# He Also Serves explained — Short Fiction

> Chapter companion for Short Fiction by O. Henry.

## What happens

The narrator recounts tales from Hunky Magee, a camp-follower of fortune, who tells of his adventures with High Jack Snakefeeder, a Cherokee man educated at a Pennsylvania college. They travel to Mexico and encounter a stone idol that resembles High Jack, and a mysterious girl who leads High Jack away. Hunky later reveals the girl became his wife.

## Themes in this chapter

### Deception and Appearance vs. Reality

The stone idol that resembles High Jack Snakefeeder blurs the line between reality and illusion, and the mysterious girl's true identity as Mrs. Magee is revealed.

### Humor and Irony

Hunky's deadpan narration and ironic observations about Indians, education, and the absurdity of the stone idol provide comic relief.

## Character check-ins

### Unknown Narrator

The narrator who listens to Hunky Magee's stories and records them.

### Hunky Magee

A camp-follower of fortune and former headwaiter at Chubb's, who tells the story of his trip to Mexico with High Jack Snakefeeder.

### High Jack Snakefeeder

A Cherokee man, college graduate, who travels with Hunky to Mexico and later disappears with a mysterious girl.

### Florence Blue Feather

A Cherokee girl educated at Muscogee College, who High Jack is foolish about; later revealed to be Mrs. Magee.

### Major Bing

A man in Boca who controls dyewood concessions and hosts Hunky and High Jack.

## Key lines

> If I could have a thousand years⁠—just one little thousand years⁠—more of life, I might, in that time, draw near enough to true Romance to touch the hem of her robe.

If I could live a thousand more years, I might finally get close enough to true Romance to touch its hem.

_The narrator expresses a longing for more time to experience true romance._

> One thing about the Indian is this: when he mixes with the white race he swaps all his own vices for them of the palefaces⁠—and he retains all his own virtues.

When an Indian mixes with white people, he exchanges his own vices for theirs while keeping his own virtues.

_Hunky offers a perspective on cultural exchange between Indians and whites._

> What ailed High Jack was too much booze and education. They'll do an Indian up every time.

High Jack's problem was too much alcohol and education; those things always ruin an Indian.

_Hunky attributes High Jack's fate to excessive drinking and schooling._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/short_fiction_41_se/chapters/he-also-serves
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/short_fiction_41_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/short_fiction_41_se/chapters