# His Dilemma explained — Short Fiction

> Chapter companion for Short Fiction by O. Henry.

## What happens

An elderly man visits a drug store seeking advice on whether to dye his white whiskers to win the affection of a widow, while also fearing being drafted into a potential war due to the Monroe Doctrine. After the clerk reassures him that war is unlikely, he buys the hair dye and resolves to propose to the widow.

## Themes in this chapter

### Deception and Appearance vs. Reality

The old man considers dyeing his hair to appear younger and deceive the widow about his age.

### Humor and Irony

The old man's comical dilemma between pursuing a widow and avoiding conscription is presented with ironic humor.

## Character check-ins

### Unknown Narrator

The narrator describes the old man's appearance and his interaction with the clerk.

## Key lines

> Ef I uses hair dye and trains down to thirty-eight or forty years of age, I ketches the widder, but I turns into a peart and chipper youth what is liable to be made to fight in this here great war.

If I dye my hair and look like a young man of thirty-eight or forty, I will win the widow, but I might be drafted to fight in the war.

_The old man explains his central conflict between love and self-preservation._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/short_fiction_41_se/chapters/his-dilemma
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/short_fiction_41_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/short_fiction_41_se/chapters