O. Henry turns this theme upside-down and shakes it in this story. "The Cop and the Anthem" is about a free man, Soapy, trying to get thrown in jail. Over the course of the story, Soapy begins to discover that he is a prisoner of his own mind and that he can choose a better life. By better, we mean a life where he has more freedom and control. When Soapy has a change of heart, he sees work as a way to achieve this freedom and control. Sure, he'll have to answer to a boss, but it will be worth it to have more freedom and feel good about himself.
Questions About Freedom and Confinement
- How will Soapy feel about being in jail now that he no longer wants to be in jail?
- How might Soapy define freedom when we first meet him? How might this definition change during the story? How do you define freedom?
- Do you think there are people today who try to get arrested so they have food and shelter? How would you find out if this were true or just a stereotype?
- Why does Soapy feel that jail gives him more freedom than, say, a homeless shelter? Do you agree with him? Would Soapy feel the same way if he lived in the 2000s?
Chew on This
"The Cop and the Anthem" argues that freedom is a state of mind.
This story is not relevant to today's readers because prison has changed a lot since the early 1900s; tracing the history of the prison system in the US will help demonstrate that Soapy's views on prison would not make sense in the 2000s.