Man About Town (Henry): Difference between revisions

Latest revision as of 08:35, 14 May 2023

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Man About Town

Summary of the Short Story
from the Collection «The Four Million»

Microsummary: A curious man embarked on a quest to understand the elusive "Man About Town" character. After seeking answers from various people, he unknowingly became the very character he sought to comprehend.

A man was on a quest to understand the meaning of the term "Man About Town." He began by asking a few questions about various topics, but soon became fixated on finding out more about this elusive character. He started his search by asking a newspaper reporter, who described the Man About Town as someone who falls between a "rounder" and a "clubman," often seen at various events and places around the city.

🕵️‍♂️

Narrator — protagonist searching for the "Man About Town"; curious, observant, determined; interacts with various people in the city.

Unsatisfied with the reporter's explanation, the man continued his search and asked a bartender for his opinion. The bartender described the Man About Town as a "fly guy" who knows the ins and outs of the city and is always on the lookout for something new. Still not content with the answers he received, the man approached a Salvation Army worker, who referred to the Man About Town as a member of "the devil's bodyguard," always present at sinful events and places.

The man then met a friend, a critic, who provided a more detailed description of the Man About Town. The critic explained that the Man About Town is a curious, impudent, and omnipresent figure who is always seeking new experiences and sensations. He is well-dressed and follows the conventions of manners, but is also intrusive and inquisitive.

He is curiosity, impudence and omnipresence. A new sensation is the breath in his nostrils;

Determined to find a real-life example of the Man About Town, the man set out to search the city, specifically Broadway, where he believed the character would most likely be found. As he crossed the street, he was suddenly hit by a vehicle and lost consciousness.

When he awoke in Bellevue Hospital, a young doctor handed him a newspaper article about the accident. The article described the man as a "typical Man About Town," suggesting that he had unknowingly become the very character he was seeking to understand.

@@ Line 5: / Line 5: @@
 | Cycle = [[The Four Million (Henry)|The Four Million]]
 | Author = O. Henry
-| Genre = short story
+| Literary form = short story
 | Year of publication =
-| Microsummary = A curious individual embarked on a quest to understand the elusive "Man About Town," encountering various perspectives before ironically becoming the very character they sought to comprehend.
+| Microsummary = A curious man embarked on a quest to understand the elusive "Man About Town" character. After seeking answers from various people, he unknowingly became the very character he sought to comprehend.
 | Wikidata =
 | Wikisource = The Four Million/Man About Town
@@ Line 14: / Line 14: @@
 {{Start of text}}
-A curious individual embarked on a quest to understand and find the elusive character known as the "Man About Town." The journey began with the individual's inquiries about various mysteries, such as the contents of women's dress suitcases and the reason behind the two-piece construction of mattresses. These seemingly trivial questions highlighted the individual's insatiable curiosity and desire to understand the world around them.
+A man was on a quest to understand the meaning of the term "Man About Town." He began by asking a few questions about various topics, but soon became fixated on finding out more about this elusive character. He started his search by asking a newspaper reporter, who described the Man About Town as someone who falls between a "rounder" and a "clubman," often seen at various events and places around the city.
-The individual sought answers from various people they encountered in the bustling city of New York. First, they asked a newspaper reporter, who described the "Man About Town" as someone who falls between a "rounder" and a "clubman," always present at events and familiar with everyone. The reporter's description, however, was not enough to satisfy the individual's curiosity.
+{{Character
+| Name = Narrator
-Next, the individual spoke to a bartender at a café, who described the "Man About Town" as a "fly guy" who knows the city's nightlife inside out. The bartender's description added to the individual's understanding but still left them wanting more.
+| Description = protagonist searching for the "Man About Town"; curious, observant, determined; interacts with various people in the city
+| Emoji = 🕵️‍♂️
+}}
-The individual then encountered a Salvation Army lassie, who provided a different perspective on the "Man About Town." She described them as the "devil's bodyguard," always present in places of vice and sin. This description added another layer to the individual's understanding of the elusive character.
+Unsatisfied with the reporter's explanation, the man continued his search and asked a bartender for his opinion. The bartender described the Man About Town as a "fly guy" who knows the ins and outs of the city and is always on the lookout for something new. Still not content with the answers he received, the man approached a Salvation Army worker, who referred to the Man About Town as a member of "the devil's bodyguard," always present at sinful events and places.
-Finally, the individual met a critic friend outside a hotel. The critic provided a more detailed and analytical description of the "Man About Town," characterizing them as the embodiment of curiosity, impudence, and omnipresence.
+The man then met a friend, a critic, who provided a more detailed description of the Man About Town. The critic explained that the Man About Town is a curious, impudent, and omnipresent figure who is always seeking new experiences and sensations. He is well-dressed and follows the conventions of manners, but is also intrusive and inquisitive.
-{{Quote|He is the sublimated essence of Butt-in; the refined, intrinsic extract of Rubber; the concentrated, purified, irrefutable, unavoidable spirit of Curiosity and Inquisitiveness.}}
+{{Quote|He is curiosity, impudence and omnipresence. A new sensation is the breath in his nostrils;}}
-As the individual continued their quest, they were involved in a bizarre accident that landed them in the hospital. Upon waking up, they found a newspaper article about the incident, which described them as a "typical Man About Town."
+Determined to find a real-life example of the Man About Town, the man set out to search the city, specifically Broadway, where he believed the character would most likely be found. As he crossed the street, he was suddenly hit by a vehicle and lost consciousness.
-The irony of the situation was not lost on the individual, who realized that their pursuit of understanding the "Man About Town" had led them to become the very character they sought to comprehend. In the end, the individual's journey not only provided them with a deeper understanding of the elusive "Man About Town" but also revealed the fluidity of identity and the idea that one's perception of oneself may differ from how others perceive them.
+When he awoke in Bellevue Hospital, a young doctor handed him a newspaper article about the accident. The article described the man as a "typical Man About Town," suggesting that he had unknowingly become the very character he was seeking to understand.
 {{End of text}}