The Contents of a Dead Man’s Pocket Story

“The Contents of the Dead Man’s Pocket” is a short story written by Jack Finney in 1958. It tells the story of Tom Benecke, a man who risks his life for a piece of paper. The story follows Tom’s journey as he climbs out of his window and onto a ledge, 11 stories above the ground, to retrieve a piece of paper that he had forgotten and left outside his window.

The story is set in a city apartment building and starts off with Tom Benecke working late at night, while his wife, Claire, is asleep. He had been working on a new marketing plan and he had been so focused on the work that he had forgotten to bring the paper back inside his window. This was a dangerous mistake as the ledge outside his window was 11 stories off the ground.

Tom is a brave man and despite the danger of the situation, he decides to go out and retrieve the paper. He attempts to climb out of the window, but he is so scared that he almost falls off the ledge before he is able to grab the paper. After retrieving the paper, he manages to climb back in and he is relieved to be safe inside his apartment.

The story is symbolic of Tom’s dedication to his work and his willingness to take risks for his career. The paper that he risked his life for is just a piece of paper with nothing written on it, yet Tom still values it so much that he is willing to risk his life for it. This is a powerful message about the importance of hard work and dedication in order to achieve success.

The story “The Contents of the Dead Man’s Pocket” is a powerful and thought-provoking piece of literature. It is a great example of how dedication and hard work can pay off and how taking risks can be rewarding. It is a timeless tale that speaks to the importance of taking risks and putting in the effort to achieve success.



In conclusion, “The Contents of the Dead Man’s Pocket” is a powerful and thought-provoking story that speaks to the importance of hard work and dedication. It is a timeless tale that speaks to the importance of taking risks and putting in the effort to achieve success. It is a story that can serve as a reminder to us all to never give up on our dreams and to never stop believing in ourselves.