Congratulations for reaching Year 4 of your American English studies. This year we will read numerous American short stories to build American English listening and reading comprehension skills. Please pay close attention to each American short story assigned here and share your insights and what you’ve learned in the comments section below.
Directions: Listen and read each short story and then share what you learned in the comments section below.
4.14.4; Lesson 14- Americans short stories.
”Transients in Arcadia” written by O. Henry
The theme of the story is loneliness,happyness, escape from their routine life and to experience, how others who might be more financially fortunate than they are may live. the characters of the story are
Madam Heloise Beaumont (Mamie Siviter) and Harold Farrington (James Mcmanus).
Two people pretended to be wealthy guests at a luxurious hotel to enjoy a week-long vacation. They were both working-class individuals seeking a temporary escape from their routine lives.
In a hotel on Broadway, a group of guests enjoyed the cool and luxurious atmosphere, hidden from the bustling city outside. Among them were Mme. Héloise D’Arcy Beaumont and Harold Farrington, who quickly became acquainted and spent their days enjoying the hotel’s amenities. They spoke of their travels and experiences, giving the impression that they were both wealthy and well-traveled individuals.
Mamie Siviter (Madame Héloise D’Arcy Beaumont) is a hosiery counter worker; charming, gracious, imaginative; pretends to be a wealthy woman.
James McManus (Harold Farrington) is a collector for a clothing store; sophisticated, poised, friendly; pretends to be a wealthy man.
One evening, Mme. Beaumont revealed to Farrington that she was not a wealthy woman, but rather a saleswoman at a department store. She had saved up her money to spend a week living like a wealthy person, and her beautiful gown was purchased on an installment plan.
I wanted to spend one week like a lady if I never do another one. I wanted to get up when I please instead of having to crawl out at seven every morning.
Farrington listens to her story and then reveals that he too is not wealthy, but a collector for the store where Mme. Beaumont has purchased her gown.
I’ve been a collector for O’Dowd & Levinsky for three years. Funny, isn’t it, that you and me both have the same idea about spending our vacation?
The two laughs at the coincidence and agrees to continue enjoying their vacation together. They make plans to visit Coney Island on Saturday night, embracing their true identities and the simple pleasures of life. As they part ways for the evening, Farrington asks Mme. Beaumont to forget his fake name and call him by his real name, Jimmy. She agrees and they said their goodnights, looking forward to their upcoming adventures.
I think,” change for the sake of betterment, and not for the sake of change or just to please someone, it’s better you change your identity.”