors… Besides, the perceptions that people have concerning movies is based on how cool the movie is but not on sound or music.... In other words, sound and music are strongly ignored in movies (Richard 43)....
6 Pages (1500 words) Research Paper

Food Process Technology

The author of the current research paper "Food Process Technology" states that food packaging is an important aspect because it helps in keeping the food healthy, protected, and retaining its taste.... The packaging depends on the type of food and its size.... hellip; Packaging of finished products acts as a protective layer against various deteriorative changes....
11 Pages (2750 words) Research Paper

A New Theory of Tonality

This assignment "A New Theory of Tonality" presents a violoncello that begins the first movement accompanied with some piano chord in a manner that creates a feeling of the arrhythmic sea.... However, the piano chord continues to change with notes played in rapid succession.... hellip; Meanwhile, the violin, supplementing the violoncello, drops and returns to repeat entry notes as the movement heads for a climax whereby assai animator is marked....
1 Pages (250 words) Assignment
sponsored ads
We use cookies to create the best experience for you. Keep on browsing if you are OK with that, or find out how to manage cookies.
Contact Us