Final answer:
The plot of 'Romance of a Busy Broker' is about a stockbroker who realizes his love for his secretary and proposes, forgetting they are already married. The title reflects the challenge of balancing work with personal life and finding romance in unexpected settings.
Step-by-step explanation:
The plot of the story 'Romance of a Busy Broker' by O. Henry revolves around the principal character who is a busy New York stockbroker. Amidst his chaotic and intensely hectic workday, he realizes that he is in love with his secretary. The climax of the story is a twist typical of O. Henry's storytelling, where the broker proposes to his secretary, only to be reminded that they are already married, which he had forgotten due to his overwhelming workload. This indicates that the correct plot from the options provided is: A man struggles to balance work and love. The story is a commentary on the challenges of finding balance between professional and personal life and also plays with the theme of romantic forgetfulness and rediscovery within a marriage.
Characterization is centered on the busy broker, Harvey Maxwell, and his secretary, Miss Leslie. Throughout the story, their dynamic changes from a professional employer-employee to a more personal and intimate relationship. The story follows a linear progression over the course of a single workday.
The title 'Romance of a Busy Broker' is reflective of the deeper themes of the story, touching upon the irony of finding romance in the unlikeliest of places and the precedence of love even amidst the bustle of business life. The title aptly reveals the story's allegorical examination of the pursuit of romance in an environment consumed by work and ambition.