The Guilty Party Essay

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Carcasses attract scavengers. The Guilty Party by O. Henry showcases the untimely death of a girl of twelve, Liz. Above Chrystie Street on the east side, a strange bird stalks the children of the playground. Although people say it’s a stork, locals call it a vulture. In this case, Liz is the carcass that the vulture sets its eyes on. When Lizzie’s stressed father denies her request to play outside, her metaphorical death is revealed. It is not a real death where her heart stops beating, yet, but her respect for men is the victim and the vulture is ready to feed off of it. The Guilty Party’s recurring theme of innocence then betrayal are depicted after Lizzie’s “death”, which contribute to the idea that all decisions have an affect on future decisions. …show more content…

Oblivious to their social difference, their youth, which is almost always synonymous with innocence, is portrayed. Watching from the window, Liz’s father is interrupted with a hesitant, “won’t you play a game of checkers with me if you aren’t too tired?”. Since Liz adds an extra reason for her father to spend time with her, it implies that she is reluctant and that her father has denied her before. An endless cycle of “no’s” discouraged Lizzie because it conveyed her father’s disinterest in her hobbies, eventually making her lose her faith in him. The father’s detached relationship disables innocent Liz’s ability to trust her connections in the

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