It'll be a great place if they ever finish it

It'll be a great place if they ever finish it

In the world of O. Henry, the phrase "It'll be a great place if they ever finish it" perfectly encapsulates the essence of his stories. O. Henry, known for his clever plot twists and surprise endings, often leaves his readers with a sense of incompleteness or uncertainty. This phrase, which appears in various forms throughout his works, serves as a reflection of the imperfections and unfinished nature of life itself.

One of O. Henry's most famous stories, "The Gift of the Magi," exemplifies this theme. The story follows a young couple, Della and Jim, who are struggling financially but determined to give each other the perfect Christmas gift. Della sells her long, beautiful hair to buy a chain for Jim's prized pocket watch, while Jim sells his watch to buy combs for Della's hair. In the end, their sacrifices are rendered meaningless by the gifts they have exchanged, leaving them with nothing but their love for each other. The story ends with the narrator musing, "Of all who give gifts, these two were the wisest. Of all who give and receive gifts, such as they are wisest. Everywhere they are wisest. They are the magi."

This sense of irony and incompleteness is a hallmark of O. Henry's writing. His stories often feature characters who are caught in a web of circumstances beyond their control, leading to unexpected outcomes. The phrase "It'll be a great place if they ever finish it" can be seen as a metaphor for the unfinished nature of life itself, with its twists and turns, surprises and disappointments.