Draft:The Clarion Call
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| "The Clarion Call" | |
|---|---|
| Short story by O. Henry | |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Genre(s) | Short story, Crime fiction |
| Publication | |
| Published in | The Voice of the City |
| Publication type | Collection |
| Publisher | McClure Company |
| Media type | |
| Publication date | 1908 |
The Clarion Call is a short story by American writer O. Henry, first published in his 1908 collection The Voice of the City.[1] The narrative explores themes of honor, loyalty, and moral dilemmas within law enforcement.
Plot summary
[edit]Set in New York City, the story centers on Detective Barney Woods and Johnny Kernan, a criminal from Woods' past. During a chance encounter on Broadway, Woods recognizes Kernan as the murderer of Millionaire Norcross. However, Woods finds himself unable to make an arrest due to a $1,000 debt of honor he owes Kernan from their shared history in Saint Jo.[2]
Kernan, emboldened by his perceived immunity, boasts about his crimes and ridicules the ineffectiveness of newspapers in solving cases. In an act of hubris, he telephones the Morning Mars newspaper to taunt them about the unsolved Norcross murder.
As the evening progresses, Woods devises a solution to his moral quandary. He obtains a copy of the Morning Mars and composes a note assigning the $1,000 reward for Kernan's arrest to Kernan himself. This ingenious resolution allows Woods to honor his debt while simultaneously fulfilling his duty as a law enforcement officer.[3]
Characters
[edit]- Barney Woods: A detective with the New York City police force, formerly from Saint Jo.
- Johnny Kernan: A criminal and murderer, also originally from Saint Jo.
- Millionaire Norcross: The murder victim (mentioned but not seen in the story).
Themes
[edit]"The Clarion Call" explores several interconnected themes:
- Honor among criminals and law enforcement
- The limits of loyalty
- Moral dilemmas in law enforcement
- The role of the press in criminal investigations
- The consequences of arrogance[4]
Publication history
[edit]"The Clarion Call" was initially published in O. Henry's 1908 short story collection "The Voice of the City".[5] Since its original publication, the story has been included in various O. Henry collections and anthologies.
Adaptations
[edit]"The Clarion Call" has been adapted for various media:
Film
[edit]The story was featured in the 1952 anthology film "O. Henry's Full House", which adapted five of O. Henry's short stories. "The Clarion Call" was one of the five stories included, alongside "The Cop and the Anthem", "The Last Leaf", "The Ransom of Red Chief", and "The Gift of the Magi". The film was produced by 20th Century Fox and featured multiple directors for different segments.[6]
Television
[edit]The story was adapted for an episode of the Indian television series "Katha Sagar" (translation: "A Sea of Stories") which aired on DD National in 1986. The episode, titled "Karz", was directed by Kundan Shah.[7]
Audiobooks
[edit]"The Clarion Call" has been adapted into audiobook format and is available on digital platforms such as Storytel and Amazon's Audible.[8][9]
In popular culture
[edit]Film adaptation
[edit]"The Clarion Call" was one of five O. Henry stories adapted for the 1952 anthology film "O. Henry's Full House". The film, produced by 20th Century Fox, featured different directors for each segment. While "The Clarion Call" was included, the segment that garnered the most critical acclaim was "The Cop and the Anthem", starring Charles Laughton and Marilyn Monroe.[6]
Television adaptation
[edit]The story was also featured in the Indian television series "Katha Sagar" (translation: "A Sea of Stories"), which aired on DD National in 1986. The series showcased stories from renowned writers worldwide, including Katherine Mansfield, Guy de Maupassant, Leo Tolstoy, O. Henry, and Anton Chekhov. Each episode was helmed by one of eight prominent Indian directors, such as Shyam Benegal, Kundan Shah, Ved Rahi, and Satyen Bose. The adaptation of "The Clarion Call", titled "Karz", was directed by Kundan Shah.[7]
References
[edit]- ^ "The Clarion Call". American Literature. Retrieved 2023-09-18.
- ^ "The Clarion Call by O. Henry: Summary & Analysis". Study.com. Retrieved 2023-09-18.
- ^ "The Clarion Call". Literature Fandom. Retrieved 2023-09-18.
- ^ "The Clarion Call - O. Henry - English-e-reader". English E-Reader. Retrieved 2023-09-18.
- ^ "The Clarion Call - O. Henry.rtf". Scribd. Retrieved 2023-09-18.
- ^ a b "O. Henry's Full House". IMDb. Retrieved 2023-09-18.
- ^ a b "Katha Sagar". IMDb. Retrieved 2023-09-18.
- ^ "The Clarion Call - O. Henry - Storytel". Storytel. Retrieved 2023-09-18.
- ^ "The Clarion Call - Audible Audio Edition". Amazon.in. Retrieved 2023-09-18.
External links
[edit]