# A Disagreement explained — Short Fiction

> Chapter companion for Short Fiction by O. Henry.

## What happens

A Houston citizen complains about Mr. Bergman, the opera house manager, who refused to give him a half-price ticket despite the man's deafness in one ear, instead insisting he should pay double because it would take him twice as long to hear the performance.

## Themes in this chapter

### Humor and Irony

The manager's absurd logic that a deaf person should pay double for a ticket because they would take twice as long to hear the performance is a humorous and ironic twist on fairness.

## Key lines

> Dat Mr. Bergman, vot run de obera house, not dread me right

That Mr. Bergman, who runs the opera house, did not treat me fairly.

_The citizen's complaint about unfair treatment by the opera house manager._

> I asg him dot he let me in mit half brice, for I was teaf py von ear, and can not but one half of dot performance hear; und he dell me I should bay double brice, as it would dake me dwice as long to hear de berformance as anypody else.

I asked him to let me in at half price, because I am deaf in one ear and can only hear half of the performance; but he told me I should pay double price, since it would take me twice as long to hear the performance as anyone else.

_The citizen explains his request for a discount due to his deafness and the manager's unexpected response demanding double payment._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/short_fiction_41_se/chapters/a-disagreement
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/short_fiction_41_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/short_fiction_41_se/chapters