February 16 - “Springtime À La Carte”

“Springtime À La Carte”
by O. Henry
The Gift of the Magi and Other Stories (2002)

* * (Okay) Realistic

Sarah works typewriting the bills of fare on cards for the restaurant next door, anxiously awaiting the return of spring and word from the farmer she fell in love with the past summer.

Breaking the fourth wall – a character or the author talking directly to the audience – has been something that has fascinated me ever since my first reading of Wilder’s play, Our Town. Henry breaks through occasionally during this story, but never quite to the effect, or satisfaction, I’ve encountered in other works. He seems to be doing it to offer advice about writing, even though nothing in this particular story would necessitate the inclusion of this information. Instead, it distracts; it appears as filler to an already weak narrative line. Events and revelations appear out of nowhere, and while Henry breaks in to say – “It is bad art, and cripples interest.” – he doesn’t let that stop him, as author, from marching on, dragging us readers questioningly along, unsure of each new and sudden discovery.