Chirchik state pedagogical university

Introduction

"Mammon and the Archer," by William Sydney Porter—better known by the pseudonym of O. Henry—was first published in the New York World and later published in O. Henry's The Four Million in 1906. The title of the collection and the short stories themselves were a response to Ward McAllister's 1892 comment that there are only about four hundred people in New York City, referring only to those whom McAllister thought were of importance. The story is about a wealthy businessman whose son wants to propose to his sweetheart before she leaves the USA for Europe in a bid to win her hand. Anthony Rockwall, a retired soap manufacturer and self-made millionaire, believes that money can accomplish anything; he declares, “I'll bet my money on it.” Critics initially praised O. Henry for his stories, many of which featured surprise endings like the one in "Mammon and the Archer." O. Henry's New York stories introduced new character types that helped to shape the image and perceptions of America both at home and abroad.

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  Summary
  

O. Henry's "Mammon and the Archer" is a story about the eternal opposition between money and love. The main character, Richard, believes in love and is in love with a woman who is a part of the New York aristocracy. His father, Anthony Rockwall, a retired soap manufacturer and self-made millionaire, believes that money can buy anything and attempts to prove it by using his money to stage an elaborate event that helps his son win the woman’s hand in marriage. The story ends with a surprise twist that reveals that it was actually money, not love, that brought Richard and his beloved together. Through this story, O. Henry highlights the favorite romantic theme of the fight between money and love.

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  Personal reflection
  

O. Henry’s “Mammon and the Archer” is an interesting story that explores the complex relationship between money and love. The story shows that money can indeed buy many things, but not necessarily true love. It is a reminder that when it comes to matters of the heart, money is not the key to success. This story serves as a warning that in the pursuit of love, we should remember to look past the money and find the true value of a person. It also raises an important question: Is it really possible to buy a person’s love? Ultimately, the answer to this question is up to each individual.

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