Advanced International Journal for Research

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Ethical Dimensions of Friendship in R. K. Narayan’s “Doctor’s Word” and O. Henry’s “After Twenty Years”: A Comparative Study

Author(s) Mr. Kaminikanta Mohanty, Mr. Rusav Kumar Sahu
Country India
Abstract The paper examines the ethical foundations of friendship in R. K. Narayan’s “Doctor’s Word” and O. Henry’s “After Twenty Years” and comparatively analyses the ethical values in the two stories. Qualitative methodology based on close textual analysis is employed for this study. The fundamental values that sustain the friendship are reciprocal love, trust, empathy and commitment. In “Doctor’s Word,” Dr Raman’s selfless love and unwavering commitment to save Gopal’s life demonstrate the ethical dimensions of compassion commitment and responsibility. Despite the demands of their professional and personal lives, their friendship remains steadfast. In contrast, O. Henry’s “After Twenty Years” reveals Bob’s sense of commitment as he travels a long distance to meet his friend Jimmy Wells exactly after twenty years in the same place. Jimmy’s professional commitment to the law leads him to arrange Bob’s arrest after discovering his criminal identity. Their childhood companionship reveals that they had love for each other, but only emotional attachment without ethical principles in personal life cannot sustain friendship. The comparative analysis reveals distinct ethical conceptions of friendship in the two stories. In addition, the study discusses that the friendship between Dr Raman and Gopal is characterised by deeper emotional attachment and mutual trust, whereas Jimmy Wells’s and Bob’s friendship is ultimately tested by legal and moral obligations. The study offers a fresh perspective on the ethical dimensions of friendship in two different short stories.
Keywords Compassion, Duty, Ethics, Friendship, Loyalty, Responsibility, Trust
Field Sociology > Linguistic / Literature
Published In Volume 7, Issue 4, July-August 2026
Published On 2026-08-31
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E-ISSN 3048-7641
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