# City Perils explained — Short Fiction

> Chapter companion for Short Fiction by O. Henry.

## What happens

Jeremiah Q. Dilworthy, a Houston resident who promised his wife he would abstain from drinking for a year, breaks his promise and goes out with friends. While walking home on a rainy night, he staggers to the side of the street and suddenly falls into the sidewalk, disappearing from sight before anyone can help.

## Themes in this chapter

### Humor and Irony

The ironic twist of a man falling into a sidewalk rather than water, combined with his broken promise, creates a darkly humorous situation.

### Ambition and Failure

Dilworthy's failed promise to his wife and his subsequent downfall illustrate the theme of personal ambition undermined by weakness.

## Character check-ins

### Unknown Narrator

The narrator recounts the ironic mishap of Jeremiah Q. Dilworthy.

## Key lines

> On January first, he promised his wife he would not take another drink in a year. He forgot his promise and on Tuesday night we met some of the boys, and when he started home about nine o’clock he was feeling a trifle careless.

He had vowed to his wife on New Year's Day to stay sober for a year, but broke that vow when he went out drinking with friends on a Tuesday night, leaving home around nine feeling unsteady.

_Highlights the broken promise and the start of Dilworthy's fateful evening._

> A policeman standing on the corner heard a loud yell of despair, and turning, saw a man throw up his arms and then disappear from sight. Before the policeman could call someone who could swim the man had gone for the third and last time.

A nearby policeman heard a desperate cry and saw a man fling his arms up before vanishing; before he could summon a swimmer, the man had sunk for the final time.

_Emphasizes the absurdity of the situation, as the man appears to drown on dry land._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/short_fiction_41_se/chapters/city-perils
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/short_fiction_41_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/short_fiction_41_se/chapters