In the beginning of this short story, Hughes uses amazing character development to introduce the narrator, who is also the main character. It starts off, “Well, sir, I ain’t never been mixed up in nothin’ wrong before nor since, and I don’t intend to be again, but I was hongry that night. Indeed, I was!” (Hughes 214). From this, the reader has an idea that this character is most likely poor, uneducated, and isn’t a trouble maker. Looking at the way the character speaks, diction, you could also get a sense of the time period, which was around the Second World War.
During the falling action, through narration, the reader sees the situational irony. After meeting a stranger and going along with the plan to rob another stranger, the narrator gets nothing. “And, man, don’t you know he went on from that basement and took all that stuff! Left me standin’ just as empty-handed as when I come in there. Yes, sir! He left me with that white boy standin’ in the coal. He’d done took the money, the diamonds, and everythin’, even the shoes! And me nothin’!” (Hughes 218). While the reader was expecting the narrator to split half of the stolen items with the other fellow, the other fellow ended up conning him and taking it all for himself.
Getting closer to the end of the story, Hughes uses dialogue to showcase even more situational irony. The reader, expecting the “white fellow” to be terrified, is shocked by the robbery victim’s reaction.
“Say,” said the white boy “is he gone?”
“He ain’t here,” I said.
“Gee, this was exciting,” said the white fellow, turning up his collar. “This is was thrilling!”
“What?” I says.
“This is the first exciting thing that’s happened to me,” said the white guy. “This is the first time in my life I’ve ever had a good time in Harlem”” (Hughes 218)
Reading this is weird for the reader. Hearing that someone enjoyed getting robbed is much unexpected.
At the very end of the story, after all the narrator has been through, the narrator asks questions that make the reader think and brings out the theme. “I went on up the street hungrier than I am now. And I kept thinkin’ about that boy with all his money. I said to myself, “What do you suppose is the matter with rich white folks? Why you reckon they ain’t happy?” (Hughes 219). And from this story I learned that money can’t buy happiness.