Mr. Waddy's Return

"Mr. Waddy's Return" by Theodore Winthrop is a story about Ira Waddy, who comes back to Boston as a rich man after living in India, even though his family used to be regular people. The book looks at what makes someone who they are, how social class matters, and the journey each person takes as Ira deals with his new life. We find out about Ira's family history, starting with Whitegift Waddy, and how they slowly became successful, leading to Ira's own riches and a big change in who he is and what he wants. When Ira gets to Halifax, he is seen as brave because he saves a child from drowning. But, the story hints that things won't be so simple for Ira as he remembers his past and faces the results of his choices, which are connected to other people's lives, including a bad shipwreck that happened when he arrived.