The Model Millionaire BY OSCAR WILDE CONTENTS Author and Story introduction Characters Setting Plot/ Summary Characterization Theme Moral lesson AUTHOR AND STORY OSCAR WILDE • Oscar Wilde, in full Oscar Fingal O’Flahertie Wills Wilde • Born October 16, 1854, Dublin, Ireland—died November 30, 1900 • Irish wit, poet, and THE MODEL MILLIONAIRE • A short story by the Irish author Oscar Wilde • First appeared in print in the newspaper The World in June 1887 • Published again in 1891 as part of the anthology Lord Arthur Savile's Crime and Other Stories CHARACTERS MAIN CHARACTERS Hughie Erskine Handsome, no profession, poor, Laura’s boyfriend, Alan’s best friend MAIN CHARACTERS Alan Trevor Hughie’s best friend, a painter, an artist, he has his own studio MAIN CHARACTERS Baron Hausberg Alan Trevor’s best friend The richest man in Europe MINOR CHARACTERS Laura Merton the daughter of a retired Colonel, Hughie Erskine’s fiancé Laura’s father a retired Colonel who had lost his temper and his digestion in India Alan Trevor • Alan's definition of beauty include someone wearing rags I wouldn't paint him in a frock-coat for anything What you call rags I call romance What seems poverty to you is picturesqueness to me (p.83) 'An artist's heart is his head,' replied Trevor; 'and besides, our business is to realise the world as we see it, not to reform it as we know it  Alan is a cerebral (p.83) artist Alan Trevor Interacts with Hughies …after he got to know Hughie better, he liked him quite as much for his bright buoyant spirits and his generous reckless nature, and had given him the permanent entree to his by studio (p.81)  Attracted Hughie’s apperance, innocence and positivity  Hughie’s best friend  The best man in Hughies’ Baron Hausberg He is an eccentric* millionaire, as we see him posing and looking like a beggar He was a wizened old man, with a face like wrinkled *parchment, and a most piteous expression Over his shoulders was flung a coarse brown cloak, all tears and tatters; his thick boots were patched and cobbled, and with one hand he leant on a rough stick, while with the other he held out his battered He so (p.81) forlorn and wretched… hat looked for alms (p.82) *Parchment: paper or sheepskin for writing on *eccentric: strange or unusual, sometimes in a humorous way Baron Hausberg He is also a good actor, as he manages to deceive Hughie and plays the role of the beggar …he walked across the studio and slipped the sovereign into the beggar's hand (p.82) The old man started, and a faint smile flitted across his withered lips 'Thank you, sir,' he said, 'thank you.’(p.82)  Quite amused by Hughie’s generosity Colonel Merton …a retired Colonel who had lost his temper and his digestion in India, and had never found either of them again… (p.80)  Piteous old man The Colonel was very fond of Hughie, but would not hear of any engagement…(p.80) + He likes Hughie but he won't allow her and Hughie to marry without a little financial security in place  Protective father THEME • MODEL MILLIONAIRE The Model Millionaire is based on the theme that millionaire models are rare but model millionaires are rarer still • The rich are often said to be mean and greedy Jesus Christ said that it is easy for a camel to enter the eye of a needle but difficult for a rich man to enter the gates of heaven • Wealth has something evil about it The writer of this story, Oscar Wilde, once said that those who have much are often greedy, those who have little always share It means that WEALTH When the story starts, we see an emphasis placed on wealth The title and the opening sentence draw attention to this point: “Unless one is wealthy there is no use in being a charming fellow.” (p.80) However, wealth seems to be important for men and not necessarily for women The main character has failed to adapt to a materialistic, mercantile society and, as a result, he cannot marry the woman he loves: “Ultimately he became nothing, a delightful, ineffectual young man with a perfect profile and no profession.” (p.80) WEALT H is further enhanced through the characters of Alan Trevor The theme and Baron Hausberg Alan illustrates the way even art is subject to materialism He does not paint only for the sake of art, but also to make a living: “'Guineas* Painters, poets, and physicians always get guineas.’” (p.82) The baron is the embodiment of absolute wealth He can dispose of money as he pleases: “He could buy all London tomorrow without overdrawing his account He has a house in every capital, dines off gold plate, and can prevent Russia going to war when he chooses.’” (p.83)  this illustrates the many advantages of being wealthy: power, influence, and comfort  the story is not critical of materialistic aspects of the world Rather, it proposes a balance between wealth and morality *a former British gold coin worth 21 shillings BEAUTY AND MORALITY Though Erskine is described in the text as ''wonderfully good-looking,'' we get the impression that good looks are not enough to be considered beautiful The story emphasizes that wealth alone is not enough to make friends, to be accepted in society and to be considered a good person Erskine's beauty is found in his kind heart and generosity toward someone in need BEAUTY AND MORALITY As we know, Alan Trevor who prefers to surround himself with beautiful and intellectual people, yet he finds the beauty including someone wearing rags Trevor, also weighs in on the subject of beauty, explaining that we can find beauty everywhere if we just look for it I wouldn't paint him in a frock-coat for anything What you call rags I call romance What seems poverty to you is picturesqueness to me (p.83)  Beauty is in the eyes of the beholder CLASS CONCIOUSNESS All the characters illustrate class stratification in Victorian England • The beggar represents the poor • Hughie, Laura, the Colonel and Alan represent the middle class • the baron the upper class MORAL LESSON • Story teaches the moral that kindness of heart and generosity will never go unrewarded • Appearance can be deceptive Looks can be deceptive and it is important to balance wealth with generosity Thus Hughie gets best gift for his generosity • The main message in the story is that Hughie gives one sovereign but in return he gets 10000 pounds Thus author tells us if we show kindness, or if we are generous to others what we are giving is nothing when compare to what we will get in return • Charity is the greatest value of all One who has money is not the Millionaire but one who has a heart to give money to the needy • Hughie is also Millionaire in this sense and Baron Hausberg is the model Millionaire who has the quality