# The Love-Philtre of Ikey Schoenstein explained — Short Fiction

> Chapter companion for Short Fiction by O. Henry.

## What happens

Ikey Schoenstein, a timid druggist, pines for Rosy Riddle but is too shy to act. His rival, Chunk McGowan, asks Ikey for a love potion to ensure Rosy will elope with him. Ikey gives him a sleeping powder instead, then tips off Rosy's father. However, Chunk decides to win Rosy honestly and slips the powder into her father's coffee, allowing the elopement to succeed.

## Themes in this chapter

### Deception and Appearance vs. Reality

Ikey pretends to help Chunk with a love potion but actually gives him a sleeping powder, and later deceives Mr. Riddle by revealing the elopement plan. Chunk, in turn, deceives everyone by drugging Mr. Riddle instead of Rosy.

### Love and Romance

The story revolves around romantic pursuits: Ikey's unrequited love for Rosy and Chunk's successful elopement with her, highlighting the lengths people go to for love.

### Humor and Irony

The irony is central: Ikey's scheme to thwart Chunk backfires when Chunk uses the powder on Mr. Riddle, and the 'love philtre' turns out to be a sleeping powder. The narrative tone is light and comedic.

## Character check-ins

### Ikey Schoenstein

The night clerk at the Blue Light Drug Store, secretly in love with Rosy Riddle. He provides a sleeping powder instead of a love potion and betrays Chunk's plan to Mr. Riddle.

### Chunk McGowan

Ikey's friend and rival for Rosy's affection. He plans to elope with Rosy and asks Ikey for a love potion, but ultimately decides to win her honestly and drugs her father instead.

### Rosy Riddle

Mrs. Riddle's daughter, the object of both Ikey's and Chunk's affections. She agrees to elope with Chunk and successfully escapes via fire-escape.

### Mr. Riddle

Rosy's father, who dislikes Chunk. He is forewarned by Ikey and plans to ambush Chunk with a shotgun, but is drugged by Chunk and sleeps through the elopement.

## Key lines

> I wouldn't have this double handicap make a false start tonight for a million

I wouldn't risk this elopement failing for anything.

_Chunk expresses his anxiety about Rosy changing her mind._

> The Blue Light does not consider that pharmacy is a thing of bric-a-brac, scent and ice-cream soda.

The Blue Light Drug Store is a serious pharmacy, not a fancy soda fountain.

_Describes the old-fashioned, no-nonsense character of the drug store._

> Ikey's lip beneath his nose curled with the scorn of superior enlightenment

Ikey sneered with intellectual superiority.

_Ikey's reaction to Chunk's request for a love potion._

> If he comes in my back yard he'll go away in a ambulance instead of a bridal chaise.

If Chunk tries to elope, he'll end up in an ambulance, not a wedding carriage.

_Mr. Riddle's threat to shoot Chunk._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/short_fiction_41_se/chapters/the-love-philtre-of-ikey-schoenstein
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/short_fiction_41_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/short_fiction_41_se/chapters