Abstract

O. Henry is one of the most distinguished short-story writers in America in the early nineteenth century. He used to be honored as “the prose laureate of Manhattan Island”. His works are mainly about the life of common people in America, known as “the humor encyclopedia of American life”. This paper analyzes the complex human nature which contains good and evil elements from the aspect of plots in O. Henry’s four short stories, The Cop and the Anthem, A Double-dyed Deceiver, A Retrieved Reformation, and The Marionettes. With the help of Maslow's hierarchy of needs, the paper intends to reveal the cause of these sudden changes happened on the demoniacal protagonists who forsake darkness for light. The reversed humanity of the heroes creates a surprising ending, showing a unique charm.

Key words: O. Henry, human nature, good and evil, Maslow's hierarchy of needs
 
摘要

欧•亨利是二十世纪初美国最著名的短篇小说家之一, 曾被誉为“曼哈顿桂冠散文作家”。他创作的小说主要取材于美国社会基层，被誉为“美国生活的幽默的百科全书”。本文通过小说的情节展示，主要分析欧•亨利四部短篇小说—《警察与赞美诗》、《双料骗子》、《重新做人》以及《提线木偶》—中主人公人性的双面性。并且通过马斯洛的需要层次理论揭示主人公这种弃恶从善行为的原因。主人公的人性在最后出现逆转，展现出意料不到的结果，从而造就了小说的独特魅力。

关键词：欧•亨利；人性；善与恶；马斯洛需求层次理论

1.    Introduction
1.1 A brief introduction to O. Henry and his writing
William Sydney Porter, known by his pseudonym O. Henry, is a distinguished American writer. When he was young, he was filled with ambition to become a painter. Then after marriage, Athol Estes, his wife, encouraged him to pursue his writing. However, Porter then was charged with embezzlement when he was working carelessly at the First National Bank of Austin as a teller. Unfortunately, he was arrested on charges of embezzlement in Houston. While in prison, he committed himself to writing, and had published a large quantity of short stories under his pen name O. Henry. These stories really caused the widespread concern of readers.