AFTER READING "THE TRIMMED LAMP" by O.Henry

The “trimmed lamp” spoken of this story would have been an oil or kerosene lantern. Along with gaslights, these were in wide use before the days when electric lights were common. The wick (the piece of cloth that burns to make light) of the lantern had to be pulled up often, and neatly trimmed, so that the light would go on burning brightly.
In this story, there are two main characters, Nancy and Lou. They had much in common, but they also differed in some ways. Both women shared the same goal of marrying a rich man. In today’s world, women like Nancy and Lou would be able to make a good living on their own, but in O. Henry’s time, with few good jobs opened to women, their only chance of success to high social position was to marry well.

Lou was ambitious, so she seemed to get to her goal, getting married to a rich man. Although Nancy was more intelligent, elegant, and conservative than Lou, she was to marry Dan, who wasn’t rich. Which of the two had found true happiness? Lou? No, she didn’t. Judging from tears dropped fro her eyes when she met Nancy, she was not happy undoubtedly. Nancy, who was learning the manners of the rich people steadily through her experiences, seemed to find her true happiness at last. While Lou was following the unreal image of riches, Nancy was keeping her lamp trimmed, adjusted so it would keep burning, in her heart.

I think Lou did her best to attain her object, riches. Nancy did, too. But compared with Nancy, Lou failed to grasp both bright and seamy sides of riches. Lou seemed to think ‘Money’ was the only one way to happiness. Nancy, who chose ‘True Love’, may have much trouble during her life because of money. But I believe she and her husband can conquest these sufferings with the strong power of love. When I was young, I thought ‘Love’ was the most important thing through my life. I don’t want to revise my thinking until now. Frankly speaking, sometimes I think how happy I would be if I were rich. I want to be richer than now and enjoy life to the full. I want to go to everywhere, buy all things I like, and experience all opportunities that approach to me without any economical troubles. But I know the sense of emptiness when I attain all things. The process to get something is more beautiful and precious than the result, isn’t it?
 
If I had lived those two women’s day, I would have chosen the Nancy’s way. I want to believe the power of love. I don’t want to have riches without desire and hope to accomplish dreams someday. I want to be a last romanticist of this age. Of course, it is difficult for me not to lose this thinking while I am living in this period of materialism. But I will make an effort and I think other persons will have to do so. We all must remember this simple and eternal truth.
Anyway both women had learned about and realized the nature of true happiness.
We, who had read this story, have to do so. In my opinion, we have to choose substance over appearance. We, the wise, will try to pull up the wick of our hope’s lanterns and neatly trim them, and be able to accomplish our goals. (2002)



The Trimmed Lamp (Audio Book)