Short Fiction · Chapter
The Dream explained
Murray, a condemned man awaiting execution in the electric chair, reflects on his fate and the other prisoners in Limbo Lane.
What happens
Murray, a condemned man awaiting execution in the electric chair, reflects on his fate and the other prisoners in Limbo Lane. As the hour of his death approaches, he experiences a vivid dream of a peaceful life with a wife and child, only to realize too late that he has dreamed the wrong dream. The chapter includes O. Henry's own notes on his intention to write a new, more serious style of story.
Themes in this chapter
Crime and Consequence
The chapter explores the psychological state of a condemned murderer facing the ultimate penalty for his crime.
Deception and Appearance vs. Reality
Murray's dream presents a false reality of happiness and innocence, contrasting sharply with his actual fate.
Characters to notice
- Young Murray
The condemned protagonist awaiting execution in the electric chair.
- Bonifacio
A Sicilian inmate who calls out to Murray, displaying hardened philosophy and camaraderie.
Key passages
“Murray had dreamed the wrong dream.”
Murray's final vision of a happy life was a cruel illusion, not the truth.
The story's central ironic twist: the dream offers false hope.
“I want to show the public that I can write something new—new for me, I mean—a story without slang, a straightforward dramatic plot treated in a way that will come nearer my idea of real story-writing.”
O. Henry intended this story to mark a departure from his usual style, aiming for a more serious and conventional narrative.
Author's own commentary on his artistic ambition for this piece.