Wednesday, May 14, 2014

What is the dramatic irony in "One Thousand Dollars"?

The dramatic irony of O. Henry's short story "One Thousand Dollars" involves Gillian's interpretation of the will's stipulation that he must render "an account of the manner of expenditure of this 1000"thatislefthimbyhislateuncle.WhenYoungGillianisbequeathedonethousanddollarsbyhiswealthyuncle,whohassupportedhimthroughouthisentirelife,hetakesaratherflippantattitudeabouthavingtomakeanaccountofitsexpenditure.Forinstance,hegoestothemensclubandasksOldBryson,whodislikeshim,"Nowwhatcanamanpossiblydowithathousanddollars?"Withdisinterest,Brysonoffersasarcasticsuggestionaftermoralizingonwhatthismoneycouldbuy.Brysonssuggestioncertainlyimpliesfoolishness:"Why,BobbyGillian,theresonlyonelogicalthingyoucoulddo.YoucangobuyMissLottaLauriereadiamondpendantwiththemoney,andthentakeyourselfofftoIdahoandinflictyourpresenceuponaranch.Iadviseasheepranch,asIhaveaparticulardislikeforsheep."Facetiously,youngGillianthankshim,adding"IthoughtIcoulddependuponyou."WhenhedoesvisitthisactressattheColumbineTheatre,MissLauriereisnotinterestedinsuchabaublebecauseafriendhasreceiveda22,000. gift. Rejected, Gillian asks people at random what they would do with a thousand dollars, hoping for an idea he can use to rid himself of this sum. Finally, he decides to give it to the woman he loves, Miss Hayden, who worked for his uncle.
After he arrives at the mansion of his uncle, Gillian pretends that the lawyers have found that his uncle "loosened up a little on second thought" and bequeathed another thousand dollars to Miss Hayden. When he hands her the money, she cries, "Oh!" but when he declares his love for her, she merely says, "I am sorry." Gillian departs after writing down how he spent the 1000 and sealed it in an envelope to give to the attorneys in charge of his uncle's estate. After he arrives at Tolman & Sharp's offices, Gillian informs them, "I have expended the thousand dollars." Then, Mr. Tolman pulls from an immense safe a large envelope sealed with wax. Mr. Tolman tells Gillian that if his disposal of the money has been "prudent," he is to be given50,000. If, however, he has spent the money foolishly, the money goes to Miss Hayden. 
*Here lies the dramatic irony: Gillian has meant to be rid of the 1000bygivingthemoneyawayinanymannerthathecan.Whenhisfirsteffortstodispensewithitfail,hegivesittoMissHaydenbypretendingthatitisarewardforherservicetohisuncle.ThisactisanexampleofdramaticironybecauseGilliamhasbelievedhisactionofgivinghismoneytosomeonelikeMissHaydenwillbeconsideredfoolishbyhisunclewhen,intruth,itqualifieshimforanadditionalinheritanceof50,000 as provided for in the codicil, which is kept hidden until the 1000isspent.Havingreturnedtothelawoffices,Gillianhasthecodicilofhisuncleswillexplainedtohim,andhenowrealizesthathischaritywillbejudgedasanaltruisticandmatureact,ratherthanafoolishone,thusentitlinghimtothe50,000. So, he swiftly grabs the envelope before the older gentlemen can read what he has written inside, saying that he has lost the $1000 in gambling, thereby disqualifying himself from the larger inheritance.Pleased that his beloved Miss Hayden will now receive this money, Gillian walks away whistling in delight.

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