Native American culture, although poorly represented, works in the background of the Ransom of the Red Chief. Since there was a perception that Native Americans are savages, Johnny is referred to as the “Red Chief” because he is also wild and untamed. He tried to literally scalp Bill, burn Sam, and threw giant rocks at them. When asked if he wanted to go back to the town, he said that he wants to stay out in the forest. This is comparable to how the Indian doesn’t want to go into civilization, and he prefers to live in the wild.
However, that isn’t the only thing that occurs frequently in the short story. Irony is a major part of it, and it comes up everywhere. First, the name of the town is Summit, although it is described as the flattest place imaginable. Second, the roles of the kidnapper and the kidnapee are flipped. Normally, the one being kidnapped wants nothing to do with their abductors and hopes to return home. In Ransom of the Red Chief, it is the opposite. Bill and Sam towards the end desperately want to get rid of Johnny, while the boy enjoys the time with his captors. Last, the roles within the ransom scheme are reversed as well. Instead of Ebenezer paying Bill and Sam, he proposes that they pay him. Surprisingly, they agree, and Ebenezer reluctantly takes his son back.