II. Surprising Endings

2.1 What is the Surprising Ending

   The most attractive feature of O. Henry’s novels is the complete surprising ending.  O. Henry has his own unique way with his creative skills of master of literature. It is called “O. Henry’s ending”. It usually refers to that his novels’ endings of suddenly bring the characters to unexpected changes in psychological situation, or make the hero fate sudden reversal. But in a sense, it is in accordance with the actual life which results in a unique artistic charm. The endings exceed the reader’s imagination, and the story is so touching that you’ll never forget. To savor O. Henry’s endings carefully, we can find that they are surprising but reasonable. People feel disappointed at the author’s good intentions, so as to realize the story’s philosophical senses or the significance of the theme.

2.2 The Surprising Ending Reflected in O. Henry's Short Novels

   O. Henry is one of the famous American short story writer, who writes many classic works in his life, especially in the endings. And the endings give a person a kind of unexpected results. This kind of writing style makes the literary and artistic charm   have a big promotion. The “O. Henry’s ending” has fully reflected in The Cop and the Anthem. The ending of the novel is surprising but reasonable. Soapy’ s original dream is to go into prison. He looks forward to spending the cold winter in prison. This funny desire is a helpless way of life. Perhaps ordinary people think that the arrest and imprisonment is too simple, as long as they are in violation of social order, in violation of laws and regulations, you can be arrested. But Soapy failed finally. When he is affected by hymns, he decides to begin a new life and create the future with his own hands. The readers will be for his shift inside a heartfelt blessing. But fate makes a joke with him. The police sends him away quietly and there is no reason. Before Soapy struggles to achieve the dream and it is always impossible. Now he wants to begin a new life but his dream comes true. How funny and ridiculous it is. The surprising ending causes readers to think deeply of social reality. This kind of surprising ending changes the traditional happy ending. The surprising ending is more able to produce a strong powerful sense of art, and gives readers a more profound and lasting impression. The Cop and the Anthem with a relaxing and humorous style reveals the sufferings of the lower class people’s life in United States. The intention is to satirize social’s darkness and ridiculousness.