What is the summary of "A Service of Love" by O. Henry?
As an introduction to his short story, "A Service of Love," O. Henry declares that he will take the premise of "When one loves one's Art no service seems too hard" and draw a conclusion from this premise while at the same time proving it wrong.
An aspiring artist, Joe Larrabeen from the Midwest and Delia Caruthers, a young talented musician meet in New York in an atelier where a number of youthful artists have met to discuss composers and painter. There they are attracted to each other; shortly thereafter, they marry. Living in a "lonesome flat" does not matter to Joe and Delia, for they are happy and in love. "They had their Art, and they had each other."
While they dwell in this flat, Joe takes art lessons from the great Magister; Delia trains under the great musician Rosenstock. "But after a while Art flagged" and the Larrabees are too...
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poor to pay for their respective art lessons. So Delia decides to teach piano. After a couple of days, Delia returns home, excitedly telling her husband that she has found piano pupils. The proud Joe tells his wife that he cannot let his wife "hustle for wages" while he "philanders" in high art. And, he offers to find a job. Delia remonstrates, telling Joe that he must continue his art; after all, she says, in teaching piano, she is yet learning. "When one loves one's Art, no service seems too hard," said Delia.
Both Delia and Joe bring home money; hers, Delia says, is from General Pinkney and his, Joe declares, is from a man from Peoria, Illinois. However, one evening Delia returns home with a wrapped hand that has been burned. As she explains what has happened to her, Joe becomes suspicious and asks her what she has really been doing. So, Delia confesses to having been working in a laundry.
"You're not angry, are you, Joe? And if I hadn't got the work you mightn't have sold your sketches to that man from Peoria."
Then, Joe confesses that he has not sold any paintings; he works in the engine room for this same laundry, and he was the one who sent up the cotton and oil for a girl who had her hand burned. The loving couple laughs, and Joe begins, "When one loves one's Art no service seems--" But, Delia counters, "No..just "When one loves."
Indeed, it is no longer their art that Joe and Delia love enough to work; it is the other for whom they work. The original premise is incorrect.
What is the theme of O. Henry's "A Service of Love?"
To me, this story is essentially identical to O. Henry's more famous story "The Gift of the Magi." In both, the theme is love and the things that people do out of love.
In this story, Joe and Delia love each other very much. Because of this, they are each willing to do things that they do not really want to do. Each of them is really into their respective types of art. They want to get ahead in those areas.
But they love each other more. Each of them sacrifices their artistic ambitions for the more important goal of pleasing the person they love.
What are some characteristics of love in O. Henry's "A Service of Love"?
O' Henry's story centers on the love and home life of Joe and Delia Larrabee.
But the best, in my opinion, was the home life in the little flat--
the ardent, voluble chats after the day's study; the cozy dinners and fresh, light breakfasts; the interchange of ambitions...the mutual help and inspiration; and--overlook my artlessness--stuffed olives and cheese sandwiches at 11 p.m.
Some characteristics of the love shared by Jim and Delia:
a)Mutual solicitude: both are focused on the other's happiness and comfort. When the couple experience financial difficulties, Delia quietly takes on a job teaching music (or so she says). Jim is in art school, and he worries about his wife slaving away to provide for their needs. Lovingly, Delia reassures Jim by telling him how happy she is to be working in the music field. Meanwhile, Jim supposedly sells some of his watercolor paintings to a customer from Peoria, Illinois. However, it soon turns out that both have actually been working at the same laundry in order to provide the necessities of the household.
In essence, Jim and Delia's home life is characterized by a lack of acrimony and conflict. A major reason for their marital happiness is their mutual consideration for each other's feelings.
b)Loving communion: both enjoy each other's company and delight in sharing their meals together. The stuffed olives and sandwiches shared at 11pm represent the warmth of their fellowship.
c)Selfless generosity: when Delia and Jim have a good week financially, they pool their resources to purchase and enjoy delicacies both enjoy.
"Thirty-three dollars! We never had so much to spend
before. We'll have oysters to-night."
"And filet mignon with champignons," said Joe. "Where is the olive
fork?"
Hope this helps!
What is the mood of O. Henry's "A Service of Love?"
The mood set in this story is very light and playful.
You would think that the mood might be a bit darker given the subject matter. You have these two people who are essentially getting ripped off as they pursue their dreams. The music teacher and the art teacher are not really giving Joe and Delia much in return for their money.
Even so, the tone is fun -- the two of them are happy and the way the author writes is jaunty and amusing. So it makes it seem like a happy story all the way through.