Analysis

An analysis of the short story “The Good Samaritan” by Charles Ardai shows that it is structured in different scenes that have a cinematic effect. The narrative jumps from one scene to another, from the moments some of the characters are killed to the ones where the detective investigates their murders. 

The main characters of the story are the detective and Arthur, the killer. Arthur’s victims are all homeless, and they are relevant for the story’s social setting. 

The physical setting is New York, US. The narrative mainly focuses on the streets of New York at night, where Arthur approaches his future victims. The social setting focuses on the life of homeless people in New York, as well as on the circumstances that brought them there. 

The short story is told by a third-person narrator, who has access to the minds of several characters. The narrator has access to the thoughts of the victims and of the detective but does not provide any insights into Arthur’s mind.

The language used in the story is neutral, but the dialogue uses informal words common in everyday language. The author chooses words and expressions meant to create a mysterious atmosphere. 

A full analysis of the short story can be found in the following pages.