Irony Analysis: O.Henry`s short story, 'A Lickpenny Lover', follows the O.Henry-esque style. Most of O.Henry`s creations contain a surprise ending or plot twist. When reading A LickPenny Lover, you would expect Masie to say yes once Irving proposes and they would get married and live 'happily ever after'. However, this is not the case in O.Henry`s short story. In most of O.Henry`s stories he introduces one of the characters, and then the next. He also develops the plot by creating a story line with subtle hints about the plot twist that is coming up. These hints are hard to recognize while reading, but once you have finished reading the story, you can identify the hints O.Henry places in his story. O.Henry uses irony in all of his writings. In this particular story irony is used to show how Masie misunderstood Irving when he said he wanted to take her on a trip around the world. Masie is accustomed to guys not being rich enough to take her to places she really wanted to go and thought Irving was the same as the other guys. "Nit; he's too cheap a guy for that. He me to marry him and go down to Coney Island a wedding tour!" Her misinterpretation caused her to leave Irving, a young man who could have given her the things she really wanted. The motif of love is evident in this story, because Irving really wanted to marry Masie, and loved her. All of these things are similar to O.Henry`s "The Gift of the Magi", where Della and Jim both gave up things that had personal value to them for love and ended up enduring a loss. "And here I have lamely related to you the uneventful chronicle of two foolish children in a flat who most unwisely
sacrificed for each other the greatest treasures of their house." This is similar to A Lickpenny Lover because Masie willingly gave up the opportunity for love, getting married and having all the things she wanted because she thought Irving's love was 'too cheap'.
sacrificed for each other the greatest treasures of their house." This is similar to A Lickpenny Lover because Masie willingly gave up the opportunity for love, getting married and having all the things she wanted because she thought Irving's love was 'too cheap'.